My roommate is currently a lot busier than me. I'm unsure if it's fair to ask her to do more of the housework than she's currently doing.
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posted by colfax
on May 11, 2013 -
24 answers
The thing I want to wear is always in the hamper. I can't see my dresser under mountains of worn-once clothes. I never have enough kitchen towels. I have somehow made it to the age of 30 without really understanding how to stay on top of laundry. Please help!
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posted by peachfuzz
on Feb 21, 2013 -
46 answers
I'm looking for the best tool to maintain a list of long-term goals and a resource for generating short-term ones.
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posted by stefnet
on Jan 16, 2013 -
7 answers
Which Android-friendly chore tracking/timekeeping app do I need? Some tasks should be done for 30 minutes each day. Others? Only 30 minutes a week. Is there an app with a built-in timer that I can use to keep track of my chores, and then look back over previous weeks' performance to keep track of my goals?
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posted by redsparkler
on Jan 2, 2013 -
6 answers
My partner says he simply doesn’t see some things that need to be done around the house. I believe him. He is unhappy about this; we would both like to see it change if possible. How can he learn to see what needs to be done?
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posted by Someone Else's Story
on Nov 8, 2012 -
34 answers
Are there corners to cut that we should be cutting? What tasks do you skip, consciously or not, as a family? Washing dishes? Putting laundry away? IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING?
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posted by A Terrible Llama
on Oct 17, 2012 -
84 answers
Looking for recommendations on how to implement a token reward system for a 4- and 6- year old. If you've done this, what's worked best for you?
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posted by ellenaim
on Oct 14, 2012 -
11 answers
Neighbor kid wants to do chores for money. What should I pay her?
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posted by bac
on Oct 3, 2012 -
17 answers
Should my kids have to do their chores in order to earn their allowances? We are going to start paying allowances to the two oldest of our children. They will be allowed to spend only some of the money and will have to save a portion and donate a portion (we'll give them each four charities to choose from at the end of the year). However, my wife and I can't decide whether the kids should be required to complete their chores in order to earn their allowances.
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posted by Area Man
on Aug 21, 2012 -
42 answers
I like watching light drama/90s sitcoms while I'm doing chores or want to relax for a bit. I've run out of my favourites, and there's probably a lot of stuff I've missed due to being too young or not staying in enough when they were broadcast. What next?
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posted by mippy
on Aug 16, 2012 -
61 answers
Parenting filter: I have two kids, 11 and 9. I'm a divorced dad trying to figure out a plan for their accountability for their chores when they're with me. The biggest stumbling block seems to be division of labor. On the one hand, assigning individual chores (Daughter, you wash the dishes. Son, you dry and put away) and rewarding for completion seems simple enough. But I want to teach them teamwork, negotiation, time management (who does what part first) and shared responsibility. So sometimes I say "Clean the kitchen, you figure out who does what". The latter seems better for a shared reward like a trip to the movies. Does anyone favor one approach over the other, and why? BTW they're coming from a household where their mom and I differed on how to handle chores, so they're a little used to coasting.
posted by punocchio
on May 17, 2012 -
22 answers
Cohabiting couples, how do you handle the housework? Is there a clear distinction between your mess and their mess?
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posted by emelenjr
on May 4, 2012 -
52 answers
I'm confused about how to equitably split up housework. I am messier than my spouse, and to him this means I should do all the housework. Help!
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 30, 2012 -
54 answers
I am so wrapped up in a depressive period, being self-absorbed, self-pitying, self-loathing, that I cannot figure out the fair way to handle this situation, and I need input that I can't get anywhere else. I keep seesawing between feeling completely put-upon and exploited, and then feeling that I am being infantile, lazy, self-indulgent, and irresponsible. I can’t get a realistic hold on the situation.
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posted by primate moon
on Apr 7, 2012 -
46 answers
Looking for advice about how to deal with spending a disproportionate amount of time at one person's house when in a relationship ... while my situation may be unique, I'm hoping others have done the dating-while-living-with-folks thing, or the dating-with-a-horrible-roommate thing, or dating-someone-who-doesn't-drive thing. I can feel myself getting resentful, and that's not fair - it's no one's fault.
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posted by athena2255
on Feb 23, 2012 -
22 answers
I want to spend less time and effort on "maintenance" activities. What are some good not-widely-known methods, or (cheap/small) products, to get this stuff done more quickly and get back to the more interesting parts of your day? (Examples in the extended explanation...)
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posted by SpiralT
on Nov 28, 2011 -
25 answers
How do you balance housework as a couple, and what do you think of our arrangement? I personally don't like it.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 29, 2011 -
93 answers
I wait until, I think a task needs to be done ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY or NO MORE DELAY possible to do anything.
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posted by daveg02
on Apr 27, 2011 -
23 answers
Do you know of an email subscription and/or website that is like FlyLady used to be? Which is to say, I want someone to email me lists of household chores to do on any given day, but without all the fluff.
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posted by sickinthehead
on Jun 23, 2010 -
13 answers
TL;DR There is still hope. They have not passed the point of no return. Help me help them change their ways and change their lives. This young family needs guidelines for life which include cleaning, cooking, finances and vehicle maintenance. I am not passing judgement because "there, but for the grace of God, go I." I am simply trying to help. Unseemly details follow.
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posted by CleverCrow
on Apr 22, 2010 -
44 answers
My roommates are driving me nuts; should I talk to them about it, more than I already have?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 24, 2009 -
41 answers
Please help me nip another parental failing in the bud. I want help my children be more responsible.
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posted by Fairchild
on Sep 21, 2009 -
34 answers
What are some things you wish you knew (or were glad you knew) before you moved into your first apartment with roommates? I'm looking for methods of splitting up chores, cooking, finances, resolving disputes, and dealing with common problems.
posted by yaymukund
on Aug 5, 2009 -
40 answers
How do you structure your chore system? I live with 6-7 other folks in something resembling a relatively new housing co-op. Some chores get done, some don't. We have agreed that we're not interested in a punishment-based system, such as paying a fee if your assigned chores don't get done. What options are available to us for keeping a cleaner home?
posted by aniola
on May 29, 2009 -
14 answers
In one of the early Nancy Drew books, circa 1931-2 or thereabouts, Nancy takes care of an elderly guy ( I think that's the scenario) and actually cooks and cleans for a couple of days at his house. Which book would it be?
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posted by ragtimepiano
on Mar 15, 2009 -
9 answers
ChoresFilter: My fiancee and I are living together and both happy as clams - except we both HATE doing the dishes. They keep piling up, and even though I cook, I always keep putting them off.
How do you manage chores like this, especially ones that both of you hate doing?
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posted by SNWidget
on Jan 2, 2009 -
62 answers
I'm interested in becoming more organized and consistent with my housework routine.
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posted by amyms
on Jun 6, 2008 -
15 answers
Help me understand what it is like to work at home so I can be a better girlfriend and roommate.
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posted by spec80
on Apr 10, 2008 -
26 answers
After a run of reading somewhat serious, oftentimes depressing fiction and nonfiction, I'm looking for something more domestic. Have any suggestions?
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posted by LoriFLA
on Aug 29, 2007 -
19 answers
Is there a way to effectively, efficiently, and economically wash your laundry that keeps piling up at the end of the week from daily workouts?
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posted by icollectpurses
on Apr 1, 2007 -
21 answers
Is there anything like
FlyLady but for people who actually work outside the home? Lazy 20-something couple is looking for help keeping our apartment from being a sty.
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posted by tastybrains
on Mar 20, 2007 -
32 answers
I live with three roommates in a large apartment, and we need a system to help us split the chores and get along.
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posted by bonheur
on Jun 2, 2005 -
22 answers