Am I still entitled to call myself frugal?

Ticklemouse

Oooh, I'd love a cleaner. I spent all weekend shampooing my carpets then all today cleaning my mum's house - which I do once a week. I often tell her I wish my house was as clean as hers - but then I don't have to clear a path through the toys/cups/breakfast bowls (mine use 3 each every morning ) before I can get down to her cleaning .

Time is money and if you can afford to spend the time with your family doing things you want as well as having the cleaner, then go for it.

(PS - I'm available at reasonable rates in East Lancs and have my own Kirby:p )

moggins

I think you'd end up making yourself ill if you didn't get some help from somewhere with everything that you have to do.

I went back to work (20 hours a week) just before christmas to earn some extra money but still carried on being wife, mum, cleaner, etc and would struggle to get everything done before I left for work in the evening. Within 2 weeks I was down with the worst cold I had every known, got an ear infection, my ear drum burst and I was deaf for the next six weeks.

So don't go making yourself ill like I did and enjoy having a nice clean house (don't even think about cleaning it before she gets there).

Curry_Queen

moggins wrote:

(don't even think about cleaning it before she gets there).

:rotfl: ... that's exactly what I used to do when I used to have a cleaner!!!


I don't think you should feel guilty at all Caterina. There's only so many hours in the day, and much as we like to think we are, we aint Superwoman

MATH

halloweenqueen wrote:

You have helped someone else as well by employing your cleaner!

When the three mini MATHS's were tots and times woz ard I made a few bob swallowing me pride and cleaning other peeps homes. I was glad that they hated cleaning and were happy to pay me to do it.

Being MSE is about building the financial security that allows you to make choices rather than lack of cash making those choices for you IMO. You have that security and have made the choice to employ a cleaner. Good on ya

MrsMW

Can anyone advise me how to find a cleaner? I'm disabled and can't manage all the cleaning and hubby works and is useless at cleaning anyway. I've thought about sticking a card in the local shops but I'm a bit afraid of who might turn up. When I was working full time I used to get people from an agency to come in to spring clean, it was wonderful.

Lucie_2

Ticklemouse wrote:

(PS - I'm available at reasonable rates in East Lancs and have my own Kirby:p )

Don't tempt me! I reckon you & I live pretty close...........

Caterina

You wonderful, wonderful bunch of dear friends, thank you! :j

I feel so much better now! All you say, each in your own kind way, is stuff that went through my mind - I would say the same to a friend, but isn't it difficult when it comes to treat ourselves as well as we would our friends?

I am now feeling that the expense (modest, compared to what people out there spend for useless gadgetry) of £16 per week to give me rest and recreation time with my family, is a very small price to pay. Hey, I don't remember when I last bought myself a fancy dress or a new pair of shoes, always get everything at charity shops or from my friend's hand-me-downs - so I suppose I CAN afford to give myself this treat!

Incidentally, the garden is now all nice and weed-free, ready to be planted. This weekend, instead of slaving it scrubbing floors, I am going to stick a few seeds in the ground YIPPEEEEE!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!! I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!!!!!

Caterina

Caterina

MrsMW wrote:

Can anyone advise me how to find a cleaner? I'm disabled and can't manage all the cleaning and hubby works and is useless at cleaning anyway. I've thought about sticking a card in the local shops but I'm a bit afraid of who might turn up. When I was working full time I used to get people from an agency to come in to spring clean, it was wonderful.

I found my cleaner in the local newsagent's window, called a few people and she 'felt' right. I chose her also because she is local (just round the corner from me) and has great references.

If you are scared about taking in a stranger, you could ask people around, word of mouth and recommendations are good for this sort of thing.

If you are disabled, you could ask your council to assign you some home help - they are paid roughly the same rate as cleaners, maybe a bit more, but you would get the benefits of having them checked and managed by the council instead of having to do it all yourself.

Best wishes

Caterina