I’ve decided to use this week to get through some of the controversial issues I see on other blogs. I’m simply going to post my opinions and see what you think.
Today’s Topic: Outsourcing / Hiring Help
The comments to this post at Get Rich Slowly were the proverbial “straw” that motivated me to start this blog.
If you haven’t read the post or don’t have time, it boils down this; a 26 year old that sold a company for a million dollars felt a little lost in her “early retirement”. She wasn’t as happy as she thought she’d be until she discovered outsourcing. She hired a personal assistant, a housekeeper, a personal chef, and two foreign virtual assistants so she could do fun stuff and start a new business.
As you can guess, people went nuts for a variety of reasons. I honed in on all the commenters that had a freaking cow about having a housekeeper or a personal chef. As someone who happily has a housekeeper, a lawn service, and a CPA, I was offended. Then I was curious.
Why not hire a housekeeper?
I got a response that blew my mind; by not doing my own housework, I’m not taking responsibility for my home. What?!
Take it from me; it would be more irresponsible to depend on my husband or me to keep the house up to standards (well, maybe low standards…). Sorry, house, I love you, but I hate cleaning. Sorry, yard, you’re cool and all, but I’m never going to weed you.
As the name of my blog states, I have no problem budgeting in the fun stuff. This includes budgeting in for the not fun stuff. I choose to spend as much time possible on the things that I love...family time, hanging out with friends, and blogging. :-)
Okay, now that I’ve vented, what say you? Why do you outsource? Why don’t you?
Posts
1 day ago
I'm completely with you on hiring people to help you out. I've always felt that my goal is to make enough money to hire people to do the things I don't like doing. As long as it doesn't adversley impact your finances or goals, why not hire someone. It allows you more time to do the things you enjoy doing.
ReplyDeleteExactly. :-)
ReplyDeleteNow, the trick for me is to make enough money, so that my finances and goals are not adversely impacted. :-)
ReplyDeleteGuess I'll be cleaning the house for a little while
I thought you had already reached that point...I assumed because of your friend who was making more than $200k...assumptions kick my butt. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck and sorry about the cleaning...at least "you are taking responsibility for your home", right? Hahaha... :-P
I wish I made $200K. My friend is an actuary and has done very well in his career. I took a detour and tried to be a financial advisor for about 4 years until I realized that I wasn't that good at sales. Now I'm repairing the damage. It'll just take some time, but no worries.
ReplyDeleteNah, you're right, no worries. Half the battle when it comes to finances is just to realize where you stand and where you want to be. Good luck with your "want to be".
ReplyDeleteI wish my husband would hire a housekeeper. Instead, he spends a lot of time cleaning the house. *sigh* He complains that every company we hire to try them out sucks and doesn't do a good job. He may be right for his standards because he's picky.
ReplyDeleteThings we have hired someone else to do:
- paint (no time with a toddler and a baby on the way)
- lawn service
We don't really have a CPA because we haven't had a need for one, yet. I handle all our finances online or with the banks myself.
Julie, picky sometimes gets in the way, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI remember when we had easy tax stuff and didn't need a CPA...hopefully we'll be back to that next year.
LOL! The reason I don't (or didn't, when I could afford it) is pretty plain: if you want something done right, do it yourself. Housekeepers have trashed 1,000 square feet of custom parquet parquet flooring, covered 1860 s.f. of tile with goopy undiluted Simple Green concentrate that took weeks to remove, killed prize potted plants, broken ivory (yeah: real ivory) netsukes, broken framed original art, gone off and left my 6-year-old alone in the house with the iron sitting out on the ironing board turned as hot as it would go... There's more -- I've put it out of my mind. Some "luxuries" just aren't worth it.
ReplyDeleteFunny about Money, wow. Never had any of those problems with Jacqui...yuck for you. That truly blows.
ReplyDeleteOur housekeeper suggested the wood laminate cleaner that smells like almonds and she keeps all the floors looking nice. She also lets my dogs out in the back yard for a mid-day potty break when they usually just have to hold it until my husband or I come home.
She has broken a small tea-light candle-holder, but it was easily super glued back together and only cost $5 to begin with...
But, I will say that I was just asked by my MIL to find a LLardo Apollo Landing astronaut sculpture on Ebay since her housekeeper broke it...that's a $500-$700 piece (that I found for $321 total), but their housekeeper is paying for it.
I guess we've just gotten very lucky with Jacqui...I'll keep that in mind if she ever gives up housekeeping.