TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Apr 5, 2019 10:50:12 GMT -5
How much do you outsource?
I find myself falling behind different tasks I want done around the house due to lack of time ; or start but do not get a chance to finish.
I have accepted that I may have to outsource a lot of those Things or I will be here 5 years still trying to complete things from year 1 I wanted to get too.
So how many tasks or things that need done in your daily life that you outsource either to save time / energy or just because you don’t want to do it?
ETA : for me it is a lack of time... ex this week and the next 2 I am working 6 days a week, 12 hours days because my co-worker last day is today, we had a big visit today (hate those); my manager is out for the next 4 days for a sales conference and no replacement yet.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Apr 5, 2019 11:28:02 GMT -5
Well, we'll be outsourcing some bigger projects: mudjacking, concrete removal, and sidewalk pouring. We also have to get drywall replaced, so we will outsource that. Otherwise, everything else we do. I don't have a sugar daddy and we haven't been able to grow money trees in our backyard.
Look on the bright side: at least your kiddo is little. So you aren't managing kid activities for kids that cannot yet drive. You and your wife aren't jockeying 3-4 different activities on the same night between two different tween/teen kids, plus dealing with a teething toddler that grows teeth four at time and wants some loving at night, plus dealing with things like figuring out if your kiddo has ADHD. Because it means Drs appointments, school appointments, on top of those 12 hour work days.
In the past month, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've slept for 6 hours at night. It's like 3-4 hours most of the time. There are some days I don't even bother putting pjs on.
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oped
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Post by oped on Apr 5, 2019 11:31:48 GMT -5
Drywall. Electrical work. Furnace stuff.
A couple times a year I’ll have a big clean or get behind and grab a couple of tweens/teens I pay to lend a hand.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2019 11:44:22 GMT -5
Daily life stuff? Nothing. If the kids or I can't do it it doesn't get done. I don't consider large household projects or maintenance beyond changing light bulbs and furnace filters "daily life" stuff though. For that, it's a mix. I have a lot of fence work to do this year, and we'll do that ourselves, same with installing all the wire closet organizers in the downstairs closets that have been just sitting around waiting to be installed. I want some electrical work done in the barn and I'll probably see if ex will do that. He likes to do that kind of stuff and likes showing DS how, so there's a good chance he would do it for the cost of materials if I threw in a meal and beer.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Apr 5, 2019 12:03:59 GMT -5
I too need some electrical work down in the sunroom. Thank goodness for having a good neighbor and friend who owns an electrical company. We get put on a list, and eventually get the phone call they can send someone out. Those electrical outlets just have to stand in line.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Apr 5, 2019 13:06:16 GMT -5
Very little. When we built our house I wanted DH to hire a painter, he said it took him a long time to earn the $4,000 or so they wanted for painting.
DH is currently replacing faucets in our bathrooms. 3-just the faucets cost $600!
Deck needs staining. I do want him to outsource that, we will see.
We need several new windows and a door.
We also need mudjacking/concrete removal/replacement. Front walk has sunk a good 4”. Has to be done this summer/next fall.
Inside house needs painting, but DH is going to sell MIL duplex. Our tenant moved out last weekend, MIL gave an eviction notice to one BIL who lives in her duplex, and the other is moving into our vacant unit.
DH is going to have to fix his mother’s duplex and get it on the market asap. So everything else comes after that.
Outsourcing is a last resort until we get to retirement and the Mortgages are paid off.
DH has clients to do masonry work, he will probably remove concrete with our son.
I am not sure about windows/door, we had a quote a year or two ago and it was very high. DH might very well want to do himself, but there aren’t enough weekends.
DH also fixed a leaky faucet for his friend’s Mom last weekend. Friends live in another city, and they were in Mexico anyways. We need to keep that stuff to a minimum.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Apr 5, 2019 13:06:52 GMT -5
When we lived in GA, had close to an acre and would take about 3 hours to mow with push mower. We got small rider, but when it broke and were busy with 3 kids we got a lawn service. Now in AL we only have 1/2 acre but very steep slope so we use lawn service. We have considered going back to doing it ourself, but haven’t done that yet.
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Apr 5, 2019 13:26:02 GMT -5
We outsource very few projects around here. We did have someone rebuild our deck and put in a basement window last year. They were both worth it, but we could have probably handled the window if we did a little bit of research first and saved that money.
We did just get a quote on ductless AC, but I'm not sure it's worth the $10k. I'm sure I'll change my tune come super humid PA summers, but I don't think I can spend it right now.
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oped
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Post by oped on Apr 5, 2019 13:34:36 GMT -5
The central air is so nice. I’m in pa too. I do love it I have to say.
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Apr 5, 2019 13:49:26 GMT -5
The central air is so nice. I’m in pa too. I do love it I have to say. The quote is good for 30 days, so we might get it. Next week we're getting quotes on building a house. If those come in too high, we will probably opt for the AC since we'll be staying in our current house. We were told the range was $8-$12k. I was just hoping to be closer to $8k than right in the middle.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 5, 2019 13:51:22 GMT -5
On the list to outsource if we find the money.
Jacking up the deck to fix the sag, replacing all the deck boards and building new steps. DH started it last year but a record rainfall year made it impossible.
Refinishing all of our inside steps, landings and new railings. This will be $4,000.
We'll get my brother to help replace the garbage disposal and do the lights for the patio.
DH will tile the entry way and the half bath. And basically gut that bathroom.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Apr 5, 2019 13:54:23 GMT -5
We outsource very few projects around here. We did have someone rebuild our deck and put in a basement window last year. They were both worth it, but we could have probably handled the window if we did a little bit of research first and saved that money. We did just get a quote on ductless AC, but I'm not sure it's worth the $10k. I'm sure I'll change my tune come super humid PA summers, but I don't think I can spend it right now. I always had central air (well, once I was an adult) but when I got a divorce I bought an old house with no central air. I had loud, god awful window units. Last summer I had the ductless AC installed...SO>WORTH>THE>MONEY! Another person from PA
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Apr 5, 2019 13:55:16 GMT -5
I outsource a lot. I've decided I'm at a point in my life where my free time means a lot to me. That and the fact that BF is NOT handy at all!lol
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pooks
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Post by pooks on Apr 5, 2019 13:56:54 GMT -5
We don't outsource any of the basics (housecleaning, yard work, grocery delivery, car maintenance). Fixing things and projects depends on the time and skill level required.
For some reason, DH hires out HVAC work. We had a mini-split system installed in the garage and hired that out. However we replaced several doors in the house and fixed a hot water heater without outsourcing. The fence needs stained this summer and we are disagreeing about outsourcing. On the car front dh has replaced a power steering pump and a fender this year.
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oped
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Post by oped on Apr 5, 2019 13:58:50 GMT -5
Oh I outsource all car work. No one here is good at that.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Apr 5, 2019 14:03:36 GMT -5
We are handy and did almost everything from house, car, equipment repair and landscaping. Even after retiring in 2010 we did almost everything including cutting our lawn and MIL's lawn. Many aches and pains later we decided we have more money then we can spend and our time is valuable. Cut back on big jobs and outsource.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Apr 5, 2019 15:50:32 GMT -5
Maybe a way to evaluate what you outsource and what you do not is the hourly cost for what you outsource. For example, having someone do house cleaning runs about $20 an hour in this area. Outsource it. Car repair labor costs between $100 and $150 an hour. Do as much as you can for yourself. And learn to do more. With trip charges, having an electrician replace a light switch or outlet would probably cost about $400 an hour, because this is only a 15 minute job. Well worth learning to do it yourself. (YouTube is your friend. I learned how to replace wiring for the power sliding doors on the minivan, how to replace tie rod ends, and how to test and replace ball joints. Would have taken me about 90 hours to earn what it would have cost for the labor to do these repairs.)
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Apr 5, 2019 16:00:29 GMT -5
As much as possible. I have more money than time.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Apr 5, 2019 16:33:32 GMT -5
We outsource major things like drilling a new well and re-roofing the house. We may outsource some cement work in the yard, my husband is considering if he will do it himself or not.
We don't outsource daily or weekly tasks, but we do take shortcuts to save time. We don't have anyone clean the house, but I have a roomba to do the floors on a routine basis, and just mop occasionally in between. I also save time cooking by buying frozen side dishes that are already made, and sometimes refrigerated main dishes that were made by grocery store staff.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 5, 2019 18:12:50 GMT -5
I outsource a lot. I've decided I'm at a point in my life where my free time means a lot to me. That and the fact that BF is NOT handy at all!lolMy EX was dangerous around a wheelbarrow so I learned to do lots of stuff but I also knew the best in town to do other stuff. I never got the "I have to do it all syndrome" obsession some folks have and pay for it down the road stressing out over .50 cents.
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saveinla
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Post by saveinla on Apr 5, 2019 18:50:34 GMT -5
I outsource a lot. I've decided I'm at a point in my life where my free time means a lot to me. That and the fact that BF is NOT handy at all!lolMy EX was dangerous around a wheelbarrow so I learned to do lots of stuff but I also knew the best in town to do other stuff. I never got the "I have to do it all syndrome" obsession some folks have and pay for it down the road stressing out over .50 cents. It costs us more if we try to do something ourselves Luckily since we live in an apartment, our maintenance fees goes towards a lot of stuff that I am hearing for the first time here. We also have an annual maintenance contract that we use if something needs to be replaced.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Apr 5, 2019 19:13:35 GMT -5
Electrical and plumbing if it is complicated or could kill us if we do it ourselves. I do most of the yardwork, but we have a service that treats the lawn. We have a service contract on our generator (there is no way I would attempt a repair on that). Roof cleaning we have done by a service -- we can do the driveway ourselves. We wash, wax and detail our own cars, and DH can do minor repairs and replacement of things. Major work goes to mechanics we love.
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oped
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Post by oped on Apr 5, 2019 21:20:59 GMT -5
Maybe a way to evaluate what you outsource and what you do not is the hourly cost for what you outsource. For example, having someone do house cleaning runs about $20 an hour in this area. Outsource it. Car repair labor costs between $100 and $150 an hour. Do as much as you can for yourself. And learn to do more. With trip charges, having an electrician replace a light switch or outlet would probably cost about $400 an hour, because this is only a 15 minute job. Well worth learning to do it yourself. (YouTube is your friend. I learned how to replace wiring for the power sliding doors on the minivan, how to replace tie rod ends, and how to test and replace ball joints. Would have taken me about 90 hours to earn what it would have cost for the labor to do these repairs.) Ok but 3-4 hours a week cleaning adds up past that once in awhile bill
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 5, 2019 21:46:43 GMT -5
I'd outsource anything I don't enjoy doing at this stage in life. I earned the money and I'll " blow" it. The only time I pop the hood of my car is if windshield wiper fluid needs replacing between oil changes! Basically I'm lazy.
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msventoux
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Post by msventoux on Apr 6, 2019 1:18:57 GMT -5
I won't have anything to do with electrical or gas. I'm fine with plumbing, painting, minor house repairs, etc. but won't touch stuff I could reasonably kill myself doing. Except I am considering replacing my roof myself in a few years. I have a shingle roof and would love to put a metal roof on my house. I've helped build two houses and the pitch on those ones were much steeper than my roof. Still kicking that idea around and need to do more research. I don't like heights, but after the second day of crawling around in a harness on the other roofs I was ready to die, so the height didn't bother me at that point. I don't do anything related to my car maintenance other than fueling it up, cleaning the interior, checking the oil and adding fluids. Never learned to change the oil and don't intend to ever learn.
I no longer do most of my grocery shopping. I'll pay for curbside pickup. The interesting substitutions and random items not in stock are a minor inconvenience compared to having to battle fellow shoppers. It's well worth $5 per pickup.
I would love to have someone do the summer yard work, winter plowing and housekeeping, but I'm far too cheap to actually hire anyone. So my house isn't as clean as it could be, the yard is somewhat overgrown, and the driveway isn't always plowed free of snow...but that's what 4 wheel drive is for!
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geenamercile
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Post by geenamercile on Apr 6, 2019 7:58:15 GMT -5
A fair amount of the car and house stuff beyond cleaning, changing light bulbs and plunging a toilet. However, most of that is to either A who is living in the basement or J who does it for a meal and beer. I tend to hang out and BS with them, hand them the tools and stuff, but DH's and my skills on these things are around and F and D level.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 6, 2019 8:10:21 GMT -5
Maybe a way to evaluate what you outsource and what you do not is the hourly cost for what you outsource. For example, having someone do house cleaning runs about $20 an hour in this area. Outsource it. Car repair labor costs between $100 and $150 an hour. Do as much as you can for yourself. And learn to do more. With trip charges, having an electrician replace a light switch or outlet would probably cost about $400 an hour, because this is only a 15 minute job. Well worth learning to do it yourself. (YouTube is your friend. I learned how to replace wiring for the power sliding doors on the minivan, how to replace tie rod ends, and how to test and replace ball joints. Would have taken me about 90 hours to earn what it would have cost for the labor to do these repairs.) I'm just curious about the car repairs. Not that I have any intention of doing this stuff. Don't you have to have a car up on rack or whatever you call it or do you just get under the car to do all this stuff.
I'm dumb as a red brick about car repairs except that I know how to get to mechanic on my own or have AAA tow me there so just wondering. Inquiring minds want to know.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Apr 6, 2019 8:41:02 GMT -5
At my advanced age about all I'm capable of doing is touching up paint on a wall. And with todays advanced vehicles, with all the computers that help you drive, even the trained mechanics sometimes have problems diagnosing the problem. There was a time I used to change tires, but today, I push the red OnStar button and the guy was at my house in 10 minutes, no fee whatsoever.
My late DH also reached a point that he physically and mentally was incapable of doing the things he used to do.
Home Advisor is my friend as is OnStar.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Apr 6, 2019 10:51:14 GMT -5
I outsource four hours per month of cleaning that is generally 75% used for having my 1500sf of wood floors plus the bathrooms mopped. The other hour is use for whatever deep cleaning tasks I haven't gotten to in the last month or so.
If something is broken appliance-wise or electrical-wise, we outsource that.
I've been looking for someone to come do a few big landscaping projects for almost a year now. Because the economy is doing so well, it's hard to find someone to do an estimate for our projects. We have half and acre of fully landscaped yard. It takes a lot to maintain it. While we do a decent job, there is a bit of overgrowth that I need taken care of that I'm not tall enough to do (plus I cut through three extension cords last year) and DH just doesn't have time. We also have some paverstone pathways that are becoming unsafe and need restructuring.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Apr 6, 2019 12:39:50 GMT -5
I do the cleaning, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, bill paying. Car maintenance, including oil changes, gets done at a garage I trust.
House maintenance and updates get done by a handyman I trust. I don't have outside yardwork because I live in a condo. They took away snow clean up but I got a neighbor to do it. Now he's moved out I'll find another neighbor willing to clean for a fee.
I would love to outsource household chores. They take time and are tedious. I work all day plus a long commute so not looking forward to it on Saturday mornings. At least cleaning and laundry would be fantastic. I don't mind grocery shopping, bill paying. I could cook before the cleaner shows up and let them deal with the kitchen. But I really can't justify the cost. It would be easily $100 every two weeks. I have student loans, a car note, trying to max out the 401K, so it won't happen.
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