How much should a housewife make?

Question

Does anyone know where I can find a list of common household duties and responsibilities and how much value those services have?

Answer 1

Every so often lists like that are published. Don't take them too seriously though - for example, they always show hours for "CEO" - and you might be running the household, but you aren't running something like General Motors, so the "CEO" salary calculated is nonsense. The lists also show you on duty 24 hours a day - you might be on call all the time if a kid throws up at 4 am, but aren't working 24/7. The lists are usually made up by people or organizations trying to make a point, not being sensible and reasonable and honest.

That said, if you are a stay-at-home mom, your work has definite and large value to the family, and it's fair that whatever income you and your spouse have total is considered joint income.

Answer 2

I don't have the exact figures handy, but when the tasks of a housewife are replaced by paid professionals it costs something like eighty grand. Mind you, that is NOT what the cleaners themselves are earning, so be careful what you take from that.