{
  "id": 12870291,
  "title": "We pay $17 an hour for someone to tackle our household to-do list — from meal prep to laundry — while we're at work",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/we-pay-17-an-hour-for-someone-to-tackle-our-household-to-do-list-from",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-08T12:28:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/pay-household-manager-complete-to-do-list-cost-working-parents-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Our family has been utilizing a household manager for about two years, and it has proven to be a worthwhile investment. For a mere $17 per hour, this individual assists with a variety of tasks, including running errands, doing laundry, and preparing meals. This support system has enabled my husband and me to reclaim valuable time spent with our children. As a marketing executive, part-time MBA student, wife, and mother of two young daughters, I am well acquainted with the demands of modern family life. My husband's work schedule is particularly challenging, often requiring him to work 60-hour weeks and answer calls at any time. Between our various commitments, such as doctor appointments, extracurricular activities, and social events, our household remained organized, and our children enjoyed healthy meals and clean clothing despite these challenges. My household manager has been instrumental in allowing me to balance my professional responsibilities and personal time with my family. After discovering the concept of a household manager on social media during a particularly hectic period, I created a job description and posted the role on local Facebook groups. After reviewing numerous applications, we hired a young woman who had recently completed her college degree and had experience in short-term rental cleaning and management. However, after a year, she relocated, prompting us to seek another capable individual with extensive household management experience. Our manager's hourly rate is $17, and she dedicates approximately eight hours per week to our household, a cost we consider well worth the investment. While there may be some drawbacks, such as the time and organization needed to delegate effectively, the benefits outweigh these challenges. Our current manager handles tasks ranging from stocking the pantry to managing our children's laundry, freeing us from the burdens of meal preparation, cleaning, and errands. We still handle grocery ordering, but we ensure our manager has the necessary ingredients for specific recipes. Our household manager's contributions have provided us with significant returns on investment, granting us precious time with our family. I recognize that this option may not be accessible to every family due to financial constraints, but we feel that the value of the arrangement is evident in our daily lives. The financial commitment, approximately $7,000 annually, is a substantial expense, yet the return on investment is undeniable. With this arrangement, we can prioritize our family's well-being, engage in activities we enjoy, and spend quality time together without the stress of managing every aspect of our household.",
  "summary": "As working parents, we've found paying a household manager to complete our family's to-do list (meal prep, laundry, errands) every week is worth it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}