Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is 750k plus and I still do it all myself. I don't trust other people to take good care of my things. Over the years I've had different cleaners: scratch my floors, scratch a table, scratch my stove top, stain a rug, break picture frames, and break a family antique. Plus they just didn't always clean that well. I'm done hiring it out.

I'm far from your income at ~400k but feel the same way about cleaners. I've been home when they have cleaned and I can't believe how they bang their vacuum around and how roughly they clean. Not to mention it's still often not up to my standard.

+1 I'm shocked at how few people feel this way. I can't stand hearing the banging, knowing how careless they are being and that my furniture is being dented/scratched.

+1 here as well. 350k HHI and we clean ourselves. We have tried cleaning people and the experience has been ok, but we don't think it's worth what it costs. They definitely aren't as careful with your things as you would be and the quality of the job is pretty variable (usually better right when you hire a new service/person and then trickles off over time when they get comfortable). I fired the landscapers this year too. Same thing - job wasn't as good as I can do myself so why pay a premium for a halfassed result? No thanks, I'd rather do it myself so it is done correctly.

This has been my experience as well, 100%. Same thing with 3 different cleaning ladies/services over the years. Now I have the time to do it myself so I am done with trying to hire it out.

I used to wonder how really rich people handle this (you know, like actors and actresses or people like the tech millionaires and billionaires of the world) because you know they are not scrubbing their own toilets. What I've concluded is that they probably hire a middle man, a housekeeper or house manager, who cracks the whip and creates a buffer between themselves and the people they are paying to scrub their toilets. Otherwise, it is too awkward to scold another adult for not doing a good enough job or for damaging one of your belongings. But when you don't, the level of service inevitably declines and you become a doormat in their eyes. It's lose/lose if you're not a confrontational person.

I'm curious - I'm a pregnant mom of a 3 year old and we don't hire anyone and, yes, it seems we can only keep one room clean at a time. I want to hire someone, but my husband points out once the clothes are laundered / put away and the toys are put away we've done the vast majority of the decluttering that makes our home messy. I assume cleaning people clean the bathroom, scrub down counters, mop / vacuum and dust. Is that right? If not, what else are they doing? We live in a small apartment so we seem to have more trouble with the the clutter than with the scrubbing / cleaning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is 750k plus and I still do it all myself. I don't trust other people to take good care of my things. Over the years I've had different cleaners: scratch my floors, scratch a table, scratch my stove top, stain a rug, break picture frames, and break a family antique. Plus they just didn't always clean that well. I'm done hiring it out.

I'm far from your income at ~400k but feel the same way about cleaners. I've been home when they have cleaned and I can't believe how they bang their vacuum around and how roughly they clean. Not to mention it's still often not up to my standard.

+1 I'm shocked at how few people feel this way. I can't stand hearing the banging, knowing how careless they are being and that my furniture is being dented/scratched.

+1 here as well. 350k HHI and we clean ourselves. We have tried cleaning people and the experience has been ok, but we don't think it's worth what it costs. They definitely aren't as careful with your things as you would be and the quality of the job is pretty variable (usually better right when you hire a new service/person and then trickles off over time when they get comfortable). I fired the landscapers this year too. Same thing - job wasn't as good as I can do myself so why pay a premium for a halfassed result? No thanks, I'd rather do it myself so it is done correctly.

Anonymous wrote:When I was married and we had a HHI income of about 225K, I felt I couldn't justify weekly, either. My friends in this area whose HHIs are around or above 300K do weekly.

My friends and family who still live where I grew up, where the COL is low and commutes are short, and who have HHIs more in the 150-175K range, think people who spend money on cleaning people are nuts.

at almost $200k we could not, no way. but we had almost $1000/mo student loans. i think if we earned $275/year, no student loans, ok maid every week.

$70K

I pay $110 weekly. Of I had time I would do it myself, but my weekends are full.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:200k

OP: You would seriously spend $500/mo on a cleaning lady at a HHI of 200k? Do you have kids?

I spend $600 a month for a cleaning lady who comes twice a week. $75 a visit. SFH. 3000+ sqft. hhi is 240k. both of us work and this is something that makes life easier for us. my mil stays with us and she looks after my kids when they come home from school.


My friend pays $1200 for similar service but her cleaning lady does everything in the house - from laundry to food prep to organizing. She is a SAHM, with grown up kids. She also gets a masseuse at home once a week - so another $400 per month. Her DH has a good job, maybe making between 200 - 300 k. They have a house but not in an expensive area. kids go to public schools magnet programs, so no cost of private schools. They live quite modestly - but her dh really pampers her in this regard.

Obviously everyone can do what they want, but your friend sounds wildly excessive. That much help with no job and no little kids sounds like quite a lot. It would be one thing if DH made huge money, but 2-300,000 (which, don't get me wrong, is a very good salary) doesn't usually get you that kind of lifestyle around here. Maybe they scrimp elsewhere or have other money, but I hope they are spending every dime they make and then get themselves in trouble.

Wow! You are a bitch, aren't you? So much venom can only come from a person who has a lousy life and relationships. Some people want to spend on expensive homes and private schools, some people want to spend on cleaners and other help. It is their money and they can do what they want with it. However, for you to wish ill on someone you do not even know shows what a truly horrible person you are.

Oh, come on. Don't you think that is a bit over the top? Particularly since from the tone it is almost certain that PP simply left out the "NOT" spending every dime. What does it say about you, that you would take the time, effort, and venom - to use your phrase - with that response?

Its all about economic choices. People can buy expensive houses, expensive cars, eat out, vacation, buy designer clothes, get beauty treatments, keep multiple pets, have kids, send kids to private schools, have gym membership, have college debt - in short - most things costs money.

I am amazed at what DCUM considers rich and middle class - but, when you are earning 100K and above, you are not poor by any stretch of imagination. You have the luxury to actually be able to afford some purely self-indulgent things. I have a friend, who loves to fly. So, he bought a car for 10 K and an aircraft for 50K. He was making 120K at the time.

So, if you want to get a cleaning lady to come every week, I am sure you can make it happen.

We have one person come who does a nice job every other week. HHI 500 and worth it. I don't see the need for more often cleaning, but we don't have pets. If something gets damaged I'd rather pay to replace it then give up time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:200k

OP: You would seriously spend $500/mo on a cleaning lady at a HHI of 200k? Do you have kids?

Our HHI is about 200k and we pay $130 for weekly cleaning. We have two large dogs and a 10 month baby. We just could not keep up with the house cleaning, the dogs, the baby and the other chores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is 750k plus and I still do it all myself. I don't trust other people to take good care of my things. Over the years I've had different cleaners: scratch my floors, scratch a table, scratch my stove top, stain a rug, break picture frames, and break a family antique. Plus they just didn't always clean that well. I'm done hiring it out.

I'm far from your income at ~400k but feel the same way about cleaners. I've been home when they have cleaned and I can't believe how they bang their vacuum around and how roughly they clean. Not to mention it's still often not up to my standard.

+1 I'm shocked at how few people feel this way. I can't stand hearing the banging, knowing how careless they are being and that my furniture is being dented/scratched.

Anonymous wrote:Ours is 750k plus and I still do it all myself. I don't trust other people to take good care of my things. Over the years I've had different cleaners: scratch my floors, scratch a table, scratch my stove top, stain a rug, break picture frames, and break a family antique. Plus they just didn't always clean that well. I'm done hiring it out.

I'm far from your income at ~400k but feel the same way about cleaners. I've been home when they have cleaned and I can't believe how they bang their vacuum around and how roughly they clean. Not to mention it's still often not up to my standard.

Went from every 2 weeks to every week at about $350k but it was a long time ago. It made such a difference! I worked long hours and had to travel for work off and on so preferred to spend time with the kids rather than cleaning. Went back to every other week about a year ago because the kids are now in college. I can't really justify weekly cleaning for 2 people, although there are times it would be nice. Current income is $800k.

Ours is 750k plus and I still do it all myself. I don't trust other people to take good care of my things. Over the years I've had different cleaners: scratch my floors, scratch a table, scratch my stove top, stain a rug, break picture frames, and break a family antique. Plus they just didn't always clean that well. I'm done hiring it out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:200k

OP: You would seriously spend $500/mo on a cleaning lady at a HHI of 200k? Do you have kids?

I spend $600 a month for a cleaning lady who comes twice a week. $75 a visit. SFH. 3000+ sqft. hhi is 240k. both of us work and this is something that makes life easier for us. my mil stays with us and she looks after my kids when they come home from school.


My friend pays $1200 for similar service but her cleaning lady does everything in the house - from laundry to food prep to organizing. She is a SAHM, with grown up kids. She also gets a masseuse at home once a week - so another $400 per month. Her DH has a good job, maybe making between 200 - 300 k. They have a house but not in an expensive area. kids go to public schools magnet programs, so no cost of private schools. They live quite modestly - but her dh really pampers her in this regard.

Obviously everyone can do what they want, but your friend sounds wildly excessive. That much help with no job and no little kids sounds like quite a lot. It would be one thing if DH made huge money, but 2-300,000 (which, don't get me wrong, is a very good salary) doesn't usually get you that kind of lifestyle around here. Maybe they scrimp elsewhere or have other money, but I hope they are spending every dime they make and then get themselves in trouble.

Wow! You are a bitch, aren't you? So much venom can only come from a person who has a lousy life and relationships. Some people want to spend on expensive homes and private schools, some people want to spend on cleaners and other help. It is their money and they can do what they want with it. However, for you to wish ill on someone you do not even know shows what a truly horrible person you are.

Hey, chill! The PP is judgy, but I think she meant she hoped they weren't spending it all.