At a Glance
- Couples who outsource chores report higher relationship satisfaction.
- Harvard study links time-saving purchases to greater well-being during stress.
- Even small services like takeout or dog walking can free time for connection.
- Why it matters: Spending money to save time can improve love and reduce burnout.
Couples who pay for services that cut chores often feel more in control and happier together, a new study by a Harvard Business School behavioral scientist shows. The research examined busy dual-income partners and found that even modest outsourcing-takeout, a cleaner, or a dog walker-boosted relationship satisfaction, especially when life gets hectic.
How Spending Money Saves Time and Boosts Love
In a six-week diary study, couples who made a time-saving purchase on a given day reported higher happiness and relationship satisfaction.
- Takeout
- Housecleaner
- Dog walker
- Accountant
- Babysitter
- Cleaner
Ashley Whillans said:
> “When you spend money to save time – hiring an accountant, a babysitter, a cleaner – you feel more control over your life,” she said. “That sense of autonomy boosts well-being.”
Ashley Whillans added:
> “People underestimate how much these choices matter,” she said. “It’s not about luxury – it’s about freeing up time to connect.”
What Outsourcing Really Means for Relationships
Outsourcing chores is not a cure-all; it must be paired with intentional use of the saved time.
Ashley Whillans noted:
> “It’s about being intentional with the time you get back – using it to spend quality time together, to reconnect,” she said. “Think of that half hour not as an opportunity to send more emails, but as a chance to spend time with your partner.”
A Chicago therapist warns that deeper conflicts over chores can persist.
Targol Hasankhani said:
> “If conflict around chores is rooted in something deeper – like inequity or not feeling heard – hiring a cleaner won’t solve that,” she said. “It opens up time and space, but couples still have to know how to show up for each other in that space.”
Real-Life Stories of Time Reclaimed
For a 71-year-old former speech pathologist, a weekly cleaner meant more coffee and less arguments.
Casey Mulligan Walsh said:
> “My favorite day of the week was coming home to a clean house,” she said. “We’d go get coffee together instead of arguing about who should vacuum.”
A teacher in Pueblo turned a Valentine’s Day gift into a long-term habit.
Melissa Jones said:
> “It was truly amazing,” Jones said. “After that, I kept it up on my own for years. When my husband and I moved in together, we decided to continue.”
A culinary service owner notes that families appreciate the relief of not deciding dinner.
Elizabeth Willard said:
> “Most of the people I cook for are trying to invest in their health but don’t have the time,” she said, noting that families often juggle mixed dietary needs. “Sometimes the husband’s a carnivore and the wife’s vegetarian, one child’s celiac. They’re exhausted trying to make everyone happy.”
Key Takeaways
- Paying for time-saving services can increase relationship satisfaction.
- The benefits depend on intentional use of the freed time and addressing deeper issues.
- Even modest outsourcing, like a cleaner or dog walker, can improve well-being and reduce stress.
By turning a small expense into a strategic investment in time, couples can create space for connection and resilience.
