Buying Time
How HENRYs can deploy cash to reclaim hours and headspace.
Last updated
Buying Time
High earners who are still building long-term wealth often feel stretched for time. Spending selectively on repeatable services can remove mental load without derailing savings plans.
Practical ways to outsource
Hire a cleaner (with intent)
Weekly or twice-weekly cleaning removes a recurring evening or weekend chore. If you value the workout, alternate between professional deep cleans and DIY sessions so you still get the calorie burn without the mental overhead of keeping the whole home guest-ready. Time back: roughly 3-6 hours per week depending on home size. Typical UK cost: £15-£18 per hour, so £45-£90 for two 3-hour visits.
Let groceries come to you
Recurring online supermarket orders, meal-kit subscriptions or price-comparison apps such as Cherrypick trim the time spent driving, parking and queueing. Schedule delivery windows that align with other at-home tasks so you multitask without context switching. Time back: 1-2 hours weekly. Typical cost: £5-£12 delivery or subscription fees per week plus the shop itself.
Outsource meal prep
Private chefs who batch-cook weekly meals or specialist meal-prep services keep nutrition on track and avoid last-minute takeaway decisions. Time back: 4-6 hours a week you would otherwise spend planning, shopping and cooking. Expect £150-£300 per week for a chef preparing multiple dinners or a premium meal-prep delivery.
Use laundry and ironing apps
On-demand wash-and-fold or ironing services collect, launder and return within 24-48 hours. Set standing pickups after travel-heavy weeks, and keep a capsule wardrobe that can bridge any service delays. Time back: about 1-2 hours weekly. Collection plans generally cost £20-£45 a week for an average household load.
Bring in a virtual assistant
A part-time virtual assistant can coordinate travel, renew policies, chase invoices and manage household to-dos. Define standard operating procedures (templates, checklists, card-on-file rules) so the assistant can make 80% of decisions autonomously. Time back: 2-5 hours a week depending on delegation quality. Typical UK remote VA packages run £20-£40 per hour, so £80-£200 for a four- to five-hour block.
Keep outdoor work off your list
Gardeners and seasonal maintenance crews prevent small tasks (weeding, gutter clearing, winterizing furniture) from compounding into weekend projects. Combine visits with any exterior cleaning so scaffolding or ladders are only hired once. Time back: roughly 2-4 weekend hours. Rates cluster around £25-£35 per hour, so £50-£120 for a fortnightly or weekly session.
Weekly time and cost snapshot
| Service | Typical time saved (hrs/week) | Typical UK weekly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaner (2×3-hour visits) | 3-6 | £45-£90 |
| Online grocery delivery | 1-2 | £5-£12 fees (+standard shop cost) |
| Part-time virtual assistant | 2-5 | £80-£200 |
| Private chef / meal prep | 4-6 | £150-£300 |
| Laundry / ironing app | 1-2 | £20-£45 |
| Gardener / outdoor maintenance | 2-4 | £50-£120 |
Guardrails before spending
- Budget intentionally: Set a “time buy” allowance alongside investing targets so outsourcing never jeopardizes pension or ISA goals.
- Measure savings: Track hours saved per service for a month; cancel if reclaimed time drops below your target.
- Use tech first: Automate bills, reminders and shopping lists before adding humans. Software is usually cheaper than people.
- Plan the fallback: Know how you will cope if a provider cancels (e.g. a backup cleaner or a frozen-meal buffer) so you avoid emergency overspend.
Deploying money toward time-sinks should feel like buying focus, not status. Review each service quarterly: if it no longer buys back meaningful time or energy, redeploy the cash elsewhere.