Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Outsourcing

posted by lizzie    « 8 Comments »    tied to Uncategorized   

Several weeks ago I read an article by Laura Vanderkam (who was a guest speaker in on of my classes last semester) about subscribing to laundry service — having somebody come pick up your dirty laundry and return it to you clean. She writes about doing household chores yourself versus outsourcing them so that you can spend more quality time with your family. I was a little bit surprised at some of the responses the initial source, Sarah, got from her friends. Almost as if they think she were cheating on her household duties by not doing the laundry.

I’ve been thinking about what household chores I would outsource if I did have more discretionary income or I could find someone to do it for me. I don’t mind doing laundry, even though I have to go to a laundromat to do it. I don’t love gathering quarters and sorting the clothes, but I do enjoy the relatively laid-back time spent folding the clothes while watching some tv on the internet and Simon naps, so it balances out for me. (I imagine this will change when Simon no longer naps as much.) What I really wouldn’t mind, however, is for someone to plan meals for me. Meal planning takes up too much of my Monday mornings. I can make the list in a few minutes once I’ve decided what I’m going to make for the week and I love making the meal each night, but it is torturous for me to figure out what it’s going to be. I just want someone to tell me what to make and I will gladly make it. Honestly. Get me a meal planner and I will do everything else around the house myself.

What responsibility would you turn over to somebody else if you could?

Comments

  1. Eliza says:
    July 17, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    If I had no dishwasher I would absolutely love to outsource washing dishes. I despise washing dishes by hand, seriously DESPISE!

  2. harmony says:
    July 17, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    that’s so funny that you brought this subject up, because i used to seriously think about hiring the merry maids to literally do my dirty work around the house. it’s not that i don’t care for doing housework – i actually really enjoy it – i simply don’t have the time for it. if brandon let me though, i think i would like to hand over the laundry duties. the piles are NEVERENDING…and there’s only THREE of us!! i cant imagine more kids now…that would be crazy town.

  3. Melissa says:
    July 18, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    i would turn it all over and go to the beach all day. yep, thats what i’d do.

  4. The Richards says:
    July 18, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    Sweeping. I hate sweeping. Vacuuming is fine, but it drives me nuts how half of the dust never makes it into the dustpan!

    I would also hire a chef who would both plan and cook the meals.

  5. Abby says:
    July 18, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    I would give away the joy of the bathroom. I never want to get dirty doing it, and I never feel like I do a good enough job. So if that hung over somebody else’s head that would be great.

  6. diana palmer says:
    July 18, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    i have to go with laundry. i don’t mind doing it and other household things. its just the time!!!! like am i the slowest clothes folder in the world? because if i were to keep up on my laundry i would seriously have to spend several hours on that alone, A DAY. i hate that i’ve resorted to letting myra watch a show or many shows to get it done.

  7. Rachel says:
    July 19, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    You know, you actually can purchase pre-made menus online. I think there are some if you go to http://www.savingdinner.com. You should check it out.

  8. Brad says:
    July 21, 2008 at 5:20 am

    I can’t remember who wrote the book two years ago about outsourcing everything in his life. It wasn’t AJ Jacobs, but it was a similarly ambitious concept. Anyway, I heard him do a reading on the radio, and it was pretty hilarious.

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