Money buys time, freedom and choice.

Im taking 2.5 years off work for maternity leave. We could afford a great lifestyle without me working again, but we've never considered that. Aside from all the sensible reasons to work (super, extra cash, keeping skills up to date just in case, outsourcing cleaning and childcare), i miss work. I miss the variety, the challenge, how rewarding and interesting it is. I miss my colleagues and the routine. Work is good for your self esteem. A sales person called me a housewife recently - The horror!

I wouldnt work for free at this stage but i want to work part time even if most of my wage goes on covering costs like childcare, cleaner, petrol, work wardrobe.

I supose looking after your own young children is unpaid work and maybe not the kind of freedom keith had in mind.

 

I would definitely think that looking after young children is work! That's why nobody but parents do it for free

 

Amen! Unpaid work for sure.

 

What are people paying for the cleaners ? We hire one since mid last year. Totally worth it. It saves a lot of time...better than spending 4 hrs on the weekend. Though I find when we clean it's better than the cleaner.

 

We have one waiting to be put to work. Though are those good on the carpets?

 

$30 per hour but brilliant, don't employ anyone who is a commercial cleaner all they do is shuffle dirt.

 

$35 an hour

 

What makes you say the above is not practical? You don't have to be born rich to not have to work.

 

$50 for 2 hours - we provide the products

 

Bills, general cost of living , mortgage etc...someone has to pay for it

 

No only really good for hard floors

 

OMG Esel this made me laugh so much. Exactly where I was many years ago (my youngest will be 9 this year). My first child was born when I was a scientist working in Canada and I was paid to not accept any other job for 12 months and my position was held as part of some government affirmative action program to increase the number of female scientists (actually I loved the 90% male ratio , but that aside).

I loved the stay at home mum thing for 2 weeks, I watched my partner going into work while I was home just looking after a baby. Novelty wore off and I was incredibly bored to the point where I wanted to invite sales people in so they can talk more to me. I found play groups boring and could not get into the conversations the other mums wanted to have. Mainly small talk.

I did not want to go back to research because I wanted to be with my parents and brother in Australia - I had no one in Canada. After 12 months I went back to work and I remember feeling like a million dollars after I put that business suit on and walked out of the house. Best feeling ever.

Yes kids are work, but I am much happier creating other things too and being a role model for my kids.

 

Okies...good! Good for kitchen etc for frequent vacuuming

 

The probem with some of the robot cleaners is that their batteries only tend to last a few <4 years.
We have a cleaner that comes once a fortnight, its $28.50 per hour but they go hard.

 

What if you generated enough passive income, either from property or other means, to pay for all your bills, living expenses, travel, purchases, etc? What would you spend with your time if you didn't have to work to earn money to pay for dem bills?

 

Yes Keith very true. As some of you know I've left corporate recently, and the freedom is great.

That said - probably a personality issue - I still wake up everyday wondering if I am focussed or have enough discipline to do something meaningful.

I have many friends who quit or retired at 25/26 and either cruise in family businesses, waste life or outright do nothing and live off rent etc. Am a bit worried about that.

 

I have cleaners too for around 10 - 15 hours a week.
Robot vaccuum cleaners don't clean bathrooms and kitchens and all the stuff my kids leave lying around.

 

However I don't consider this saving me time as I have never owned cleaning up after everyone as my job!

 

How many hours are most of you employing cleaners for your average suburban 4 bedroom single storey home?

 

Nope they are really a tidier than a cleaner, I have pets so it does a good job keeping floors clear of hair that gets shed. Definitely not a replacement for a proper vaccuum and mop