https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:06:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2425631 Mon, 18 Jan 2016 10:17:16 +0000 snowjewelz 2425631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just yardwork... We can't really afford much else! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2425588 Mon, 18 Jan 2016 09:51:01 +0000 Bluebonnet 2425588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do the same thing @Mrs D: does (make a big meal on Sundays). That way I know I could walk in the door on Monday, heat up dinner and that would help so much with the night time rush. </p> <p>I also got in the habit of meal planning and meal prepping on weekends or the night before. It made the after work rush so much easier when I had to just put something in the oven or heat on the stove vs prepping an entire meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424783 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:13:49 +0000 Mrs D 2424783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: yup - my mom did it to (we were older) and it was the one simple/constant rule...your stair had better be clean when you go to bed. Right now I just use it for DH and I - but when K is safer on the stairs she'll get one. For now we use her bins in the family room to collect her stuff... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424780 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:12:16 +0000 LovelyPlum 2424780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: bins on the stairs are awesome. We did something silica growing up, and our chore was to clear the stairs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424774 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:09:58 +0000 LovelyPlum 2424774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use dog daycare once a week. That helps a LOT. Also, is there a laundromat close to you? Many have wash-fold-dry services. Some dry cleaners do, too.</p> <p>I get super overwhelmed at night, too, especially when I am solo parenting, or we are both super busy. I think the key for us is to simplify as much as possible. Get rid of unnecessary stuff that just takes up room that you then have to clean. Clorox wipes are my favorite for quick clean up, as are crock pot meals. I've also taken to to making LO a plate of leftovers at the end of dinner for a quick dinner the following night. It helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424760 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:03:25 +0000 Mrs D 2424760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsH: With regard to the nightly rush...this was killing me...I do pick up at drop off and hated that the minute I walked in the door I had to immediately cook dinner if I had any chance of us eating "homemade" (seriously using that term very loosely). I made a small change a few months ago and it has been HUGE...on Sundays I make a casserole...something easy and that I know K wont fight with me over eating. I walk in the door at 5:45 and if I have just had a bad day and dont want to rush through fixing a nice dinner I know I have good food for K to eat and I can fuss over DH and I after decompressing for a minute. Usually its pasta bake, mac n cheese, enchiladas - something that re-heats well and at least makes me personally feel better than easy mac. (I dont think there is anything wrong with easy mac) I also try to cook one veggie on Sundays for the same reason - having something on hand!</p> <p>With regard to the clutter. K is 2.5 now - so we make her pick up her own toys. She knows before bed she has a "chore" of picking her toys up. I bought a bunch of sterilite plastic bins for our family room and she puts all her toys in them at night.</p> <p>As for counter clutter - I read a blog post once that was about taking 5-15 mins of time each night to sort the house. I think the blogger had older children who could handle better chores but a couple things I took away from it was that she has a bin on her kitchen counter that collects the "crap" (i.e. mail, kids homework reports, etc). On an ongoing basis - you just throw it in so yes the bin is a mess but the counter is clear. Then once a week or every few days she goes through the bin. She also had baskets on the stairs, one for each family member, and at the end of each day she could walk the house collecting the items that found their way downstairs and needed to go back upstairs...</p> <p>I have used both of these techniques and they have both helped me feel better with "quick" fixes. I try to spend 10 mins on my feet after LO goes down just re-grouping the house...its helped a ton... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424750 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:54:56 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2424750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: @winniebee: yeahs I'm a teacher so I get off somewhat early but I'm gone before LO wakes up so DH needs some help...he was getting to work at like 9/9:30 which just doesn't work. It's been awesome coming home to a clean house with dinner ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424741 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:47:52 +0000 winniebee 2424741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsH: you didn't offend me, but I do think there's a common misconception that if you WAH you have the freedom to do whatever you want. Don't get me wrong, it's easier in a lot of ways than working out of the home (I've done both) but if you do your job correctly you don't have all that much free time! It also may be different than others' experiences - I solo parent quite a bit (every morning until our nanny arrives) and many nights I have to do everything alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424740 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:47:40 +0000 MrsH 2424740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: @shellio: thank you ladies, your replies really made me feel not alone. I really appreciate it. </p> <p>The nightly rush also kills me @Applesandbananas - especially because I just feel so drained from work.</p> <p>@shellio: I hate the clutter but I also hate cleaning the clutter. Vicious cycle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424735 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:44:28 +0000 MrsH 2424735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I in no way meant any offense to WAH parents. Sorry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424655 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 11:54:35 +0000 Applesandbananas 2424655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a lot of easy meals, like meat paired with steam in bag veggies, a pot of chili, a crock pot roast, etc. that we can eat twice or take for lunches. </p> <p>We also use paper plates and plastic cups to cut down on dishes. I keep a tote bin in the living room that I use to do a fly by of the kitchen/living room/dining room. I just scoop up all LO's stray toys and put them in the bin and then dump the bin in his room when I have a chance to put a few things away. His room is almost always a mess but I don't have the time or desire to constantly pick up shit for him to turn around and dump it out two seconds later. </p> <p>We have a Dyson stick vacuum that is light enough for LO (almost 3) to manuver, so he does our vacuuming. He likes to wipe down the tables too, so he does that as well. </p> <p>DH has to load the dishwasher, that's just his job and there's no ifs ands or buts about it. I throw a load of laundry in every night (we have a small machine) and it gets piled into baskets wherever until I can put it away. I usually put it away while LO climbs around on the bed. </p> <p>My biggest area of frustration is the nightly rush, when we come in the door from daycare and LO is hungry, there's clutter everywhere, and it's a big scramble to get him fed, the dogs fed (and any messes they've made cleaned up), dinner for us started, etc. We rely on screen time but I'm fine with that. I'm only human. </p> <p>Hang in there. I know it's hard, I wrote a similar post not long ago. We outsource childcare so we can WOH and with no local family, it's hard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424625 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 11:33:53 +0000 Anagram 2424625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far the only thing we outsource is childcare. That's already so expensive for us that we can't afford to outsource anything else without drastically changing our spending/lifestyle/travel habits, and we'd rather keep that stuff and clean our own house, do our own laundry, etc.</p> <p>I do buy a lot of convenience foods for dinner--not necessarily unhealthy processed foods, but I'm always totally willing to be already washed/chopped veggies or frozen veggies that just have to be microwave steamed. And I only cook 2-3 times a week, but bigger batches and we eat every meal twice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424614 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 11:26:22 +0000 shellio 2424614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also - we splurged on a nice Roomba a few months ago and I don't know how we lived without it. We rarely vacuumed before so its not like it saves us any time but with two dogs we really should have been vacuuming all the time. It encourages us to keep up with the floor debris, hubby or I spend an extra 10-15 minutes every night going around and picking things up and putting them where they belong so the robot can do its job and it has definitely improved the general tidyness of our house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424613 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 11:23:29 +0000 shellio 2424613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been there with the drowning feeling. We outsource a few things but I took a really hard look at what we need, what we can put up with mess-wise, and what it would cost us to hire people to do even more - delayed retirement? fewer vacations? etc. I tried to really come up with systems that would help streamline the day to day mess that is generated. Do you need a better organizing system for toys, so there aren't toys everywhere after bedtime that require more cleaning? Do you have too many dishes that require hand washing? Not judging here, just listing some of the things I came up with in our home! :)</p> <p>As for suggestions, I don't know if amazon pantry has been mentioned and I haven't tried it myself but I've heard good things from others. It wouldn't eliminate the need to grocery shop but would at least cut down on the time it takes, and ensure a supply of quick meals that are still relatively healthy and allergy-appropriate. We try not to eat packaged food but have started keeping some items around that are easy to throw together for a quick dinner. I've heard great things about personal chefs as some have mentioned above - for example, one person I know said they come over once or twice a week, prepare several dishes at a time, and clean up after themselves. </p> <p>My biggest issue was (and still is) the little day-to-day stuff. Unloading/loading dishwasher, wiping all the counters, putting away everything that accumulates on the counters and kitchen island after a day of activity, folding laundry and putting away, etc. It is so tedious and time consuming. I mentioned to a coworker that I hate doing this stuff every day and she actually asked her cleaning lady if she would be willing to come over to tidy up each day and the lady said yes. Point being, you can always find someone to do what you don't want to do. If you already have a cleaning person, maybe ask them, or ask around for references on a person that is trustworthy. I second nextdoor.com as we've found that to be a valuable resource. A great nanny as has been mentioned is also a valuable asset. Sorry this post is so long but I totally feel your pain and still struggle with this myself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424594 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 10:52:38 +0000 Mrs D 2424594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: We are doing a PM Nanny as soon as LO2 (due in March) hits 2 years...I cannot wait...we thought about doing the morning Nanny but for us we need the help with pre-school/daycare pick ups...so PM worked! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424542 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 09:06:23 +0000 winniebee 2424542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: when DS2 starts part time school in the fall, we will do the same for afternoon care. Have nanny pick him up, put him down for a nap, do housework then pick the older up from school and do their after care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424537 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 08:57:17 +0000 winniebee 2424537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I WAH but it's not like I get to clean or cook or do laundry while working and my husband works 80 hours a week. So we have a house cleaner ever 2 weeks and I hired a nanny that was willing to do light housework and laundry. I run errands on my day off, with the kids, and do grocery shopping Sunday's with one of the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424458 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 01:13:21 +0000 Kimberlybee 2424458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We eat out a lot on the weekends but I am trying to cut down on that this year. I bought a pressure cooker recently and hoping to speed up my cooking. I wish I could outsource home cooked meals. I have a meal train going on from family and friends until February since we just had our DD2. It's so nice not to have to worry about cooking for a month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424451 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 00:18:28 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2424451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a cleaning service, gardener, and we just hired a morning nanny to get LO to school, then she does shopping, laundry, meal prep after. We did blue apron for awhile, but it was a ton of work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424448 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 23:39:28 +0000 LCTBQE 2424448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>this is a small thing that you might already do, but last spring I started using Amazon Pantry (and regular Prime) to buy all of our cleaning supplies and a lot of dry goods/household basics, and we never have to waste an entire Saturday morning going to Target anymore. Plus, Prime remembers what you bought, so you can just re-order the same paper towels and stuff when you run out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424437 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:54:32 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2424437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsH: how about hiring a mother's helper a few times a week to help with the chores/errands, etc. You don't necessarily need a service to get stuff done. You can just hire a helper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource/page/2#post-2424426 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:27:45 +0000 avivoca 2424426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We outsource childcare and major home projects. I wish we could afford lawn service again! That was AMAZING and I loved coming home to a perfect lawn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424418 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:09:56 +0000 gingerbebe 2424418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a lawn/landscape guy, childcare, use a handyman and a tree service for maintenance around the house, and are in the process of getting a cleaning service (need to declutter a bit first). We do laundry pretty constantly - it's become a habit when we walk past the washer to just throw in a load. It helps make up for the hell no days when the house is just a wreck. We just dump the dry clothes on our bed and one or both of us folds before we go to sleep. We lean a little more on prepackaged foods from Costco when things are busy - individually portioned hummus, easy to eat fruit and veggies like bananas, clementines, baby carrots. We buy the prepackaged salads sometimes and bars and I almost bought some of those Sargento fast breaks and hard boiled eggs last night. Maybe next week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424404 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:45:21 +0000 Bluebonnet 2424404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check to see if your neighborhood is on Nextdoor.com (social media for neighborhoods). I've found some awesome suggestions for local resources. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424401 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:37:43 +0000 Mrs D 2424401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsH: do you have dream dinners? Or something similar? I think it could easily cater to allergies/sensitivities...since you go and "prep" the meal there. Basically they provide the recipe, all the ingredients and tools to prep and you make as many meals as you want...you could go once a month and freeze a bunch! I have never done it myself bc I meal prep at home but I know m&amp;ms that LOVE it! Try googling it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424398 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:34:16 +0000 macintosh 2424398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a "nanny" that comes usually 2 days per week and she also helps with the dishes and laundry. Those are my 2 most time consuming chores so on the days that she is here, I come home from work and have some time to unwind. She's amazing, she keeps the baby fed, makes sure he naps on time, and he's always a happy camper when I get home. </p> <p>I also try not to feel bad about eating out and buying quick/frozen meals. It's an extra cost but sometimes there just isn't time to cook and clean up.</p> <p>If I'm busy during the week, I totally cheat and don't fold the laundry for a couple days, or I'll leave a load for the nanny to fold the next day.</p> <p>I used to pay my neighbor's kid to mow the lawn, too. We're going to chip in and hire a service cause he's too busy to mow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424387 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:17:09 +0000 MrsSRS 2424387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe you need a nanny or a housekeeper? When I was a nanny I coordinated with the cleaning lady, did the grocery and Target shopping, rotated laundry, prepped meals, managed daily tidying...obviously childcare came first and there were days none of that got done because of a cranky baby who needed to be held all day or whatever. But for the most part it got managed so when Mom and Dad got home they could enjoy their kids as much as possible. Some households just need three people to keep them running! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424384 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:09:23 +0000 regberadaisy 2424384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: where did you find him?<br /> But seriously, between working and rainy days, sometimes it's almost two weeks before he can get to the lawn. Then we feel like the deadbeats of the neighborhood. Also, our neighbor two doors down (who's neighborhood gossip!) is also landscaper. I'm afraid he'll be offended if we got a college kid. But I feel like since he has a business, it would be more than DH would be willing to pay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424382 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:06:22 +0000 Aandmklover 2424382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For laundry maybe you can see if a coin laundry mat has a drop off laundry service. My great aunt used to own one and her drop off laundry kept her busy while she oversaw the laundry mat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wohp-what-do-you-outsource#post-2424365 Sat, 16 Jan 2016 20:52:42 +0000 Mae 2424365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just do childcare and house cleaning. But (especially since I JUST went back to work 2 weeks ago and am still adjusting) I am giving myself a lot of grace when it comes to our food right now. I'm still feeding LO healthy but I've cooked for us literally one time in the last two weeks. </p> <p>Given your location, I would wonder if you could maybe put an ad out on craigslist? Or if not that, maybe put an ad at a local college, trade school, or even high school? Or a church, if you know anyone who goes to church. Like you just need a warm body to do some shit, right? I feel like there are SO many people who would be thrilled to do basic labor for $10/hr and anyone can fold clothes and chop veggies, ya know? Prob just 2-4 hours every saturday morning would be life changing for you. </p>