OK, OG blog readers—do you remember link ups?

I’m talking about the back in the day era (2011–2014) when bloggers would all write on the same topic, then link their posts together so you could hop around the internet reading everyone’s take. It was such a fun way to find new bloggers in your little corner of the internet. This was pre-Instagram, pre-TikTok—when blogs were primary connection points.

It’s where WIAW (What I Ate Wednesday) originated (shoutout to Jenn from Peas & Crayons), and I even hosted a monthly link up dedicated to what we were feeding our kids called Munchkin Meals. Probably not the most thoughtful name, but apparently I’ve always been a sucker for alliteration.

All that to say: when I saw that Shay was hosting a monthly link up called Let’s Look, nostalgia gripped my heart and I couldn’t resist. Each month has a different topic—she writes about it, others can too, and then you link your post to hers so readers can peek into how different families do XYZ.

January’s topic is: Things We Outsource Without Regret.

A More Thoughtful Look at Outsourcing

Outsourcing has a bit of an image problem. It can sound indulgent—like something reserved for people with unlimited budgets—but that hasn’t been our experience. For us, outsourcing has been less about luxury and more about clarity: understanding our limits, protecting our energy, and choosing where our time is best spent.

In many cases, it actually makes solid financial sense. Freeing up time to focus on work we do well, reducing stress-fueled mistakes, and avoiding the “we’ll just do it ourselves” spiral that ends up costing more in the long run. It’s a delicate balance of being capable and realistic—of recognizing when doing it all quietly costs more than we think.

Outsourcing is about opting into a life that feels more sustainable, more present, and more aligned with what matters most. Also, it helps support other businesses, often local small businesses. By bringing in an expert to knock out a task they’re good at, it supports them and frees us up to work on the things we’re good at. Win win!

Outsourcing Choices That Support Our Family

House Cleaning
Every other week, I’m grateful to have help with house cleaning. It’s something we’ve thoughtfully worked into our budget over time, and it hasn’t always been part of our life. For me, it’s less about having a perfectly clean house and more about creating mental space. I love our home, and at this stage, my time and energy are often better spent elsewhere. Knowing the bigger cleanings are taken care by the lovely ladies we’ve worked with for a year now allows me to truly enjoy our space instead of constantly managing it. I still handle the in-between tasks—sweeping, vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and cleaning toilets—but having that extra layer of support has been a gift I don’t take for granted.

Tax Preparation
This is a big one. Could we do our taxes ourselves? Maybe. Do we want to? Absolutely not. Between business income, rentals, and life in general, outsourcing tax prep gives us peace of mind and confidence that things are being done correctly.

Seasonal Home Maintenance
Exterior house washing, windows, gutters—these are jobs that require ladders, time, and more motivation than I typically have. Outsourcing these once or twice a year keeps our home maintained without becoming overwhelming or unsafe.

Home Pest Control
We have a company come quarterly to spray around the house. We still have gotten a wild amount of ladybugs that somehow made their way in last month, but it sure does help with the majority of creepy crawlers.

Things We Don’t Outsource (At Least Not Right Now)

Handyman Tasks
This one surprises people, but we (ahem, OK, David) actually handle a lot of this ourselves. Small repairs, installs, and projects tend to fall into the “we can do this” category—and sometimes even feel satisfying.

Grocery Shopping & Meal Prep
This is part routine, part preference. I like being in control of what we’re eating, what’s in our pantry, and how meals come together. It’s work, yes—but work that fulfills me and it feels manageable and familiar. Besides it’s impossible to explain the exact ripeness I need of an avocado to another person 😉

Childcare
I’m home most of the time, but our kids are at the age that we can leave for a bit and they’re just fine on their own. Perhaps even prefer it at times? 😉

Lawn Care
Another one we currently handle ourselves. It’s seasonal, predictable, and for now, doable.

Professional Organizing
We haven’t outsourced this…yet. But doesn’t it sound dreamy? Maybe one day.

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If you’ve ever felt weird admitting you outsource something—or guilty for not outsourcing something others do—I hope this serves as a reminder that there’s no one right way. It’s all about choosing support that makes your life run better, and supporting others while you do so.

Play along in the comments- what do you outsource? What do you prefer to do yourself?

And if you’re an OG blogger who remembers link ups fondly, hi 🙂 and where has the time gone?!