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.

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.

+1

Lazy.

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.

Bitchy and unnecessary. Since we're throwing adjectives around.

I have someone who cooks, cleans and does laundry for us for $20/hr. She works 15 hours per week for us.

House Manager poster here. $25/ hour is very reasonable here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do this for a living. I've posted in a couple other boards. I'm a house manager and work for several families. Mostly 8-10 hours a week. I charge $25/hour and tidy the kitchen, load/unload dishwasher, do a couple loads of laundry, make the beds, changes the sheets.
For some families, I do less. For some families, I do more. It's great for me because I can make my own schedule (within reason, and I always stick with same days/ relatively same hours with each family), I can pop home for lunch or move things forward/back if I have an appointment, and I like working on my own.

I market myself as a House Manager so I would start by posting an ad in one of the local Facebook groups or Mom type forums. Unfortunately I'm in Boston but I think hiring someone like me is getting more popular in all areas.

I would absolutely love to do this, thank you for sharing your experience.

To OP, I'm in Montgomery County if you think you might be able to use my help in this capacity.

Today I went to the laundromat to wash fall comforters and spring quilts and was the only one truly happy to be there.

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

I'm not the house manager poster, but I dont think it's crazy to pay $25/hour for that service - esp. when it's just 8-10 hours a week. There are many people in this area that have more money than time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I have come to the point that I think it's time to get some help with my household. For some unknown reason, it takes me a zillion years to do housework and I want to hire someone to come over a couple of times a week for a couple of hours to help me out. Basically to fold and put away laundry, help keep things organized, switch dishes, organize the mail. I realize this may seem totally nuts, but I am super inefficient or something and am spending about 2 hours a day just dealing with laundry and dishes and it leaves me little time for just winding down. My husband and I both work full time out of the house and we have young kids and I would rather spend my time focused on them and exercising rather than dealing with the nonstop laundry.

Anyone hire someone to handle these types of things? Is it a pipe dream?

i have a woman for just that - she comes through every day, clans the kitchen, unloads the dishwasher, makes all the beds, does all the laundry and folds and puts it away. We pay $20/hour and have her for 8-10 hours per week.

She also does a grocery run mid-week and sometimes cooks.

I dream of this. Now I will go see what I can give up to convince DH we can get this. Is it wrong to ask to sell my engagement ring?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do this for a living. I've posted in a couple other boards. I'm a house manager and work for several families. Mostly 8-10 hours a week. I charge $25/hour and tidy the kitchen, load/unload dishwasher, do a couple loads of laundry, make the beds, changes the sheets.
For some families, I do less. For some families, I do more. It's great for me because I can make my own schedule (within reason, and I always stick with same days/ relatively same hours with each family), I can pop home for lunch or move things forward/back if I have an appointment, and I like working on my own.

I market myself as a House Manager so I would start by posting an ad in one of the local Facebook groups or Mom type forums. Unfortunately I'm in Boston but I think hiring someone like me is getting more popular in all areas.

I would absolutely love to do this, thank you for sharing your experience.

To OP, I'm in Montgomery County if you think you might be able to use my help in this capacity.

Today I went to the laundromat to wash fall comforters and spring quilts and was the only one truly happy to be there.

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

Anonymous wrote:I do this for a living. I've posted in a couple other boards. I'm a house manager and work for several families. Mostly 8-10 hours a week. I charge $25/hour and tidy the kitchen, load/unload dishwasher, do a couple loads of laundry, make the beds, changes the sheets.
For some families, I do less. For some families, I do more. It's great for me because I can make my own schedule (within reason, and I always stick with same days/ relatively same hours with each family), I can pop home for lunch or move things forward/back if I have an appointment, and I like working on my own.

I market myself as a House Manager so I would start by posting an ad in one of the local Facebook groups or Mom type forums. Unfortunately I'm in Boston but I think hiring someone like me is getting more popular in all areas.

I would absolutely love to do this, thank you for sharing your experience.

To OP, I'm in Montgomery County if you think you might be able to use my help in this capacity.

Today I went to the laundromat to wash fall comforters and spring quilts and was the only one truly happy to be there.

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.

Anonymous wrote:When I was in grad school, my one luxury was wash/fold delivery. There was something so nice and comforting to coming home to a pile of freshly laundered and folded clothing on my doorstep.

I wish we had such a service around here. I know I can take it to the laundry mat for wash and fold but it was the pickup and delivery that made it so awesome.

Www.Washio.com

Anonymous wrote:So I have come to the point that I think it's time to get some help with my household. For some unknown reason, it takes me a zillion years to do housework and I want to hire someone to come over a couple of times a week for a couple of hours to help me out. Basically to fold and put away laundry, help keep things organized, switch dishes, organize the mail. I realize this may seem totally nuts, but I am super inefficient or something and am spending about 2 hours a day just dealing with laundry and dishes and it leaves me little time for just winding down. My husband and I both work full time out of the house and we have young kids and I would rather spend my time focused on them and exercising rather than dealing with the nonstop laundry.

Anyone hire someone to handle these types of things? Is it a pipe dream?

For what it's worth, this is part of how I focus on the children and get in a workout (of sorts). I decided that I was not going to treat my children as guests in the house by preparing meals separately from them or tidying the bathroom for their use. We do all of these things together. I plop the laundry on the bed and task each child with something to gather. Socks and underwear for the little one; older DS, get your shirts! We chat. I put on music (usually Katy Perry, god help me!), and we hang out and dance while getting the laundry done. Today is Sunday, and I see a lot of Katy Perry on my schedule!!

The cleaning ladies come once each month and do a wonderful job of deep cleaning. That is indeed separate and apart. But, the routine, day-to-day stuff? That's what family engages in as needed.

My work-work keeps me from interacting with them. I felt household work did too. So, I found a way to incorporate them into the work. We have fun getting these tasks done, and I don't feel like the butler anymore.

OP back again. I am happy there may be an answer and I might be able to find someone!

I am in awe of people who are good at this. I just suck at it. I have given up folding any fitted sheets. I'm aware there is a way to do it and have watched tutorials but I'm seriously deficient in this skill set. It takes me so long and I'm so tired. I'd much rather spend that time excercising or with my family.

Anonymous wrote:Slothful and lazy.

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

Slothful and lazy.