At what income would you hire a weekly chef to prepare meals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make way more than yoour combined HHI and i still prepare my own meals and we have 2 kids. What i dont do is housework. I have a housekeeper 5 days a week. She does all laundry, grocery shopping, errand running, and basic meal prep (such as washing and chopping veggies, defeosting, and marinading). My life is very easy. For 25hrs of work, i pay $450/week.

NP here. Is that including taxes? Or are you paying under the table?

[Anonymous]

There is something in the DNA of Americans that you should never spend much on food. They will spend on vacations, country clubs, houses, maids, gardener, pool cleaner, pet walker but the minute you hire a personal chef, you are a profligate wasterel. That is why the US has such bad quality food and school lunches are crap. Money cannot be spent in food. You guys are seriously messed up. Get the personal chef. Eat healthier and enjoy your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I make way more than yoour combined HHI and i still prepare my own meals and we have 2 kids. What i dont do is housework. I have a housekeeper 5 days a week. She does all laundry, grocery shopping, errand running, and basic meal prep (such as washing and chopping veggies, defeosting, and marinading). My life is very easy. For 25hrs of work, i pay $450/week.

NP here. Is that including taxes? Or are you paying under the table?

Taxes. I'm not against at all paying under the table, but social security is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's important to you, give it a try, if you feel you can afford it. Everyone has their area they feel it's worth spending money on services, whether it's cleaners, spa/nails/massage, personal trainer, or a cook. You don't need to look for a gourmet cook, if you really just want a nice variety of healthy, quality meals. I think the field is full of people who love to cook, have their repertoire and basic experience, and are itching to get paid to do what they love.

This. At your income level and col you can afford it. it's not a lifetime commitment, so if you're not happy with it, you can always end it. Also, you may consolidating some of the things you outsource, e.g. Hiring a houe keeper who can do the food / grocery shopping, help with errands, do washing / irons MF and cooking. It may be easier to deal with one person than with army of different people and probably more economical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is something in the DNA of Americans that you should never spend much on food. They will spend on vacations, country clubs, houses, maids, gardener, pool cleaner, pet walker but the minute you hire a personal chef, you are a profligate wasterel. That is why the US has such bad quality food and school lunches are crap. Money cannot be spent in food. You guys are seriously messed up. Get the personal chef. Eat healthier and enjoy your life.

huh? Im the poster with a 25hr/wk housekeeper. A chef for us would be an absolute waste. I come home each evening to a fridge full of fresh vegetables that have all been washed, peeled, and chopped. My meats are all marinated or sliced if I'm doing stir fry or soups or whatever I'm not trying to manage a chef to do what i can and enjoy doing in 20min time.

Last night was grilled chicken legs that were marinated since Monday, grilled broccoli (that i didnt have to wash or cut myself) and baked sweet potato. None of these foods i had to physically buy myself. We then loaded the dishwasher and left for a bike ride. Today my housekeeper will unload all those clean dishers, i will come home to a spotless, organized home and do it all over again. A chef in the mix would be pointless. I don't need a chef to stand at my grill while i sit at the table and wait to be served and I'm sure as hell not microwaving my dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is something in the DNA of Americans that you should never spend much on food. They will spend on vacations, country clubs, houses, maids, gardener, pool cleaner, pet walker but the minute you hire a personal chef, you are a profligate wasterel. That is why the US has such bad quality food and school lunches are crap. Money cannot be spent in food. You guys are seriously messed up. Get the personal chef. Eat healthier and enjoy your life.

huh? Im the poster with a 25hr/wk housekeeper. A chef for us would be an absolute waste. I come home each evening to a fridge full of fresh vegetables that have all been washed, peeled, and chopped. My meats are all marinated or sliced if I'm doing stir fry or soups or whatever I'm not trying to manage a chef to do what i can and enjoy doing in 20min time.

Last night was grilled chicken legs that were marinated since Monday, grilled broccoli (that i didnt have to wash or cut myself) and baked sweet potato. None of these foods i had to physically buy myself. We then loaded the dishwasher and left for a bike ride. Today my housekeeper will unload all those clean dishers, i will come home to a spotless, organized home and do it all over again. A chef in the mix would be pointless. I don't need a chef to stand at my grill while i sit at the table and wait to be served and I'm sure as hell not microwaving my dinner.

I think the PP was speaking to the OP, not you. Seriously, why would you think this was about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is something in the DNA of Americans that you should never spend much on food. They will spend on vacations, country clubs, houses, maids, gardener, pool cleaner, pet walker but the minute you hire a personal chef, you are a profligate wasterel. That is why the US has such bad quality food and school lunches are crap. Money cannot be spent in food. You guys are seriously messed up. Get the personal chef. Eat healthier and enjoy your life.

And this person would know, as she studied abroad in London for a semester 20 years ago and still goes on endlessly about how much the US sucks compared to every other country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is something in the DNA of Americans that you should never spend much on food. They will spend on vacations, country clubs, houses, maids, gardener, pool cleaner, pet walker but the minute you hire a personal chef, you are a profligate wasterel. That is why the US has such bad quality food and school lunches are crap. Money cannot be spent in food. You guys are seriously messed up. Get the personal chef. Eat healthier and enjoy your life.

huh? Im the poster with a 25hr/wk housekeeper. A chef for us would be an absolute waste. I come home each evening to a fridge full of fresh vegetables that have all been washed, peeled, and chopped. My meats are all marinated or sliced if I'm doing stir fry or soups or whatever I'm not trying to manage a chef to do what i can and enjoy doing in 20min time.

Last night was grilled chicken legs that were marinated since Monday, grilled broccoli (that i didnt have to wash or cut myself) and baked sweet potato. None of these foods i had to physically buy myself. We then loaded the dishwasher and left for a bike ride. Today my housekeeper will unload all those clean dishers, i will come home to a spotless, organized home and do it all over again. A chef in the mix would be pointless. I don't need a chef to stand at my grill while i sit at the table and wait to be served and I'm sure as hell not microwaving my dinner.

I think the PP was speaking to the OP, not you. Seriously, why would you think this was about you.

Actually she said the DNA of Americans. I'm American. A WASP to be precise.

And FYI, the vast majority of "Americans " can't even afford a maid and all the other garbage she spewed, let alone a chef. And for those of us who ate privileged enough to afford outside help, of all thes items rattled off, a chef is a waste.

[Anonymous]

This seems very needy and helpless and like a complete waste of money. But, hey, I sometimes waste money too, and if it makes you happy and you can afford it, go for it.

[Anonymous]

What about having someone prepare 20 meals that can go into the freezer? All you'd need to do is put it in the oven after work.

I order foods a la carte from Trifecta when I'm traveling a lot. I hate having to eat out for weeks on end, so Trifecta makes it much easier on me.