Comments on: Why I Disagree with Hiring Others to do Your Work for Less

By: TopWaysToSave

TopWaysToSave — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:45:39 +0000

I think a lot of chores are also the only exercise some people get. If you pay someone to do some of these jobs like tending a garden, raking leaves and mowing your lawn then you might as well pay someone to go to the gym for you too.

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:29:29 +0000

I agree. In fact, I most hire people who make more than me (such as doctors).

I especially like your tangible benefits criterion. Lots of activities get you closer to things so you can tell earlier when things are going wrong. Lots of activities are good exercise.

I would add this criterion: How good are you at doing the chore compared to how good the professional is? For example, I’m better at house painting that most professionals I can afford because I have time to be more careful, but I’m much worse at plumbing both because I’m ignorant and because I’m too weak to get those dang pipes to do what I want.

The real question is whether you would rather have this service than something else you could obtain with the same money.

I knew someone who budgeted a certain amount each month for stress relief. Sometimes she spent it on massages. Once she spent it on a parking permit so she could drive instead of taking the bus. If getting a maid or something makes you a lot happier, you should consider figuring out a way to do that.

By: Gail

Gail — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:53:33 +0000

>>If your health is good now, you should still consider saving that money you can use to hire someone to do a mildly annoying chore so that you can afford to pay someone to help you to do something vital when your health fails and you really need the help.
<<

Amen sister. So many seem to think that they will always have unlimited good health and income. It isn’t necessarily so. I think many people today overbook themselves because they are trying to keep up with the Jones. In the long run they are stressed out and feel like they don’t have time to get things done and need to hire it out. Save your money to hire things out when your health is too rickety to do things for yourself. And for those who think it won’t happened to them, think again.

By: orchid

orchid — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:16:27 +0000

People assign different values to their time. My freetime is worth more to me than my salary per hour, so I am willing to pay more for services to free up my time. I don’t think Redbook was implying that you should spend money if you cannot afford it. They were simply trying to make a point that your time is worth something even if you are not earning a salary. If you disagree, can’t afford to pay for services, or don’t want to pay for these services then don’t. I’m sure that there are others out there who value using money for tangible goods over paying to free up time. Everyone should look at their own finances and priorities. I hope that everyone can learn to place at least SOME value on their freetime.

By: Hana

Hana — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:33:30 +0000

Finally! someone who takes health into consideration. I have very poor health- am on disability,and even with a limited income, I have hired much of my housework. Right now being between housekeepers is a real hardship. We try to make up for it with prepared food and shortcut cleaning supplies, but things don’t get done. money is, in my eyes, a sdecodry resource. We use it to augment our primary ones- time and energy.

By: gary

gary — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:11:42 +0000

This is not an option if everyone makes more than you…

By: Alexandria

Alexandria — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:43:10 +0000

When I was young and made half the income I pretty much never hired anyone to do anything.

Now that I have kids, my time is more limited and immeasuarbly more valuable. The bigger income is also a large factor. I obviously would not feel comfortable outsourcing so much if I didn’t have the income – I tend to be rather frugal.

I hire people because I love my job, and value my time outside of work, and only outsource things I don’t like to do and/or I know others can do much better (the cheaper the better).

It would be silly to hire people to do things you don’t mind doing, of course. That’s kind of stating the obvious.

By: Wealthizfreedom

Wealthizfreedom — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:57:15 +0000

Some tasks do require a professional service, like plumbing, electrical etc. Also, if you are working 50 – 60 hours a week and by the time it comes to do some menial tasks, your’re so exhausted, the value of hiring a service is beyond monetary and serves an emotional and mental relief. That is how we treat ourselves, like going out to dinner.

By: Done To Zen » Why hiring others to do work for less is not always right

Done To Zen » Why hiring others to do work for less is not always right — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:20:09 +0000

[...] Shannon, over at SavingAdvice, disagrees with the popular notion that you should hire others to do your work for less: [...]

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:09:11 +0000

Sometimes we get locked into doing something because thats the way its always been done. My mom did it, it builds character, ect. Some moms also made all the clothes for their children when I was growing up and I rarely see that now. I don’t believe that makes todays moms lazy or without character. But it has become a lost skill. I think we should challenge accepted habits to see how they benefit ourselves and our families and go from there. My grandmothers family came from alot of money and grew up with servants. She never adjusted to the loss of family money. She had never learned to clean. I think housework should be a part of parental teachings so children will know how and it can also build a sense of teamwork. But character building can come from many things, it is not limited to housework.