You're running late for work and the outfit you want to wear is wrinkled. Do you run and get the iron, or do you stick it in the dryer with a damp wash cloth for a few minutes to get the wrinkles out? I would opt for the dryer option. Actually, I always opt for the dryer option. I haven't touched an iron in years! My mom tells me that the electricity company loves me because my little dryer trick drives up my electricity bill. I know my bill would probably be lower if I ironed, but who has time for ironing? Plus, I don’t like doing it – at all! I would much rather pay a few more dollars on my electricity bill each month than hassle with an iron!
I have a friend who pays a babysitter for about two-three hours on Saturday to watch her children so she can get her household chores done without having kids running all over the house while she is trying to clean. She knows the babysitter is an added expense, but says she prefers getting all her house stuff done in two-three hours, rather than taking five hours to get it done with a houseful of kids.
Do you prefer saving money or saving time?
Chao for now, Leslita
Girl, I don’t know about that ‘iron thing’ myself. More of a wrinkle-free, shake it out and go kinda person.
Now, for the baby-sitter so I can do house cleaning … I’ll draw the line there. It’s not a matter of cutting corners, it’s about be excessive when you don’t need to. If you have the money, then go ahead and spend it on what you want. But for this mom in the hallway, it’s called clean during ‘nap’ time, ‘cartoon time’, and husband-watch-the-kids time.
Just for the record … how long does your house stay neat and clean after a 5-hour cleaning spree anyway? HA. There are times when the kitchen counter isn’t even dry for the last wipe of crumbs when you hear, “Snack time” in the background. So, with life in the hallway, keeping it clean is a work-in-progress initiative that is shared by all. You mess it … you clean it.
I HATE ironing!! I pile it all up on a shelf in the laundry room until one day I actually get to go somewhere and need to wear those kakhi shorts. Normally it’s AFTER I get ALL the laundry done. Then after ALL the ironing, I have a whole nother load of clothes to put up….UGH!!
About the babysitter thing…I also agree with Vickie…I wouldn’t pay someone to come and watch my kids while I clean the house. B/c money is tight right now, and if I’m going to pay someone for that, I might as well pay them to CLEAN the house while the kids and I go out and spend some time together! But ya know…I have an aunt that would do what Leslie’s friend does. She would actually have someone come over to her house and watch her kids while she showered!!
I’m kinda both ways…depends on what is it…on whether I am a time or money saver.
Tee hee, you’re going to laugh at me, or just roll your eyes. I iron every day of my life, including weekends. I even iron my pillow cases. I groom my own dogs, and wash my own car, and made bread this weekend. I don’t do it to save money, I do it because I’m self sufficient. Plus I get side benefits-like bonding time with the dogs, and peace of mind that comes from the soothing repetitive movement of my hands while kneading. Try it sometime! Gee, I guess I’m also being pretty frugal.
Wow Susan! You iron every day?! Your clothes must look crisp and clean every day! You iron your pillow cases? Wow! My grandmother use to love ironing everything like her clothes, table cloths, decorative table napkins, etc…My dad loved to wash and detail his truck; he liked the exercise and the feeling of accomplishment when it was all clean and shiny. My mom grooms her Chihuahua (except for cutting his nails-that requires a muzzle at the vet’s office, haha!)You sound like you have a very well kept house, car, and a delicious smelling kitchen! With a 1 year old son who likes running around the house and getting in to everything, I’m a dryer ironing, Cactus Car Wash, Publix baked bread kinda girl! Thanks for commenting!
Vickie and Lynette- I agree with you both that paying for a babysitter in order to be able to clean the house is not really necessary. My husband usually watches our son upstairs in the loft while I clean up a few things around the house on weekday evenings, and on the weekends, we both catch up on chores while our little boy is napping upstairs. I’m definitly addicted to the dryer ironing option though…the only time I will iron is if me or my husband has an important funtion to go to and we want to look sharp…as you can see, it has to be really important for me to pull out the iron and ironing board
Thanks for commenting!