Unnecessary Indulgence

Don't you just love it when your house is clean. Well mine is, and it's not just clean, it's spotless. That is the term my mom used to use when referring to how she expected the house to be cleaned on Fridays. There's clean and then there's spotless. Spotless is when you mop on your hands and knees, actually scrub the shower not just spray some scrubfree cleaner on it and rinse it off, etc, etc. I think the only day my house was spotless (until I hired a housekeeper) was when I cleaned just before moving in last year.

I had to fess up to the housekeeper when she started cleaning for me 4 months ago that I had never actually mopped my hardwood floors, only swiffered them. She wanted to know where the Murphy's oil was and not only did I not have any, but had to ask what for! My hardwood floors are now mopped every 2 weeks on hands and knees. I tried to tell her that she could do it just once a month, but she insists on doing her way, and I'm not going to complain. Oh, and I get my windows washed every 2 weeks too. I've gotten so spoiled by her cleaning for me that I don't know what I would do without her.

I know it seems like an unnecessary luxury to have a housekeeper for 2 adults. But I would rather make other financial sacrifices or even work an extra day just to pay someone else to clean for me. That's actually how I justified getting a housekeeper in the first place. Rather than spend my day off cleaning, I would rather pick up an extra shift at work and pay someone else to clean my house. Although lately I haven't been picking up the extra shifts, but I'm pregnant and that's a good enough excuse for me.

A while back I was thinking of my upcoming maternity leave and wondering what it was going to be like to not have a paycheck for 6-8 weeks. I work as an agency nurse, so I wont be getting a paid maternity leave, or any short term disability. Just one of the non-perks of being an agency nurse. So, I was trying to think of ways to cut expenses during that time. I considered (only for a second) that I could save some money by not having a housekeeper. I wont be working so I should have time to clean right? No, I can't risk losing my high in demand housekeeper. So I will have to think of another way to save money. Less eating or shopping should do the trick. I'll be on a diet anyway, and probably wont feel like shopping for clothes right away. Oh, but then again Christmas will be right around the corner, I guess I better start saving now.

I just spent a whole day (okay only 6 hours, but it felt like all day) of making and canning spaghetti sauce. My half will be 14 quarts. It is the 3rd year in a row I have done this with a coworker and every year so far I am reminded why we do it, but also why we only do it once a year. It is so much work, but so worth it cause it tastes so good! My sister Rachael has the bright idea that we should make some to give as christmas gifts, so I may get suckered into doing it twice this year. I guess that could be one way to save some money! You still up for it Rach? The tomatoes wont last much longer.