Someone to fold my laundry and put it away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slothful and lazy.

Because the full-time job and small kids aren't any work at all? Ha!

I managed and I worked out of home as well. Of course, I am organized and am not lazy. I also taught my kids to do laundry, cook. clean kitchen, vacuum from appropriate ages. Any 12 yr old who cannot do their own is a parenting failure.

PP Here's your gold star <Pins onto chest>

YOu definitely are the best - and you sound so nice too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids fold the laundry and put it away.

+1. This is a chore that I delegated to my 7 yo DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: NP here. I am always amazed that on this forum the discussion about domestic help very quickly falls into a discussion about SAHM/WOHM or who is lazy or a slob. People think it is elitist and something only people with a lot of money need or afford.

I am a DMV middle class (retired WOHM) SAHM with school going kids. We do not live in a great school area in MoCo. For the past 10 years I have employed a lady who I pay hourly to tackle every household chore that I can think of. I pay an average of $300 a week to her. She does cleaning, laundry, de-cluttering, organizing, prep work for cooking, water my plants, picks up my dry-cleaning, helps as a server during parties etc.

I feel that while it is an expense, she is providing a great service to me. My kids excel at school, my husband has leisure time when he comes home. I can volunteer for things that I care about, I can pursue my hobbies, and maintain my busy social life. She also works for people in very posh and expensive neighborhoods but people are either reluctant to either pay her a good wage or they do not treat her with respect. Anyways, she usually dumps them when she finds new clients, but has stayed with me for the past 10 years. The fact is if you get a good, efficient, cheerful and reliable helper, you pay them the wage that they deserve and treat them well - and they will make your life a whole lot easier.

I cut my expenses in other places, but not with this person. Why? She impacts the quality and well being of my entire family. I also love to live in a well organized and well run house. It gives me immense peace of mind and happiness. Even middle class people pay for therapists and diamond engagement rings and cocaine habit - I pay for this person and have embraced this expense.

This, exactly. I have been working in people's homes for more than 20 years. People hire me because they get to concentrate on the things they love when they get home. They spend that time gardening and/or with their families. It's not like they're sitting around watching tv while I do chores. It's a collective effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
House Manager for $25./hour? What happened to housekeeper for $15./hour? This is getting crazy.

Housekeepers don't make $15/hr. At least, not the ones who work as employees in people's homes. They make a little more per hour than nannies, and have for the last 15 years I've been working in this area.

I'm the pp who wants to move into house management. I see Craigslist ads all the time seeking domestic help for $10-$15/hr. Professional personal assistants, house managers and nannies aren't going to work for that. Some ads on agency sites list salaries of $75K-$125K for house manager positions.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine had a tween-aged mother's helper. She said this girl folded laundry better than she did herself, so that was one of her assigned tasks!

I change out sheets once a week, towels as well. That helps. I do sometimes find the clean clothes piling up because I just don't feel like doing them yet, but evening TV time is a good time for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
House Manager for $25./hour? What happened to housekeeper for $15./hour? This is getting crazy.

Housekeepers don't make $15/hr. At least, not the ones who work as employees in people's homes. They make a little more per hour than nannies, and have for the last 15 years I've been working in this area.

I'm the pp who wants to move into house management. I see Craigslist ads all the time seeking domestic help for $10-$15/hr. Professional personal assistants, house managers and nannies aren't going to work for that. Some ads on agency sites list salaries of $75K-$125K for house manager positions.

Git it. It's all in the "title". LOL. Extortion.

OP, how much are you willing to pay? I'll be right over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: NP here. I am always amazed that on this forum the discussion about domestic help very quickly falls into a discussion about SAHM/WOHM or who is lazy or a slob. People think it is elitist and something only people with a lot of money need or afford.

I am a DMV middle class (retired WOHM) SAHM with school going kids. We do not live in a great school area in MoCo. For the past 10 years I have employed a lady who I pay hourly to tackle every household chore that I can think of. I pay an average of $300 a week to her. She does cleaning, laundry, de-cluttering, organizing, prep work for cooking, water my plants, picks up my dry-cleaning, helps as a server during parties etc.

I feel that while it is an expense, she is providing a great service to me. My kids excel at school, my husband has leisure time when he comes home. I can volunteer for things that I care about, I can pursue my hobbies, and maintain my busy social life. She also works for people in very posh and expensive neighborhoods but people are either reluctant to either pay her a good wage or they do not treat her with respect. Anyways, she usually dumps them when she finds new clients, but has stayed with me for the past 10 years. The fact is if you get a good, efficient, cheerful and reliable helper, you pay them the wage that they deserve and treat them well - and they will make your life a whole lot easier.

I cut my expenses in other places, but not with this person. Why? She impacts the quality and well being of my entire family. I also love to live in a well organized and well run house. It gives me immense peace of mind and happiness. Even middle class people pay for therapists and diamond engagement rings and cocaine habit - I pay for this person and have embraced this expense.

And good for you, OP. You've found a way to increase enjoyment of life for you and your family, and you're employing someone. Nothing to criticize here. You're right-everyone chooses to spend their money and time how they see fit. Some people do not want to spend their time on chores and drudgery. It doesn't mean they're spending the found time sitting around doing nothing. The days my cleaner comes, I get to spend more time with my kids. DH and I don't fight over whose turn it is to mop the floor.

I don't think a single person has ever reflected on how glad they are for all the time they spent doing laundry and cleaning up the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
House Manager for $25./hour? What happened to housekeeper for $15./hour? This is getting crazy.

Housekeepers don't make $15/hr. At least, not the ones who work as employees in people's homes. They make a little more per hour than nannies, and have for the last 15 years I've been working in this area.

I'm the pp who wants to move into house management. I see Craigslist ads all the time seeking domestic help for $10-$15/hr. Professional personal assistants, house managers and nannies aren't going to work for that. Some ads on agency sites list salaries of $75K-$125K for house manager positions.

I think you move from Housekeeper to House Manager and that kind of salary when you have a household staff to manage. Or at least, that's what the House Manager I know does.