What do you outsource?

[riverwed070707]

Its not a secret this group tends to be more frugal than the general population, so I'm curious what things (luxuries?) you feel are worth shelling out the dough for the time savings rather than DIY for the cost savings.

I'm contemplating hiring a housekeeper. I don't want a company to come in 1x/week or 2x/month to deep clean my house, I want someone who can show up 2-3x/week to do the dishes, pick up the clutter and just keep it presentable. We're a busy family and tend to have after work and weekend commitments almost daily. When we do have a day at home, I just want to relax, not try to catch up on housework. Admittedly, my DH is awesome and occasionally goes in late to work once a week or so to keep us from looking like slobs but its still a stress point for me. Because I'm still frugal, I'm contemplating finding someone to keep up on the house 10-12 hours a week in exchange for a room in our house. Is that crazy? Alternatively, I could pay someone but this isn't a service most cleaning companies offer so it would probably be just a student or someone without a business license trying to pick up some extra cash.

Anyway, curious what tasks you find worthwhile to outsource and how much you spend for the added time in your day.

[disneysteve]

We have someone mow our lawn. I did it for about the first 10 years and then gave up. I wasn't great at it and often let it get out of control. This way, it's done every 2 weeks and looks fine. They also take care of the leaves in the fall.

I don't service my own car. Never have. Just not how I was raised.

Those are the 2 biggies that come to mind. There are probably some others.

[Jluke]

Car Wash (exterior only)
Car Service/Repair
Lawn Treatment/Weed Control; still do my own mowing
Driveway Sealing every 3-4 years


Sounds like a housekeeper would be a wise use for your money.

[bjl584]

I'm a DIY'er.

I've paid for major work in the past. Furnace needed repaired. New Transmission in my old truck.

[cypher1]

Car Wash (exterior only)
Lawn Treatment/Weed Control; still do my own mowing
Driveway Sealing every 3-4 years

Same items, but would add tree/branch trimming every 4-5yrs.

[Fishindude77]

Used to do about everything myself. As I've gotten older I figure can be money ahead working at my profession, rather than what savings might be gained trying to do everything myself.

Use a car wash about half the time.
Pay someone to change oil and service cars.
Hire out painting at the house inside and out.
Hire out any repair or remodeling at the house.
Pay to have driveway sealed.
Hire out the maintenance and repair on equipment.
Pay a CPA to do taxes.
Have salt for softener delivered.
Pay to have dog boarded.

Still do all of our own housekeeping, lawn work, snow removal, etc.
A housekeeper would be nice, could see that sometime in the future?

[disneysteve]

Furnace needed repaired.

I wasn't thinking of major work but yes, I did not install my own heater or air conditioner or roof or driveway or any other really major type of job.

Pay a CPA to do taxes.

Ah, there's one I forgot. Yes, we have a CPA do our taxes. I come from a line of accountants. My father and his brother (my uncle) started an accounting firm 60+ years ago. They're both gone now and my 2 cousins took over and one has handled our taxes since my father died 22 years ago.

[ua_guy]

Depends on how granular you want to get. We do our own cooking, cleaning, yard maintenance, car washing, grocery shopping, and we do a lot of DIY maintenance on our vehicles and other equipment. We're handy around the house and we're apt to tear into things or try to fix them before we call someone out. We have no regularly scheduled services where people come to our house and do things for us. We even groom our own dog--something I learned after he was nicked by a groomer that charged $100. I'm very good with clippers, and the dog seems to not mind at all. No nicks, happy dog.

We have our business clothes dry-cleaned. We've hired out to have the house painted, and to have landscape projects done. One of our vehicles gets service at the dealer, because it was included with the sale. We will be hiring someone to put a new roof on our house, and one of the bathrooms needs an update. I've done 3 bathrooms down to the studs and dirt (new subfloor) in other houses...that's work. I also need the driveway re-sealed, which will get hired out. So, in other words, "major" work gets outsourced.

We had a friend in town about two weeks ago and he said he's now in a position to "pay other people to do the things he doesn't like to do". Oh, really? Well, I guess that's subjective. I don't like doing some of my chores either, but I also don't see the value in outsourcing some of them, like cleaning the house--mostly because I don't want strangers in my house.

[corn18]

1. I don't do plumbing or electrical repairs, so that gets outsourced (made many things much worse by trying to do these myself)
2. Haircuts (humans and pets)
3. Yard stuff other than mowing (I like mowing and no one I have hired has done it to my standards)
4. Car maint / repair is on a case by case basis. If I can do it and not risk making it worse, I do. I don't change oil in the newer cars. The one car is my toy (1980 MGB) and I do all the work on that.
5. Major house repairs
6. Dry cleaning my work clothes and shirts
7. Tailoring
8. Medical care (not qualified)
9. Education (no home schooling)

I still do my taxes, although I would like someone else to. I do all the house painting, although I don't enjoy it. Wife keeps the house chores done, although she doesn't enjoy it.

[riverwed070707]

You all are funny. Many of these I definitely would categorize as necessities over luxuries.

One question - several people mentioned driveway sealing... I've never even heard of that. What is it and why do you do it? Presume since so many outsource it its hard to do yourself?

[ua_guy]

You all are funny. Many of these I definitely would categorize as necessities over luxuries.

One question - several people mentioned driveway sealing... I've never even heard of that. What is it and why do you do it? Presume since so many outsource it its hard to do yourself?

I can't speak for the others, but we have a very large asphalt driveway. Over time, the "tar" (oil matter) on the surface starts breaking down and the surface becomes penetrable by moss, moisture, and other stuff. Keeping a clean driveway, and keeping sealer (which is a thin topcoat of tar/petroleum-based sealer) helps it last a LOT longer. Since driveway surfaces aren't always as hard-packed as roads, it's also important to make sure gravel near the surface of the asphalt doesn't dislodge. Keeping a sealer on there keeps everything "glued" together.

[riverwed070707]

I can't speak for the others, but we have a very large asphalt driveway. Over time, the "tar" (oil matter) on the surface starts breaking down and the surface becomes penetrable by moss, moisture, and other stuff. Keeping a clean driveway, and keeping sealer (which is a thin topcoat of tar/petroleum-based sealer) helps it last a LOT longer. Since driveway surfaces aren't always as hard-packed as roads, it's also important to make sure gravel near the surface of the asphalt doesn't dislodge. Keeping a sealer on there keeps everything "glued" together.

Ah that makes a lot of sense. Ours is concrete.

[feh]

If I'm capable of doing it myself, I do it. That covers the vast majority of tasks around the house.

[JoeP]

We sometimes "outsource" tasks when either:
- there is risk of discomfort, danger, or rework cost from doing it incorrectly ourselves
- specialized tools or skills are needed

I actually enjoy working on cars, repairing appliances, household electric, plumbing, maintaining power equipment, pressure washing, lawn mowing, tree trimming, etc. I made fixes to my furnace over the past 4 years that would have run $1k parts+labor easy (pressure switch, flame inducer blower assembly), by looking up the solutions on youtube. I am getting prepared for a DIY kitchen refresh with cabinet gel coating, new lights, new trim, new hinges...the counter tops and sink will be outsourced.

But some tasks just are better left to professionals in my household: garage door torsion spring service, additions, driveway seal coating, roofing, trenching.

[GeorgeEastman]

1. Some medical care
2. Lawncare
3. Hair cuts (do not want to learn to cut myself)