It’s easy to say a homemaker is just a housekeeper. But when we truly understand what a homemaker does, we can better appreciate the value and worth that comes from the position.
If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time, you know I think a homemaker is a vital role that should be filled in every home.
We are peacekeepers, gatekeepers, chefs, chauffeurs, task managers, and more.
However, only a few hours of my day are spent completing household chores.
That is the main difference between a homemaker and a housekeeper.
A housekeeper is usually hired to help keep the home looking clean. A homemaker is the homeowner responsible for breathing life into the everyday goings on of the home.
Don’t believe me? Let’s take a deeper look.
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How Housekeeping Services Can’t Replace a Good Homemaker
There’s a common misconception about gender roles in this day and age. And somehow, a homemaker has been reduced to a glorified housekeeper.
But Scripture says otherwise. And as faithful Christians, we should always take Scripture over society.
Homemakers are married women (Titus 2) who care for everything that goes on. As Christian women, they can be industrious and on top of things (Proverbs 31).
As wives, we can be jewels in our husband’s crowns (Proverbs 12:4), and as homemakers we can watch over the ways of our household with diligence and faithfulness, without growing weary (Proverbs 31:27).
Sounds like building up and sustaining the overall well-being of a family is a lot more work than just cleaning a house. So don’t let society detract or discourage you away from this great work!
The Main Differences Between a Homemaker and a Housekeeper
We are going to touch on finances, relationships, and the daily tasks associated with keeping a home alive and well. Because in a nutshell, that’s what homemaking is! Make sure the family members in your home are encouraged, uplifted, and looked after.
Sure, that includes things like nutritious meals and home management.
But I think you would be hard-pressed to find successful homemakers who don’t stress the importance of prioritizing the way they make their home feel.
Even if what we think is disorganized chaos for us, a family could thrive under the comforts of a loose routine and minimal expectations. And as a homemaker, that woman gets to set the standard for her home!
So as the primary caregiver to the family members in your home, how do you manage your home? What kind of home do you wish to create?
Let’s take a closer look at each of these things to truly understand the key differences between homemakers and housekeepers.
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A Homemaker is the Primary Caregiver
The Oxford Dictionary defines a caregiver as a family member, or paid person, who regularly looks after children, the sick, and the elderly.
What is involved in looking after someone? Do you sit and stare at each other all day? No! You’re regularly engaging with whoever is in your care!
You are playing games, settling squabbles between small children, offering emotional support to a struggling family member, preparing favorite snacks and meals, and planning for ways to keep the fun going.
A caregiver also anticipates the needs of those in their care, advocates for them, and sources the best possible resources to solve problems and issues.
Finally, a caregiver balances the individual needs of those in her care.
As a stay-at-home mom to two children, a little boy and a little girl, I know firsthand that I can’t use the same toys, books, or even parenting methods on my son that I used for my daughter.
As a wife, the way I tend to my husband is going to look completely different than how I tend to my children.
The balancing act that is tending to the needs of my family goes well beyond three meals a day, clean laundry, and tidy bedrooms. I’m also responsible for their emotional and social well-being.
Household Management Goes Beyond a Tidy Home
You may think, “How can you be responsible for someone’s emotional and social well-being?”
First, I’m a toddler mom. So at this stage in life, my children’s happiness largely depends on whether or not their sibling is playing with their (current) favorite toy.
So as I work with them to turn to words instead of emotions, I’m helping my children learn things like conflict management, feeling anger but not acting on it, and understanding that being sad isn’t a bad thing, but it doesn’t have to be the driving force behind everything.
All of these lessons can be taken outside the house as they play with other children, their age and otherwise. But working with children and adults you aren’t related to goes beyond emotional well-being. Now we’re tackling social issues.
What do you do when a family does something differently? How do you address someone who’s being rude? How do you introduce yourself? How do you let someone know they hurt your feelings without hurting their feelings in return? How do you ask for something politely? How do you engage in a conversation with someone who’s already speaking?
These are all practical, social skills you can start at any time with your children. And as their parents, it’s up to us to make sure they have the social skills they need to interact with the world around them.
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God’s Definition of a Homemaker
In this blog post, I spend a good deal talking about the technical sides of homemaking, like how much money we could be saving by investing our time and energy into our homes instead of outsourcing certain tasks. Or about how we can invest in our family’s emotional and social wellbeing.
But I don’t touch much on what a homemaker is – by definition!
For God’s definition of a homemaker, be sure to read What is a Homemaker?
Keep reading to find out how much money you could save annually by being a homemaker!
A Homemaker is Several Full-Time Jobs
A tidy home isn’t the only task a homemaker sets out to complete.
Meal planning, meal preparation, managing household finances, and decorating living spaces are all tasks that fall under the scope of a homemaker. And it’s important to note that they fall out of the scope of a housekeeper.
To complete all of these tasks, you’d be looking at spending $272,991 per year!
I know I know – you’re going to say “But we don’t pay the annual salary for these services! We pay fees associated with them, and some services only happen weekly.”
Even if you’re only paying for these services on a weekly or annual basis, you’re still looking at spending up to $60,000 per year for these services! I’ve broken down the national annual salary for housekeepers, personal chefs, financial consultants, and interior designers below. To get a rough figure for what each of those services would cost me in my area, I dug a little deeper and highlighted what services would be offered.
You may be surprised that even though you could spend $197 on a housekeeper every week, they may not clean your baseboards, sanitize, clean every appliance, or even wipe down your windows. Those could be additional charges!
The same goes for personal chefs and interior designers. If you don’t believe that you could spend even more money by outsourcing these services, do your research!
Here’s how I broke down my research –
A housekeeper made, on average, $29,991 in the United States in 2023. The national average for a housekeeper to dust, sweep, mop, take out the trash, make the bed, and clean appliances, for a 2,000-square-foot home is $197 – per week!
In Oregon in 2024, a personal chef (someone employed by an organization but works in clients’ private residences) can make north of $80,000 a year! A qualified candidate must have culinary school experience, food safety certifications, be able to work quickly, and be versed in a variety of cuisines. Chefs in my state can charge up to $100 per service hour, plus the cost of groceries! Even if you’re hiring a chef for three to four hours per week to meal prep lunches and dinners, that weekly figure can be north of $600!
As of August 2024, the top earners in the financial consultant space are making about $130,000 a year! Financial consultants can work with long-term retirement plans or create budgets that fit your current stage of life. Some financial advisors charge up to 1 percent for their services, which can look like a $2,000 flat fee with up to $5,000 added for hourly rates and other duties fulfilled.
Finally, an interior decorator earns, on average, $33,000 per year and is eligible for bonuses. Interior decorators work with clients to make spaces functional on a variety of budgets. In my state, interior designers can charge anywhere from $700 to $11,000 per project!.
While we have looked at each area of the home individually, we haven’t touched on a domestic helper, a person who performs many of these services in exchange for wages. A domestic helper could cook, clean, tend to the garden, or even care for children.
*These figures were calculated August 2024. I encourage you to do your own research and give me grace for when figures change as time passes.
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Why Would I Outsource the Work When I Could Pocket the Money?
Don’t get me wrong – the responsibilities of a caregiver and the benefit of a house cleaning service are well worth the money spent. And the hardworking men and women who complete those jobs should be paid a fair wage!
But why would I spend $60,000, annually, on these services when I can learn how to perform them myself?
Blogs just like mine teach you everything from how to cut up a whole chicken to how to organize children’s toys. Want to decorate for spring? Again – there are tips for how to do that on this blog, too.
The encouragement I get from other women is the salary that could have been made on a two-income home will pay in indescribable riches when you learn how to manage your home and steward your resources well. And WOW – isn’t that the truth?
I know my children spend copious amounts of time with their parents every single day. I know my children get to practice everything I teach them while they’re under my wing. I know I get to experience every milestone, boo-boo, snuggle after naptime, and celebration.
Is there anything more precious than time spent with those you love?
Even More Responsibilities of a Homemaker
We have touched on several of the hats a homemaker wears – private chef, interior designer, referee, family secretary, and financial consultant.
But we haven’t touched on cheerleaders, in-home nurses, beauticians, chauffeurs, educators, nutritionists, and family historians. A homemaker’s scope of work goes well beyond a clean home and a warm meal.
Is there a role that I’m missing? Be sure to find me on Pinterest and Instagram and let me know!
Light Housekeeping Tasks Don’t Replace the Value of a Homemaker
A home needs a housekeeper, and sometimes, there’s nothing better than when your home gets a thorough cleaning.
But a homemaker isn’t synonymous with a housekeeper. Remember that as you complete the necessary chores – like dishes and laundry – daily. Remind yourself daily of your worth as a homemaker!
Everyone’s Quality of Life Improves When a Homemaker Makes Her Home the Primary Focus
Being a homemaker is a full-time job. The daily activities that fill your day are going to be nothing but a blessing to your family!
If you’re struggling with the homemaking tasks before you, I’ve collected a few tips for how to create a home management system that works for you. This isn’t your stereotypical guide. I looked at the three things my home needed and created routines that worked for me and my family. In this blog post, I help you do the same!
My home thrives on routines. But if you know you already have routines in place that work for you and your family, check out these 16 other tips that may help you become an effective homemaker!
I’m praying for you as you take on this hard work. What a blessing you will be, friend!
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[…] I feeling discouraged about my work in the home? I’ll remind myself that a homemaker is not a housekeeper. And that my work is more than just an old-fashioned homemaking routine. […]