We’ve been tightening things up financially around my house, and bringing Ben into the household is starting to pay off in ways I fully expected. When you have a properly trained service sub, you start looking at everyday expenses very differently.

I’ve been assigning him more practical tasks, the kind that quietly drain money over time. Haircuts, for example. He now cuts everyone’s hair in the house except mine. I had him and Cody both strip down so I could properly observe his technique, and I will say, he did a very respectable job. Not just a clean haircut, but full grooming. By the time he was finished, he had Cody fully manscaped. Efficient, thorough, and exactly how I like things handled.

Then there’s the cars. No more wasting money on car washes. Ben handles that now. He’s not allowed to be fully undressed for outdoor work, but on sunny days I allow him to go shirtless while he works. Same goes for yardwork. The lawn gets mowed, edges cleaned up, everything maintained without paying someone else to do it.

Inside the house, it’s even more noticeable. No more weekly housekeeper. Cleaning is handled daily, properly, without shortcuts. Laundry, dishes, general upkeep. All done. And of course, childcare support, which is honestly priceless. Being able to rely on someone consistent, present, and attentive changes everything.

All of this is part of his role, and yes, part of how he earns his place here. But the financial impact is real. We are seeing the difference already, and it’s only the beginning.

And frankly, he’s a lot more enjoyable to look at than a cleaning service or landscaping crew.

With all these savings stacking up, I think I’ve earned a little reward of my own. I might go shoe shopping.