For me hiring a housekeeper isn't as big a deal as hiring a gardener. I've slowly been replacing the grass with other less needy things, but we keep some grass for the girls to play in and to appease the neighbors. I don't have the time to mow or the strength to mow the hillsides which is what most of our yard is. DH hates yardwork so it was left to me. There is nothing that gives me as much joy as Wednesday morning at 8:30 when the truck pulls up and the guys get out. By 8:45 my yard looks great and I didn't have to do a darn thing!

If you are looking to hire a housekeeper, I'd like to suggest you hire a person rather than a service. After reading Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed" I was shocked!! at how those services work. I worked as a housekeeper for a number of years, but never with a service. I always cleaned my houses as though I was cleaning my own home. Not so with the services Ehrenreich worked for. Their cleaning practices disgusted me. Plus, hiring a person usually costs less than a service and she gets to keep more of the money. I'm sure there are very good, very reputable services out there, but I must admit I'm very wary now.