howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
courtesy of the express today
six million people in the UK hire help for household chores.
Paying for cleaners, gardeners and handymen has stood the test of the economic downturn, with 12 per cent of Britons employing them.
One in four said they paid for hired help because they did not like doing the chores themselves, while a third said they were too busy and did not have time for domestic tasks.
The figure rose to 48 per cent for those aged 18 to 34.
Most in demand were cleaners and gardeners, each being employed in 2.5 million households. A further 500,000 people hired someone to do the laundry and ironing. Half a million parents employed nannies, the research by Churchill Home Insurance found. And a million Britons handed over basic DIY tasks to handymen.
The firm's Martin Scott said: "Even in these difficult times, house-proud Britons are finding the extra cash to help keep their homes pristine."
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#2
I do just that...
I have a lady in every two weeks to do the ironing and another weekly to do the vacuuming, dusting and to clean the bathrooms and kitchen. This is something I have done since long before my first wife died. When you work full-time there just is not the time to do such things and I just do not have the inclination either!
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#3
It always amazes me those that say they do not have time, what they really mean is I prefer to do other things than boring old housework when I am not at work. If they can afford it why not employ someone, it gets another person off the dole.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#4
That is true Jan. Life is too short for that sort of thing, when I have spare time there are other things I prefer to do than chores.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#5
I don't have a choice, I have to do the cooking, ironing, dusting hoovering etc, but I am lucky, I get paid 50 quid a week for doing it.
Of course, my wife wishes she was not disabled and I wish I was back in full time work but we can't all be so lucky, can we?
Yes, now you know, I am just one of them bludgers, scrounging off the state.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#6
Not at all Gary, you are doing one of the most important jobs there is, you and your wife just wish you did not have to do it.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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#7
I had a lady in i day a week took 4 hrs to Hoover the front room i found out she was a slowvac
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#8
I did hoovering today, a 2 minute job, after finishing painting and decorating in a room. Then I moved the divan and chairs back in place, put the paintbrushes for painting the radiators and doors in white-spirit, and put away the paint-brushes used for painting ceilings and walls.
All in military fashion, swift movements, no fussing about.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#9
Compare the thread's title to Alan's post 7: not everyone is struggling.
Alan, that lady must have been struggling to do the chore you assigned her, 4 hours to hoover a room
