Being a homemaker is a job. And just like any other job there are certain sets of skills that are going to make your life a lot easier – especially when you are in this for the long haul! Here are some traditional homemaking skills that you should implement to make your house more of a home.
Because, let’s face it, no one really “retires” from homemaking!
If you are a work outside the home mom, you and your husband will have to delegate and share the homemaking duties. Enlist the kids’ help as well.
Read More: Homemaking Skills Your Son Should Know Before Leaving Home
Homemaking Skills: The Big Three
Read More: Homemaking Skills for the New Homemaker
1. Cooking
The first of the homemaking skills we need to look at is cooking. I know, to some this word is par with cursing, but it really is necessary at some level. [Unless you are blessed with an amazing income and can hire a personal chef!] The more you can cook at home for your family, the healthier your meals will be and the less they will cost.
Even if you have an amazing income and can afford a meal delivery subscription – you will still be required to do some meal prep.
Start learning to cook with breakfast. The quality of this meal can make or break someone’s day. Plus, the foods are super basic. Start with frying an egg. Learn how to fix eggs from YouTube! Or scrambled eggs. Or hard boiled eggs. Eggs are full of protein and healthy fats for a great start to your family’s day. Make some simple, healthy overnight oatmeal.
As you become comfortable with cooking your breakfast from scratch, try adding cooking another meal completely from scratch. Or check out Katie Kimball’s Kid’s Cook Real Food course for yourself or your kids!
Read More: How to Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
2. Cleaning
Secondly, your traditional homemaking skills should include cleaning. I know, another curse word. Here again, if you are blessed with an income that can afford a cleaning maid, by all means go for it!
Whether you clean up the kitchen after supper or clean up the bathroom when you have a sick kid, cleaning will still be required of you even with a hired maid.
But you may be so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start. Check out Marla Cilley’s awesome website Fly Lady and walk through her baby steps to a more organized home!
Not only will cleaning help you feel better and more confident about your house, but you will actually make it a home: a place you and your family want to come home to at night.
Read More: Easy Ways to Refresh Your Home for Spring
3. Laundry
The last curse word is laundry. Again, with an insane amount of money I’m sure you can hire this out, also. [I don’t think I ever would if I could because I’m not a fan of someone else touching my dirty skivvies. Just sayin’!]
Have fun with Stacy’s freebie from Humorous Homemaking for Taming the Laundry Monster where she offers practical ways to implement a laundry routine that works for you. Otherwise Fly Lady has great tips for laundry, as well.
To save yourself a headache don’t try to be all natural and homemade-this and $30-that. Just. Do. Laundry.
After you’ve got doing laundry down pat, then experiment with a natural laundry routine and go as expensive as you want! Just be grateful that you don’t have to do your laundry with a ringer washer or a washboard!
Read More: My Natural and Affordable Laundry Routine
More Traditional Homemaking Skills: Important But Not Imperative
Organizing
Organizing could be synonymous with cleaning. Keeping common areas of your home clean
Fly Lady offers great help in her baby steps for organizing as well. Then you and your family must work at “A place for everything and everything in it’s place.”
Having an organized home makes it relaxing. A haven that your family wants to come home to. It will lower the stress level within your home because people aren’t always losing or looking for things.
Read More: Cheap Organization Hacks for Homemakers
Accounting
Basic accounting is an important homemaking skill to have because you want to be in charge of your money. As Dave Ramsey says, “You don’t want to run out of money and have too much month left.”
Have your husband be in charge of the accounts if you hate the thought of basic
Want to learn how to save money on your grocery budget each month? Use Crystal’s Slash Your Grocery Bill e-book to shed light on money saving tips and hacks.
One awesome money handling method is the envelope system. Grab your wallet here for easy envelopes!
Read More: How to Be a Joyful Homemaker
Bonus Traditional Homemaking Skills
Preserving Food
These bonus homemaking skills aren’t necessary but they sure can save
you money.
Preserving food is one of those frugal kitchen habits that requires a bit of planning ahead but is a big money saver when it comes to meats. Also, if you have a large family it will be more cost effective.
I find that with my small family I can affordably buy many things my mom always canned or froze.
Learn how to freeze produce and meat so that you can buy in bulk when it is cheap. Your main supplies needed are only freezer bags
Use the sun or buy a dehydrator
Read More: How to Use a Pressure Canner
Mending
Read More:How to Make Your Own Curtains
Baking
Baking
Making sure your cupboard is stocked with the most common ingredients is the place to start. Then follow any recipe or even watch those cool step-by-step videos that pop up on your Facebook feed.
Yes, there will be a learning curve, but with practice you can become a confectionary queen!
Read More: Baking Tips and Techniques
Extra Bonus Traditional Homemaking Skill
Hair Cutting
This skill requires an investment of a quality hair clippers
I learned to cut men’s hair by watching my mom cut my dad’s and three brothers’ hair. I never saw girls’ hair get cut until I was in 8th grade when I got my hair cut for the first time. Ever.
I learned to cut girls’ hair by watching my hair be cut at the salon after that. I even cut my own hair several times. Yeah…I don’t recommend that. You can save yourself the $20 for the salon and just watch a YouTube video.
I have a son I’ll give haircuts to and my husband shaves his head completely so I don’t even have to cut his!
Traditional Homemaking Skills Bond Your Family
Together your family can take pride in your home and care for the things in it. Get your kids and husband involved in making your house a home! Show them that you are serious about learning and mastering these skills. Teach them as you learn so they can help you.
When you send your kids out into the world, they will already be a step ahead because you will have equipped them with a few traditional homemaking skills!
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