Would you rather... Cable vs. Cleaner [Archive]

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catherine

11-10-12, 11:52pm

I was just on the Dave Ramsey discussion board and there was a thread on how much people spend for house cleaning.

I was interested and surprised. A lot of people who are on the forum for debt reduction talked about how much they spend to have someone clean their homes (average was about $180 every two weeks for 4000 sq foot home). First of all, I was surprised at how big these houses were. Second I was surprised at how many people considered house cleaners a "need" and not a "want."

That got me thinking about my own resistance to house cleaning. I don't like cleaning but I really think hiring someone to come clean it, especially when I'm trying to pay down debt, is definitely a "want." In fact, I've never in my life had a person come clean my home. Maybe my kids wish I had... I don't know.

But I'm really not trying to be judgmental, because I know I spend a lot of money on wants--like cable TV. For the amount of money I spend on cable, I could have someone clean my house once a month, if not more. So why am I not doing that instead?

What do you guys think? Do you have both cable and cleaner? Neither? One but not the other?

Tradd

11-11-12, 12:09am

I don't have either, but more than once I've thought that it sure would be nice to have someone come in to do a deep cleaning of my place once or twice a year.

Zoebird

11-11-12, 12:38am

Look at it this way. First, 4000 sq ft is a lot of space. It is a lot to keep clean. My 550 sq ft place takes about an hr. That's 8 times the amount of space. Considering most of my effort is spent dusting, vacuuming, wiping down walls/windows/floorboards (to prevent mold, not as much of a problem), I would say that doing 8 hrs worth of cleaning is a lot.

So, imagine your average two-income family with kids. The schedule is strapped to the max with commuting, work (say at least 40 hrs, but most people work closer to 50), kids' activities and such, church and those activities, and MOST people do not have a lot of tiem at the end of the day to do their own basics (cook, tidy up, and laundry).

Assuming it's an extra 8 hrs a week, it really takes people over the edge, and in such a situation, I think cleaning would be necessary.

My parents had a place that was not 4000 sq ft, but both worked 2 hrs away (so commute was 4 hrs per day), and they worked an average of 50 hrs per week. Even without all of the other "stuff" (activities, kids), they were exhausted all of the time! They were completely run down. My mom was great at keeping the place tidy, and their workplace provided food for them (ie, it literally was a benefit of working there), so they didnt have to do much of that, and most weekends, they were at home resting. So they payed for housekeeping.

In our case, I'm working about 60 hrs a week, DH is working about 30-40 plus taking the lead in cooking/laundry. I take the lead on tidy/cleaning (which I do once a week).

If we had more square footage, I'd be screwed, literally. I just wouldn't have the bandwidth to clean the place.

iris lily

11-11-12, 1:41am

I don't have either one.

I have had a house cleaner for the past few years, but when my friend Michael, my house cleaner, moved out of state, I didn't bother to replace him.Probably I will do that one of these days. For me, it's really only hard to keep up in the summer time because I am constantly working in gardens and also we track in dirt and debris.

lhamo

11-11-12, 7:15am

We have a part-time helper who comes in every weekday afternoon from 3-6 and cleans and makes dinner. She also keeps an eye on the kids when DH and I aren't around, but that is less of a real duty now that they are older. One week a month when DH travels for work she also comes in early to help with the kids from 6:15-8:15 so that I can get to work before rush hour. She also comes in and takes care of the cat when we are away for extended periods. We pay her about $250/month, plus one month of salary as an annual bonus before Chinese New Year. This is a pretty good wage for part-time, unskilled labor in China. We could probably live without it now that the kids are older, but with both DH and I working and with my long cross-town commute, it is cheaper than marriage counselling! But if one of us were to stop working or if our income was reduced for some reason it would be one of the first things we would cut, I think. Our apartment is about 2200 sq ft of livable space. With wood floors in much of it, it doesn't take much to keep it clean.

We recently made the decision to get a new satellite service -- we'd been making do with what we could get for free, but the channels that were on the existing service (which we had never paid for -- it was installed by the previous owners and was on when we moved in) kept getting cut down and the reception was also very poor. We paid about $400 for the initial setup and the first year of service. That will go down to about $200/year for subsequent years. So far we are really enjoying it -- just the cooking shows alone make it worthwhile for me (we get Food Network now).

We're saving about 50% of our income on average, so these splurges don't have a bit impact on the big picture. If we had consumer debt or were focused on paying off the mortgage (which isn't a high priority for us given currency exchange issues), I might feel differently.

lhamo

goldensmom

11-11-12, 7:21am

I am my house cleaner and will be a long as I am physically able partly because I see it as my ‘job’ but mostly because paying someone to clean my house doesn’t fit into the budget. We do not have cable but do have satellite TV @ $45/mo. the choice being that or no TV. I don’t know what cable costs but for us it doesn’t matter because cable does not come anywhere near where we live. OP question, which, cleaner or cable, both or either? I would go with cable but it really depends on ones financial situation and priorities.

bunnys

11-11-12, 7:45am

I am a teacher and make a very modest salary. I have neither a house cleaner nor cable TV. I would like both but couldn't live w/in my budget, really, if I got either. I don't get either because if I did, I don't think it would be worth the money spent. Although it would be nice...

Rosemary

11-11-12, 8:11am

We have neither - and we don't consume 4000 sq ft of space, heating, carpet, etc, either.

cdttmm

11-11-12, 8:52am

We have neither. Although a house cleaner would be nice for our ~4500 sq ft house (and, yes, it's way too much house for 2 people; it's a long and complicated story...). We both work ~40 hours per week, but it is by choice so we figure if we are choosing to work then we need to use our time wisely and clean our own house, mow our own lawn, tend to our own landscaping, etc. Of course, our standards for cleaning the house are lowered when necessary. ;)

If I have my way, we will never pay for cable/satellite television again.

rosarugosa

11-11-12, 9:17am

We don't have cable or a housekeeper. I'm a big fan of insourcing what we can, and I'm certainly capable of cleaning the house. My work/commute is about 55 hrs. per week and our house is about 950 s.f.
I do sometimes think about how much of my free time I devote to cleaning and household tasks, but I find that housework is also good thinking time. I would have to have a lot more in savings before I could justify hiring someone to do things I'm perfectly able to do myself (and don't really mind doing).

herbgeek

11-11-12, 9:47am

No housekeeper and I have what is called "mini basic" cable, ie just local networks, local access channels, and cspan. I'm too far to get over the air broadcasts, and I haven't found an antenna that will pull them in yet (but am still looking).

When I was working I certainly could swing the cost of a house cleaner, but philosophically, I prefer to do it myself. I am prone to "new SHINY" syndrome, and having to clean and keep my house organized keeps me more mindful of how much I already have and keeps the rate of accumulation way down. It also keeps me grateful for what I have, and keeps me from wanting a bigger house ( my retirement home will hopefully be under 1000 sq feet).

Tussiemussies

11-11-12, 9:51am

I don't watch any TV and don't like to clean so it would be an easy choice for me -- the housecleaning service! :)

Float On

11-11-12, 10:32am

Neithor one has ever fit in my budget and I'm one of those who would clean before the clearner arrived.
Seriously considered having someone come in and deep clean a bit a couple weeks ago. With the broken ankle I just couldn't....thankfully mom arrived with buckets in hand (she even does windows).

ToomuchStuff

11-11-12, 10:46am

When we were kids, everybody had chores/housecleaning duties. Since I am the only one that has to live with my mess, and I am trying to get rid of stuff, I live with it. (it gets better as you get rid of stuff). I have cable for the internet access. It isn't hooked up to the tv, and I am not planning on getting one of those (free for a limited time) boxes that decrypts their signal. I have one show I watch, and I have to do it online (not shown in this country) and one that I am not willing to pay $60 more a month, to watch it new. (rather watch it online or buy/rent the DVD when out)
I would consider hiring a cleaner for a bit, if I was looking to sell the house. I am sure they would see things I overlook.

pinkytoe

11-11-12, 11:49am

awakenedsoul

11-11-12, 1:05pm

I have neither. I would like to have television again, but it's just gotten so expensive! I used to have basic cable, but in LA those stations are mostly in Spanish. I used to watch Oprah every day, but if I want to get OWN, that's Tier 2, and I just think it's overpriced. I do miss some of my sitcoms, but I read and travel instead.

When I was teaching 15 ballet classes a week, I hired a woman to clean my house once a week. My home is tiny, and she charged $60.00. She was amazing! So professional and detailed. The house looked fabulous! She even vacuumed herself out when she left. I do my own cleaning now that I'm retired. I learned a lot from her. She used to tell me that the house was already clean. She really polished and did things I hadn't thought of...like cleaning under the hood of the range. I just love having a clean house. I lived in hotels for 15 years, so I was spoiled with having daily housekeeping and fresh towels...
To me, a housekeeper is a luxury. But, many people are too tired to keep up their homes, and they fall into chaos and disrepair. I think it's really important to have a peaceful, well cared for living space. I agree with the above post that decluttering makes it much easier.

artist

11-11-12, 1:07pm

I have neither. I do clean houses though as a part of a team. We don't get that much money to clean a house by the time we divide it all up. Deep cleaning a house will take several days and usually runs around $400 or more. Depending. General cleaning every other week is about $130. Cleaning once a month we try to avoid. Takes twice as long and is a ton of scrubbing. Most folks we clean for do not do any cleaning inbetween our coming in.

Tammy

11-11-12, 1:14pm

Cable comes with our rent. Cleaning our 650 square feet, with wood floors and few possessions, takes about an hour a week. I enjoy cleaning and laundry, my husband enjoys food shopping, and we have lots of time to enjoy life. I work 50 hours a week average, but with the kids on their own I have loads of free time.

JaneV2.0

11-11-12, 1:29pm

SteveinMN

11-11-12, 1:30pm

I find it dismaying that resourcefulness and taking care of one's own things seems to be slipping away. So many of my neighbors have lawn people, house cleaning people, dog poop cleaner uppers etc. I will do my own as long as I can.Just keeping up with our 1500 sf house is enough though....I can see hiring somone for special projects but everyday stuff - nope.
I think it's all in where you're coming from. When I was working, my wife and I worked plenty of hours and usually came home at least emotionally exhausted, if not downright physically tired. Our income was many multiples of minimum wage. The commodity in low supply was time. To trade a few working hours of pay to someone else so that we didn't have to dust/vacuum/mow the lawn with what little free time we had? Well worth it.

In addition, people who can bill their time directly (tradespeople, architects, etc.) can spend their time earning more money working than they would have to pay someone to do a household chore. Is it smarter for me to take another $250 job shooting a house for MLS or to turn down that pay so I have time to clean the house or pick up dog poop?

ApatheticNoMore

11-11-12, 1:45pm

No question, the housekeeper. I have seriously pondered getting one at times. I'm tired, the place is a mess, etc.. I don't even watch t.v. at home so whatevers.

Gardenarian

11-11-12, 1:51pm

I am not surprised that these folks (4000 sf house! Cable! Cleaner!) are having trouble with debt reduction.

Float On

11-11-12, 3:02pm

bunnys

11-11-12, 3:04pm

I bet there are a bunch of people with 4000+ sq foot houses who would like to get out but can't bc the market is still so bad.

iris lily

11-11-12, 3:09pm

My husband and his siblings all agree that they were raised by the housekeeper. My MIL still has 'daily help' but I think her 'daily help' gets away with not doing much because when we visit (South Carolina) I notice that the baseboards haven't been done or the freezer cleaned out. My MIL and her friends all think it "shows poor" when you don't have "daily help".

Funny, in the Midwest I think it's more along the lines of "good god you can't do that yourself? WTF is wrong with you?!!" hahaha but still, I had a house cleaner and never looked back.

And you know what? I'm already plotting my garden help next spring. I'm going to do all of the weeding, throw weeds out of the beds, and hire someone to come and pick them up and haul to the dumpster or to the compost piles (depends on the property. I MAY hire help with the mulching as well, don't know. This year I kept up with everything. Roundup was my best friend but I also pulverized a few iris and lilies in the spreading of Roundup, sad that was.

Zoebird

11-11-12, 3:49pm

We've never had a cleaner and have been without cable for the last 13 years now. And, I'm sure it's helped with debt reduction.

My back courtyard needs a good weeding *very badly*, but I just haven't gotten to it. Perhaps this weekend. :)

domestic goddess

11-11-12, 3:49pm

No cleaner, no cable. No TV, actually because here we have to get some kind of special doohickey, and none of us thinks it is worth the money. Some days I can't do much housework due to arthritis, and all those senior "goodies" I now have, but I try to do some every day. No one else here does much housework, so I restrict myself to doing the kitchen and bathroom, which are important to me to have done. I try to do a little every day, but it all depends on the state of my back and knees.
One thing that often bothers me is the number of people who I hear complain that they just have "no time" to do any housework, and are apparently willing to live in squalor, and yet they know what is currently happening on 3 jhours of TV every night. 3X7=21 hours of TV/week! At my highest cable induced frenzy, I was never capable of watching that much TV. Cooking shows are nice, but to really learn how to cook, just do it!
I can see hiring help if I should become further hampered, but I've found I can do the work, just not as quickly. Still, I am able to do lots of extras, like baking cookies and doing crafts with my grandchildren, which could be turned into TV time, if I were ever so inclined. I have found that I have never missed anything important by not watching TV. And a good antidote for feeling tired seems to be getting up and doing something.

pinkytoe

11-11-12, 5:30pm

One thing that often bothers me is the number of people who I hear complain that they just have "no time" to do any housework, and are apparently willing to live in squalor, and yet they know what is currently happening on 3 jhours of TV every night.
Yep. I hear that a lot too. I guess when one is so exhausted from work, there isn't any energy left but to sit down and watch TV. I know that feeling though...

awakenedsoul

11-11-12, 5:57pm

I think that's how a of people feel. When I paid that woman to clean my house, I was depressed about my work situation. I had a boss who wasn't deducting my social security taxes, (I caught it and reported it to the IRs,) among other things. It was very draining. Now I take very good care of my home, and it's a good feeling. (But I don't have to teach all those kids and deal with all those parents anymore, thank God!)

JaneV2.0

11-11-12, 6:32pm

...
One thing that often bothers me is the number of people who I hear complain that they just have "no time" to do any housework, and are apparently willing to live in squalor, and yet they know what is currently happening on 3 jhours of TV every night. 3X7=21 hours of TV/week! At my highest cable induced frenzy, I was never capable of watching that much TV. Cooking shows are nice, but to really learn how to cook, just do it!... .

What's it to you? Really. Grasshoppers of the world unite! http://www.kolobok.us/smiles/madhouse/preved.gif

leslieann

11-11-12, 7:44pm

No cable, but yes to the cleaner of our little house. I have my business in my home (clients come here) and a hairy dog, and with the cleaner twice a month we still do LOTS of cleaning. But at least twice a month everything gets done. Takes a load of my mind more than anything else.