Best Money Ever Spent

For the first time ever, I paid someone MONEY! to help me clean my house. Why I feel so completely guilty or precocious over this fact, I don't know, but I broke down and paid MONEY! to have someone deep-clean my kitchen while I handled the bathrooms. (I have three boys and a guilty conscience. I couldn't make her do it.)

BEST MONEY EVER SPENT and could possibly save my marriage on many levels. At least, this is how I planned on explaining it to Candy Ass when he returned from his fishing trip after first asking him if a) he noticed how very clean his house was and, b) wouldn't he LOVE IT if it were always - OK, mostly - this clean? and, c) very good then, we've agreed that we're hiring her! At which point he'll be like, WAIT. WHA? You paid someone to clean the house? And the eyerolling shall begin. BUT THEN, then I will show him the inside of the microwave which apparently is supposed to be white, not yellow-ish. (And did you know that turning glass plate comes out of there? Huh.) And if that didn't impress him I planned on showing him that weird drawer thing below the oven (whatever that's for) and show him that while no, I've never used or even opened or understood what it's for, IT'S CLEAN TOO! Ta-daaa!

The only loophole in my fail-proof plan is the part where Candy Ass then says all logically and shit (I hate when he gets all logical on me), "OK, well let's sit down and make a new budget and see if hiring her will work." And that right there? Could be the end of our marriage - having to sit down and talk finances just so HE can have the clean house HE always wanted ME to provide. (And to my credit, I'd be providing it, technically, via a little outsourcing.) But at the cost of creating a BUDGET? Oh hail no.

So maybe I don't tell him I, er, delegated that particular duty. Maybe I just take credit for suddenly discovering and dusting the ovenhood thing?  

I know. I'm doomed. Break out the bank statements, an excel spreadsheet and a bottle of Xanax.

Comments

[Bridget]

I just hired someone to come in weekly and clean. I'm still adjusting to it...it's weird to me. But it's pretty damn awesome when I can walk in the kids bathroom without wanting to gag! lol

[Julie @ Angry Julie Monday]

HELL YES!!! We had to get rid of ours cause we poor white folk, but we are saving up for her to return again. I HATE HATE HATE cleaning. And clean up toilets that little boys and 35 year old boys pee in, is YUCKY!

[Sam]

See, I would have just let Mark think *I* cleaned the house and when he got home from work, said, "WOW. I've been really busy today. I'm going to lay and bed and watch tv for a while. You've got the kids, right?"
I'm sneaky like that.

[Kristin]

I so miss having someone come in once a week. It was a lifesaver, for sure.

The whole sit down budget thing doesn't appeal to me either...just tell him to trust you, it's a necessity. Or tell him his new job is cleaning the toilets :)

[avasmommy]

I have someone who comes in every other week, and after the first of the year, will be every week. I make no apologies for it, it is a sanity-saver for me. Without it, I'd be sitting in a corner weaving baskets. It frees me to play with my daughter. You can't put a price on that.

[Kel]

As I said on twitter honey, do not feel guilty. I have 3 children, a 4000 sq ft house, anxiety and depression. I use to pay a lady to clean my house 3 times a month. If we could still afford her she would still be cleaning my house. Do not feel ashamed, guilty or bothered by that at all. Sometimes WE need that as mothers, wives, home keepers. My husband decided my sanity and a clean house was more important than the money we were spending (which I am told was cheap, we paid her $110 total for the 3x a month). I also gave up mani/pedis for a while but the clean house was nice.

[Natasha]

The drawer is for pans!!!! all of those cookie sheets, jelly roll pans, roasters, and broiler pans ( I know, who knew they had all those special names!!) Pretty much everything flat goes in that drawer. As long as it doesn't have a handle it goes in there. That's how I do it at my house anyway.

[Avitable]

But did your house cleaner wear a little French maid outfit and nothing else underneath? Because that's what I ask mine to wear. She says no, but I still ask.

[Ren]

So worth it.

[Dawn]

SIGH. I work full time with a minimum 1 hour commute each way. I recently had a company give me an estimate and we couldn't justify spending the money. My new plan of attack is to do one thing each weeknight so I don't spend my weekends cleaning. So far this week my plan is not working.

[mel]

This is a necessity when you have 3 boys. Don't feel guilty. Tim has OCD, so I've recently considered getting him a cleaning lady so that we see him more and when we do, he doesn't smell like cleaning products.

[MissB]

I've really been thinking about doing this. Do they clean carpets or do I have to hire someone seperate for that? I have no room for a damn steam cleaner!
I wonder the cost for a 2 bedroom/2 bath apt...
I use that drawer for storage! not sure if thats what its really meant for...

[Linda]

I would tell him 'I' did it (IF he noticed!) I do have a lady that comes in 2x a month. It's awesome! If you hire this lady on a regular basis it won't cost as much as the first time. She's already done all the dirty work. Now it's just scheduled maintenance.

[DCUrbanDad]

I love the ladies that come in clean my house. But now my Dyson gives me dirty looks as if I am cheating on her. Go ahead and do the budget.

[laprimera]

Dude! That is the one extravagance I miss the most! I can't wait until I can afford it again. Do what you can to make it happen. xoxo

[cali]

hahahaha... GOOD LUCK!! maybe you can ply him with some hard liquor or something??

[Courtney]

You could always pop the Xanax and come out of the stupor when Candy Ass is telling you it's ok to hire her! Total WIN! I'm jealous that I have to go home and clean all by my lonesome tonight!

[EmmieJ]

Being responsible sucks. The end.

[Lauren/MOMMYISROCKNROLL]

I would LOVE it if we could afford a maid. I hate cleaning and I can't keep up with it in addition to going to school and taking care of the baby. I hope you can fit it into your budget!

[CT Mom]

Love love love our cleaning lady. Every two weeks - so worth the $$, my sanity, and the forced clutter pickup.

[CT Mom]

Love love LOVE our cleaning lady. Every two weeks - so worth the $$, my sanity and the forced clutter cleanup.

[Al_Pal]

I *think* that is a "warming drawer"...but I totally store pans and such in it! :D