STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kari · Dooney & Bourke

housekeeper/cleaner?

Suasoria · Chanel

Yeah, on and off, plus I've hired people to clean before parties since I'm doing other things. I have to admit I don't like it much.

You don't have to worry about paperwork if you use a Merry Maid type of service. Do you ever get community coupon books in your junk mail? Pennysaver, etc.? If so check for specials.

Another option would be a neighborhood teenager or college student.

Most people hire babysitters, gardeners, etc. and never think about the tax situation. I believe as long as someone is given less than $1000 in a year, you don't have to deal with it.

Consult a CPA if in doubt...

-- Edited by Suasoria at 16:01, 2007-10-15

halleybird · Hermes

I pay my sister (college student) to clean every other week. It's totally worth the money!

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

Like Halleybird, we pay a family member - DH's aunt cleans our apt. We didn't ask her, she's just one of those people who can't sit and has to be cleaning something. We pay her cash.

-- Edited by BargainQueen at 17:19, 2007-10-15

Teresa · Kate Spade

All I have to say is DO NOT use a company like Merry Maids or something like that. I read the book "Nickeled and Dimed" for a Sociology class and this chick goes undercover to work for MerryMaids and tells about how they dont even use disinfecting cleaner and so on. It was disgusting.

Deuce · Dooney & Bourke

I know people who are house cleaners. That is their business so they deal with the taxes on their end. You would not deal with taxes unless you were their boss. They are thier own boss and the work they do for you is a service, so you are the consumer. I believe the amount you can pay someone a year and they dont have to report it is 300.00.
As far as your taxes I dont think it is deductable so you would treat is the same as getting haircuts, simply money you spent on a service, nothing special.
I hope that is what you were asking.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Oh that would be nice if I had somebody do that for me instead of me spending my days off scrubbing away!

The taxes are definitely not your responsibility. This person would need to be charging you taxes on the cleaning bill.

jettie · Kate Spade

We have one and I love it! And I've never worried about including taxes in their pay.

MissMee · Kate Spade

I think my cleaning lady is an illegal immigrant, so there's no tax involved. I highly recommend getting someone, even if it's only once a month/every 2 weeks. It makes things so much easier on you!

Teresa · Kate Spade

MissMee wrote:

I think my cleaning lady is an illegal immigrant, so there's no tax involved.

lol, that made me laugh. But it makes me happy you are supporting her. (thats just the future social worker in me) aww

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

collegegirl5858 wrote:

All I have to say is DO NOT use a company like Merry Maids or something like that. I read the book "Nickeled and Dimed" for a Sociology class and this chick goes undercover to work for MerryMaids and tells about how they dont even use disinfecting cleaner and so on. It was disgusting.

Nickeled & Dimed is such a great book. I decided to not use maids/housekeepers at all after reading that book, but it was for

other reasons beside what collegegirl mentions.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I don't have any first hand experience, but the woman who lives across the street from us quit her teaching job and started her own cleaning service when she had her son (so that she coudl make her own hours and stay home more). A few neighborhood peopel use her and she gets rave reviews- probabaly because she's happy with what she does (its not just the only job she could get). I would definately look into finding someone like that over a merrymaids type service if you can.

eta: because I forgot the whole point of the post. lol! She does her own taxes- the clients just pay her like they would any other service.

-- Edited by ILoveChoo at 14:54, 2007-10-16

Rene · Nine West

I would love to have someone come in and clean once every 2 weeks or so but my fear is them rifling through my jewelry or something. Plus we have a dog so I guess I'd have to keep her in her crate while the person was here.

Good to know about MerryMaids, I see coupons for them all the time. What does everyone do about keys? Do you give them a key to your place or let them in and then leave?

Kitty · Hermes

Yeah, we have someone come in every other week to clean. We don't claim taxes on it. It's $50 a pop, so not all that much money.

I'm actually thinking of having it upgraded to every week.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

I wish I could afford right now to have someone clean my house at least 2x a month. I have no free time, and what time I do have always ends up being spent on cleaning!

My SIL has someone clean once a week - That is like my dream! I am so jealous of her! I can only imagine how much time that free's up!

sydney · Kate Spade

It makes a world of difference for your sanity if you work a lot and like your place clean. Every other week for 8 hours or weekly for 4 hours. You still have to do stuff, but the big stuff is taken care of.

Suasoria · Chanel

I'm delighted that so many people have read Barbara Ehrenreich's book! However, it didn't make me vow to never use that type of service. I never have, actually, but it seemed that Kari was really concerned about doing it legally.

It strikes me that tax-wise, you can be royally screwed even hiring a relative or whatnot to clean. It's an interesting dilemma nonetheless...consult a CPA is my advice.

bloomie · Marc Jacobs

I used to have one, but when she quit to take a job at a local business, we didn't hire anyone else. My house just kind of became cluttered and hard to keep clean after that, but I discovered http://flylady.net awhile back and have been implementing her system of decluttering and routines. So far it is working nicely.