Submitted by PoisonIvy on 11/01/2016.
I hope this will be a thread for practical tips. Mine right now: dealing with yard work (raking). I'm feeling overwhelmed in terms of time and my physical condition. (I'm small, not very strong, and perhaps prone to exertion-induced migraine headaches.) Should I lower my standards for myself or hire someone to help? If the latter, a service or a neighborhood young person?
Please feel free to post your suggestions and also your requests for practical guidance if you're lacking a spouse (either because you're not married or you're married but your spouse is AWOL).
Rosered - great idea. I will
Submitted by SpaceyStacey197... on
Rosered - great idea. I will be in the same boat very soon. For me, I am looking to hire some local kids who can come and do the yard. I want to do an overhaul in the spring of most of the outside (big clean up, and replanting of beds) and will probably hire some professional help with that.
Logistically it sure can be overwhelming. But I know that when it was just me the times he left me, my house was a wreck after he walked out (because why would HE bother to clean up his own mess). I spent about a week purging all the trash and clutter and putting things where they were supposed to have always been. Its exhausting, but once I was able to get through that intital cleanup - the maintaining was a breeze. MY hope is that I can get some of the big remodel items done asap so that I can get this inside of my house in order when he is gone, and that way I dont get overwhelemed with a half done house. :-)
I am not in the best physcial condition either- had a nasty back injury that has been haunting me now for 5 years. I have been working hard to get myself into the best possible shape over the past 5 months, and plan on contiuing that path. I figure I can get my outside healthy as I work on regaining my emotional health. :-)
I personally - if you have the means, hire some local kids to help out with the things that done require an expert handling. If you cant really afford it, maybe recruit some friends to help and pay with beer or dinner? And last resort - perhaps let things slide a bit that you cannot handle, and rethink the priorities. Sucks - but sometimes thats the option to take. <3
Yardwork Help Suggestions
Submitted by jenna-ADD on
I've lived in apts and condos, so when I got my first house alone at 41, it was a huge wake up call how unprepared for the amount of upkeep it takes (especially for a single female).
If you do it yourself, do what you can in short 15-30 minute increments. When I mowed my first lawn, front and back, it took me forever and I was dripping sweat. I managed to do the front lawn, take a break, half the back lawn, take a break and then the back half. Some days I would do a different section each day. It doesn't have to get done all at once. Do the pace that is right for you.
If you choose to hire out yardwork, seek out lical high schools or colleges and ask if they have a job board. If you offer kids a job, find out what the going rate is in your area and I would suggest a flat rate to get the job done. If you offer an hourly wage, hey may dawdle to get extra pay.
Raking is overrated. When I mow the lawn, it mulches the leaves in with the grass and feeds the lawn. Granted, I only have one tree and it doesn't shed all at once, so this is an option that might not work for you if you have lots of shedding or trees.
You can save some money by doing the minor task yourself, such as picking up small fallen branches before kids mow your lawn.
I miss having someone else take care of these things, but I don't miss paying escalating condo association fees, so these past few years have been a learning experience for me. Hope this helps.
Mulch mowers are awesome! :-)
Submitted by SpaceyStacey197... on
Mulch mowers are awesome! :-) I feel the pain - I am 41 and my house is in mid-remodel state. LOL Its ALOT to deal with....
I keep reminding myself that once the remodel is DONE - this house will be a cinch to take care of. :-)
Raking Party
Submitted by vabeachgal on
A friend of mine with a large property and lots of trees has a raking party each year. We just ask that she chooses a beautiful day. We spend the day outdoors getting gentle exercise. The little kids jump in the leaf piles. We usually grill burgers. Everyone else brings a side or dessert. We light a fire in the firepit and have a great time. It's become a wonderful tradition. There's a local high school team that delivers and puts down mulch - as a team fundraiser. It's excellent.
Have you considered a good mulching lawnmower?
Thanks for the suggestions!
Submitted by PoisonIvy on
Thanks for the suggestions! I don't own a lawnmower (the two my ex-h left here are broken; I borrow my brother's) but will consider buying a mulching lawnmower and hiring help next year.
Lots of leaves: there are at least 20 trees either on my yard or on my neighbors' yards that shed leaves onto my property.
I do feel a great sense of accomplishment today: I raked several times, emptied some of the stinky water out of the fish pond, pruned some bushes, and picked up branches and took a load to the county composting site (it was very busy and I think I was the only woman there alone). And I went into the basement and took a few armloads of junk out for the garbage and recycling.