https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 29 May 2026 23:54:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource/page/2#post-2908426 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:38:54 +0000 graceandjoy 2908426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: So I currently don't s&amp;s to anything, but if life really gets overwhelming, I see the benefit of just doing that for all household goods and do the soonest re-occurring delivery (I think 4 weeks?) And then just getting the notifications would prompt me to check to see if I'd really need the item, as opposed to now where I'm pretty much just keeping a constant mental tally in my head. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908391 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:01:09 +0000 SweetCaroline 2908391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: here's our subscribe and save list:</p> <p>Laundry pods and Affresh dishwasher and washer cleaning pods<br /> Lysol or Clorox wipes<br /> Chewy granola bars<br /> Elderberry syrup and vitamins<br /> Body lotion, body soap<br /> Refill heads for both electric toothbrushes and toilet brushes<br /> Individual serving peanut and almond butter<br /> Lunch snacks that I see coupon deals on, recently a giant box of small Cheez It bags for lunches/snacks<br /> Furnace filters<br /> Sunscreen<br /> Diapers, wipes</p> <p>These things are 50/50 Amazon and Costco, the price at Costco is better but sometimes convenience wins: pullups, garbage bags, Ziplocs, Cascade pods.</p> <p>I'm not bothered by items going out of stock. Basically, I get the email once a month that says to review my order. I quickly check prices, check our inventory to see if I need to add or defer anything, and find an alternative for anything out of stock. I need to actually type.up a formal list to refer to.</p> <p>I don't use the actual subscribe feature for all that many things. Month to month, many of my subscriptions are added that month and then canceled because I get sick of deferring them. Also, I've gotten some seriously amazing deals by stacking coupons on top the S&amp;S discount. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908386 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:27:30 +0000 DesertDreams88 2908386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: I price-matched all of mine, and a lot of them arrive only every 3-6 months. My items don't go out of stock that much or change prices significantly.</p> <p>toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, contact solution, conditioner, tampons, eczema lotion</p> <p>swiffer things, lysol wipes, batteries, dishwasher tabs</p> <p>concealer, face powder, razor blades, eyebrow pencil, chapstick, tinted lip balm, fake nails</p> <p>kids meds: tylenol, benadryl, decongestant, sore throat pops, melatonin, etc</p> <p>kids &amp; my vitamins, diapers, diaper pail bags, wipes</p> <p>tennis balls, color-changing bath tabs</p> <p>fruit leather, nutrigrain bars, applesauce, veggie straws, yogurt melts</p> <p>Basically anytime I order something on Amazon, if I see a "subscribe and save," I will usually do that. Sometimes even if it's a RARE item, I'll just set it to every 6 months, like tennis balls. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908383 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:20:01 +0000 DesertDreams88 2908383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908382 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:44:57 +0000 Litebrite 2908382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: @DesertDreams88: @SweetCaroline: what do you get on subscribe and save? I tried it a few years ago for toiletries and dog food, but found it was a hassle to get the timing right and they kept changing what products were available so I stopped. But maybe I should give it another go.</p> <p>As to the laundry discussion - I think having someone fold, sort, and put away would be amazing. I guess the actual washer and dryer part isn't terrible. Part of the burden of laundry is that we need to stick to the schedule or my kids end up wearing dirty clothes to school. So we are often scrambling and I would love it if someone just took it all off our plate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908359 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:13:38 +0000 gotkimchi 2908359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For everyone with laundry woes I did hire a teenager to come one day a week in the summer just to fold and put away clothes and it was great because it was cheap and she just did it exactly how I said </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908358 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:08:58 +0000 periwinklebee 2908358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL never ceases to tell me i should find a cleaning lady who will do laundry, but I'm not sure how the logistics of this would work. Our cleaning service sends two people (now we only have them come every other week) and they get the job done pretty quickly. It actually creates laundry for me, as they leave all their rags for me to wash (DH wanted to get a new cleaning service b/c of this, but I didn't have the energy to find one I would trust and otherwise they do a good job). Laundry is always multiple loads per week with kids stuff, towels, linens, our clothes, etc, so I feel like they would have to be here all day to do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908357 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 11:41:08 +0000 JennyPenny 2908357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pajamas: I think this is how I'd need it to work to be worth it. Someone in my home who folds and puts away in the appropriate location. Unfortunately, the cleaning service we use doesn't offer laundry as an add-on :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908356 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 11:31:06 +0000 Mrs. Pajamas 2908356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: @Foodnerd81: @Litebrite: outsourcing laundry was a game changer for us. Our cleaning lady does it. We have her come once/week which is a lot, but such a blessing. Even outsourcing laundry once or twice/week when cleaners come may be worth it for some to consider. (she folds all the clothes and puts away the kids clothes. she leaves our clothes folded in a basket and we put our own away. totally fine with me) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908355 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 11:11:04 +0000 LemonJack 2908355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had #3 and don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the budget, but we do pay to have our house cleaned once a month. Once we have less daycare expenses we’ll up it to twice a month, but for now this is still super helpful.</p> <p>When I’m home with all three kids during the summer I’ll probably try out grocery pick up. I’ve been using the target pickup recently and it’s so helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908350 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 10:28:13 +0000 SweetCaroline 2908350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You guys these areall so awesome. It's definitely helping me remember what we outsource and what we can do more of. I'll respond more later, but here is what we do currently:<br /> Auto Bill Pay for everything (outsource my memory)<br /> Cleaning 2x month<br /> Date night babysitter 2x month<br /> StitchFix<br /> Amazon/Subscribe and Save<br /> Target online orders<br /> Walmart online orders<br /> Grocery pickup<br /> Pay for school lunches<br /> Birthday parties off site </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908346 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:11:35 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2908346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a cleaning company and yard service, and do grocery delivery. Our kids are toddler, preschool, and elementary. Mil helps with childcare and we also alternate. </p> <p>We tried a meal service but the kids hated it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908345 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:05:33 +0000 Pumuckl 2908345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 4 kiddos and we both WOTH we outsource:<br /> - Cleaning twice a week; we do our main areas twice a week and the upstairs sleeping area every two weeks<br /> - Laundry, I am very particular about how I wash things so that I still do myself but all the folding and putting away is outsourced. That easily saves us 4+ hours a week </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908336 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 23:06:19 +0000 Foodnerd81 2908336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: i used to do wash and fold when I lived in the city and didn’t have laundry in the building. I loved having everything cleaned and folded. I didn’t care if they touched my underwear and never thought about how clean their machines were. But they used their own detergent (I didn’t care about that at all) and the didn’t sort clothes, so darks and lights went in together, and everything went in the dryer. That was the worst part.<br /> Plus you do still have to put away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908335 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 23:02:05 +0000 imadreamer 2908335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We outsource:<br /> -cleaning crew every other week<br /> - lawn mowing<br /> - snow removal </p> <p>I wish I could somewhat outsource cooking - have someone come over weekly to help with meal prep/clean up after :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908334 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:17:31 +0000 Shantuck 2908334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m big into outsourcing. We do the following:</p> <p>1) house cleaning every two weeks<br /> 2) lawn mowing plus spring planting and fall clean-up<br /> 3) planting of front yard planters in late spring by local garden shop<br /> 4) weekly Amazon Fresh grocery delivery<br /> 5) dry-cleaning pick-up &amp; delivery service<br /> 6) night nurse has been hired for baby #3, who we are expecting in March - this woman will come three nights a week and has agreed to do laundry for all three children and general tidying while the family sleeps<br /> 7) like others have said - Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target delivery for everything</p> <p>We previously had a snow-shoveling service but last year purchased a snow blower and have been handling ourselves since we’ve had trouble finding a service that gets to us quickly, We’re also looking into having an au pair start with us in the fall as we have had a difficult time finding a sitter to just help with the after school hours for elementary school aged children. It also sounds lovely to have a bit more childcare help in the morning, days off from school, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908328 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 21:06:58 +0000 hitchhiker 2908328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: my first thought was: if they put it away for me, I would pay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908327 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:59:45 +0000 periwinklebee 2908327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Just got super lucky and had a friend who she was also helping with meal prep who introduced us... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908314 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 17:23:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2908314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: @Litebrite: I think it's because it doesn't seem like a real timesaver. </p> <p>Putting clothes in the wash takes 5 min max. Switching them to the dryer takes 5 min max. Taking them out takes 5 min max. That's 15 min a day, MAX, which would be the same amount of time as dropping them off at a place and picking them up. I also don't have room in my car for multiple loads of laundry.</p> <p>It only really saves time on folding. I don't fold baby/kid clothes, I just throw them in the drawer. So again, that doesn't save time. </p> <p>Laundry service also wouldn't put clothes away for me , sadly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908312 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 17:02:18 +0000 gotkimchi 2908312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: @Litebrite: I tried wash and fold and the problem for me was things weren’t sorted so I still had to go through each item to put away and also things were barely folded. Ir felt like a half assed job. It just wasn’t as great as I wanted </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908311 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:54:24 +0000 Litebrite 2908311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: True, I have never priced it out to see if it would be worth it. But wash-dry-fold delivered to my door sounds heavenly.</p> <p>I'd also want to trust that they are using good products and that the machines themselves are clean. And now that I think about I'd feel weird about having someone handle my dirty underwear. So this is a half baked idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908307 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:41:36 +0000 JennyPenny 2908307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: Your comment got me thinking about why that may be. No one I know uses a laundry service so I assumed it'd just be crazy expensive. But in my area it's 35/week with pick up and delivery 2 days later. I could totally get behind that! The only thing is I don't know anyone who does it so I have no idea if there are possible hiccups (like type of detergent) or anything like that </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908302 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:15:30 +0000 Litebrite 2908302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm surprised so few people out source laundry. We just got a cleaning service, but the #2 thing I'd want to out source is laundry. And then healthy pre-made meals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908280 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:02:35 +0000 Mommy Finger 2908280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely the cleaning person that comes every other week. I wish we could have her come every week.</p> <p>I wish I could get DH to outsource the lawn care but he's insistent he can do it.</p> <p>Tossed around the idea of outsourcing laundry but DH does that too and doesn't want to let go.</p> <p>Amazon and Target delivery everything.</p> <p>I love grocery shopping so I don't outsource that but do on occasion when it's super busy. Also order out more than I'd like but give myself grace on that. Survival! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908263 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:24:51 +0000 codeitall 2908263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I need that! I hate meal planning and prepping with a passion now that I have two picky kids and a milk allergy to deal with. And it is usually just me and the kids for dinner, so I really hate cooking just one adult meal. How did you find her?</p> <p>We rent in an HOA community. There's a teeny backyard that I mow in the summer every other week while the kids play. But everything else outside is taken care of. We wouldn't survive without that.</p> <p>For a brief period of time my college student SIL would come over a clean for extra cash, but she hasn't done that for a while now and we've been encouraging her to get a real job. Between over 2 months of morning/all-day sickness and her not coming over, my house is a true disaster zone right now. We haven't even unboxed all the Christmas presents yet!</p> <p>The only things I haven't seen listed here is dog walkers and personal assistants. Some folks in another mom group have a personal assistant and they schedule all appts, kid activity signups, do product research, bill pay, manage/schedule home maintenance, etc. I'd say that's a very niche outsourcing role though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908256 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:33:35 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2908256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: over the holidays my mom and grandma were like ugh the malls are so awful blah blah and I’m like ...I haven’t been to a mall at Christmas in 2+ years! They were amazed. I sent an amazon wish list to my mom for the boys and it blew her mind that the gifts came the next day! She’s converted now ha! I save all my returns to do at once during a weekday or evening if possible because it drives me nuts to actually go to stores now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908250 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:10:49 +0000 JJ2626 2908250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I only have 1 kid but grocery delivery is a lifesaver for us. We do PrimeNow from Whole Foods once a week and it’s amazing. Admittedly, we also get takeout at least once a week and have a meal delivery service (not a cooking kit, an actual hot meal) once a week. But we don’t really like cooking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908249 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:02:16 +0000 periwinklebee 2908249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What has been a godsend for me, with a newborn, a toddler with severe food allergies (can't eat out or anything from the deli, which is all cross-contaminated), and a job where I need to put in a couple of hours per day remotely even on mat leave is to have a woman help with meal prep once/week. She's a local retiree who loves to cook, and it ends up being less than eating out or a meal delivery service. </p> <p>I would love to do some of these other things, but decided ultimately that meal prep help was the most valuable return/$. We have a large yard, so also have lawn service during the summer months. Decided to do our own snow removal to save $. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908245 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:50:50 +0000 graceandjoy 2908245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@muffinsmuffins: Same! I only go to a store to pick up or return lol! Target pick up/drive up is a life-saver. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-or-would-you-outsource#post-2908238 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:33:17 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2908238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As others have said: biweekly cleaning, grocery ordering/pick up, I order literally everything online possible, and we do snow and lawn maintenance service too. We have a handyman who does things on the side of his regular job for cash so we just text him when something annoying happens. We pretty much always pay someone to do any home maintenance rather than DIY. </p> <p>The biggest thing for me is shopping online. I didn’t step foot in a store other than the drugstore for stocking gifts this holiday season. We pay a flat yearly fee for grocery ordering as well so even if it’s just a couple things, I just pull up to the store after I make the order and it saves the $5 pick up fee. </p>