make peace with housework blog

Hold that Spring Cleaning!

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 17:32:34 +0000

The sun is shining, the snowdrops are out and children are casting off school jumpers with merry abandon. I think spring may well be here. (Not that that rules out snow flurries next week....) But just in case these seasonal stirrings are turning your attention to housework, I thought I'd repost my musings on spring cleaning from this time last year;

If you’re even remotely considering a spot of Spring Cleaning - just hold that thought!
Though spring may undoubtedly have sprung and you may be keen to revitalise your home after the dark days of winter, before you do...
I have a tip that will help make this seasonal maintenance work much easier. In fact, this simple step may even bring wondrous benefits to you, your home and your life, long after you hang up your marigolds.
So before you attempt to usher the new spring freshness into your home, I invite you to consider the secret weapon of successful homemakers: decluttering.
Now you may be thinking, Do I really need to bother? Is it really worth the extra work, especially at such a busy time of the housekeeping year?
But the answer is a resounding Yes! Spring is the perfect time to tackle your clutter demons. For a start, you can tap into the spring energy - and you may well need this extra boost if clutter has taken a hold. And there is a whole host of convincing reasons to bust your clutter sooner rather than later. (10 of these are coming up but if you’d like a more in-depth study, check out my favourite clutter guru, Mimi Tanner, or I recommend these great books: Cut the Clutter, Clearing the Clutter.)
However, undomestic goddess that I am, I’ve found the most compelling argument to get to grips with my family’s ‘stuff’ is that  it makes housework faster, easier and less teeth-clenchingly irksome.
So, decluttering reaps dividends for the initial effort required at any time of year. But if you’ve got a mammoth spring cleaning schedule ahead of you, there really is no better time to deal with your clutter.
And to help you do just that, here are a few more motivating reasons to get busting!

10 Really Good Reasons To Bust Your Clutter
1. Less housework! (It bears repeating) What more excuse do you need? Experts reckon that a clutter-free home requires 40% less housework than a messy one. 40%! Just by getting into the habit of putting away (or giving away) your things, you could cut your domestic workload almost by half!
2. It pays. Literally. In her book, Women & Money, finance expert Suze Orman is emphatic about the link between a tidy, orderly home and the state of your finances. She says, “If your affairs remain a mess, wealth will elude you.” I’ve actually had personal experience of this. Every time I have a major sort-out in my office, more money comes in. I don’t know how it works or why, I just know it does and am happy to go with it. So, the next time you want to hide from your clutter - just think of the money!
3. More clarity. Our brains deal with A LOT of information. We are constantly being bombarded by things to see, hear or think about. But our brains need time out, not just in sleep, but in rest. Clear spaces and surfaces are soothing to the mind. This mental recharging is also good for our overall health and well-being. So free your home from mentally-distracting clutter. You will be rewarded with more serenity and increased peace of mind.
4. Raise tidy children Children have lots of stuff. So, wouldn’t it be nice if they kept their own things in order? Raising tidy children is one of the Holy Grails of parenting (and it will mean less work for parents in the long run). But children learn most, not by our instructions, but by our example. When children see clutter and chaos as the norm, why would they bother to tidy up after themselves. If you are operating the ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ rule, training your little angels to be self-tidiers could be a long hard slog.
5. Home as sanctuary Our homes are meant to be a place of refuge from the world. We need them to be calming, soothing and supportive. Without this space to retreat and regroup, life can be a constant battle. So the time investment in your home (de-cluttering) will deliver a return on your quality of life. The benefits of having a sanctuary are priceless.
6. You can find things. Do you ever spend time looking for your keys, phone, documents, etc? And doesn’t it always happen when you are in a rush? How do those frantic, frustrating and stressful episodes make you feel? Not great. Imagine how much more smoothly life would run if you had fast and reliable access to everything you need. Well, this life is available! And though it comes at a price, luckily that price is simply a habit of putting things were they belong. And for cutting that health-sapping stress from your life, it’s excellent value.
7. Boost self-esteem Can you remember a time when you felt really proud of your home? How good did that feel? Regaining that successful feeling is within your hands. Seize control, you are in charge. Make your mind up to succeed! And with success in your home and renewed self esteem, you’re on the road to success in all areas of your life!
8. Banish The Fear of The Unexpected Visitor Do you cringe when you hear the doorbell? The wonderful FlyLady describes it as CHAOS - Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. It’s a horrible feeling. Why live with that fear when you can avoid it? Imagine hearing the door and being happy to have a visitor. Compare that to the heart-sinking despair at the state of your home. So the next time you’re facing chaos and wondering, why bother? - know it’s worth doing because it makes you feel good!
9. The Feng Shui Effect Two words - Bad chi.
10. Save the planet When you wage a war on clutter, you develop the habit of regularly getting rid of things that you no longer love or need. Donating these things to charity is a triple whammy of goodness. Firstly, the charity benefits (and because of good karma, so do you!) Secondly, by releasing leftovers of your past, you make space in your life for wonderful new things. Thirdly, you are saving the planet by recycling - your trash may be someone’s treasure!

***

As always, I'd love to hear what you think!
Danielle
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The MPWH Top Ten Twenty-Ten Tip Top Top Tips

Tue, 8 Feb 2011 20:20:24 +0000

Happy New Year!
I know I am fashionably late but I have spent the last few weeks busily converting this entire blog into an ebook format for your reading pleasure. During this process, I was struck by how many useful ideas I’ve stumbled across over the last year or two. Despite the fact that I’ve relayed them to you on this blog, even I had forgotten some of them, or at least forget to implement on a regular basis.
So in the spirit of new decade reviews, (can I still get away with that?), I thought I’d offer you a quick reminder of the best of the best from the last year of MPWH.
In other words, My Top Ten Twenty-Ten Tip Top Top Tips! (Apologies for the abundant alliteration, it’s a hopelessly helpless habit....)
Speaking of which....

THE MPWH Top Ten Twenty-Ten Tip Top Top Tips
1. Habits
Anything you adopt as a habit, will be very helpfully dealt with by your subconscious mind - without any conscious angst, resentment or frustration for you. So for calmer domestic karma, try to turn any particularly loathsome chore into a habit. Unless, of course, you can avoid doing it altogether- which brings me nicely on to...

2. Delegation
A job may very well need doing, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that you must always be the one to do it. Aside from hired help, there are many other avenues of delegation you may want to explore, ranging from family members to domestic appliances to internet services. Seek and ye shall undoubtedly find some ways of getting a little more help around the place.

3. Re-educate
One of my highlights last year was appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour show with Jenni Murray. Here I discussed how it can be a great idea to research the most efficient ways to do whatever must be done. It makes real sense to scour the internet for tips and tricks. Read books that show you time-saving short-cuts. Grill any willing Domestic Goddess friends for their insider secrets. Do whatever it takes to find out how to make your tasks easier and your workload lighter. In exchange for a bit of digging and researching, you could shave hours, days, even weeks off your housework schedule. Time well spent, no?

4 Use music
This is a simple but powerful one. Whether you need something lively to get you moving mop-wards, or something soothing to stop the mad resentment-fuelled racing - choose some tunes to help you. You can find more on this here or here but I’m sure you know best what you need. Taking a moment to do this before you start any chore can work wonders for in battling housework blues.

5. Plan ahead
Just a little lazy pondering, in advance, about what needs to be done kickstarts some magical processes in your mind where things just seem to turn out better. Life running a little bit more smoothly? Sounds like a good plan to me.

6. Learn feng shui
It is much more difficult to avoid essential housework with the threat of Bad Chi lurking at the back of your mind.

7. Find the fun
Do whatever it takes to inject a little fun into the proceedings. Have happy snaps about the place. Buy gadgets that make you smile. Wear fur-trimmed marigolds if that floats your boat. Pepper your housework routine with elements of folly and jolly. Housework may be mundane, but it doesn’t have to be miserable.

8. Embrace the Housework-out
When your exercise of choice is vigorous housework, not only will you look good and feel good - your home will be lovely plus you’ll free up some extra time to enjoy it. It’s a win-win-win-win!

9. Consider the angst:procrastination ratio
Obviously, it can be very tempting to leave certain jobs (all jobs?) until some other day (preferably the twelfth of never...) But, how will that make you feel in the long run? If the stress/guilt/worry of not doing it is worse than the trauma of facing it, you may be better off just biting the bullet. As unappealing as it may seem, sometimes it is easier to just do it.

10. Treat yourself. Regularly
The debate rages on about how much women ought to be paid for all the stuff we do within the home. However, whilst we’re waiting for a government to recognise our efforts by way of some cold hard cash, why don’t we take it upon ourselves to dish out our own recompense? Consider all the wonderful work you do and choose a relevant reward. In the words of the ad men - you’re worth it.

•••

There you go! Some of my favourite tips from the last year. I hope you enjoy them and find they will stand you in good stead for the domestic battles of 2011. Let me know how you get on!

Danielle
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May your heart be light

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 16:25:11 +0000

Oh, Christmas...
For all the joy and magic of this festive season, there’s no doubt that Christmas brings with it a good deal of extra work and things to do. There are the parties and visits to and from friends and family... Then there’s all that present planning and buying, wrapping and giving... There’s all that extra food shopping and cooking and baking... And on top of all that, there’s also a considerable festive serving of extra housework.
Now, before I get all Ebenezer on you, let me just stress that I am a huge fan of Christmas. I absolutely love it. I think I enjoy it even more now than I did when I was a child. Having two small children of my own definitely adds to the magic and sense of excitement and wonder, but even in the quiet moments of planning and organising, the Christmas season always makes me smile.
This is in spite of the extra work, though, rather than because of it.
So, in my attempt to get maximum enjoyment from the festivities with minimum amounts of stress and frantic frenzies, I have a few ideas for a Calmer Christmas Karma. These are lessons I’ve learnt about what makes for a happier time for all concerned - not least, myself. (And why not, Christmas is for grown-ups, too!)

THE MPWH Guide to Calmer Christmas Karma
De-Clutter.
At Christmas time, the contents of most homes are swollen well beyond the norm, as we haul various trees and trinkets into our living space. These can be a source of great joy for the family. (My most cherished decoration is the twinkling wreath on the fireplace mantel, which I love so much that it stays in place well beyond Twelfth Night.)
However, to get full enjoyment from this festive festooning, it makes sense to clear some space for it beforehand. Christmas is going to bring a lot of extra ‘stuff’ onto the premises; cards, decorations, presents etc... Planning ahead for this invasion of good will and goodies, not to mention callers and carousers, will make for a less stressful and overcrowded backdrop for all the fun and frolics.
So now is one of the best times to deal with extraneous clutter. Alternatively, if we’re too far into the schedule to squeeze in that extra effort, another great option is storage. Removing, even temporarily, anything that will be in the way over the next few weeks will work wonders for your sense of calm, not to mention your enjoyment of your bedecked and bejewelled home.
(If you need some inspiration in this department, my current favourite read will provide that in gorgeous designer spades and that is Terence Conran’s book, Storage. Tis a joy to behold, packed with exquisite interiors and some great tips for getting a grip on what you give houseroom to.)
Christmas can become quite a large and demanding houseguest. Simply anticipating this and allowing or creating some room for it will help to ensure that its brief stay is a happier one.

Permission to slack
I love this idea which I found over on The Retro Housewife blog by Jenny Conlon, (a lady with a very grounded and realistic love of happy homemaking). Jenny gives an account of the joy to be found in ignoring the washing up and just reveling in the rituals of the season (ie curling up on the sofa with your loved ones and watching TV). Let’s hear it for this sense of reason amongst the onslaught of pressures to be perfect.
Whilst it’s true that some of the demands that Christmas brings are too important to ignore, (for example, no parent wants to see disappointed faces on Christmas morning), there are still many minor, self-inflicted chores which would not be too disastrous if left.
I believe my Libran mantra for life is particularly applicable at this time of year; Balance is Key.
If we start to think that Christmas is a headache or a bind or just a source of extra stress, then we’re missing our on the potential fun and joy to be had. It’s a time for celebration, not commiseration. Yes, there is work involved but that’s true of most things worth having.
So after a number of grueling, overworked Christmases, I have decided that this year will be different. And my solution for a happier time of it is to manage as best as I can without slipping into exhaustion, resentment or despair.
Tis, after all, the season to be jolly. So if jolly seems a long way off, see if you can let go of a few pressures that no-one will really miss. It also helps to bear in mind that ‘The Big Day’ doesn’t have to be a solo production. There’s no rule that says you must shoulder the entire burden on your own. Which brings me nicely onto...

Ask for help
We all like to appear capable and on top of it all. Which is great - if you are capable and on top of it all. But if you feel as though you’re fighting a losing battle, the most sensible thing to do is call for reinforcements.
Let’s face it, in many families, it’s quite often down to one person to think of everything and that may well be you. But think of everything does not necessarily mean do everything. Take a tip from some of the world’s most successful managers and achievers and... delegate.
You may even be doing your family and friends a favour. If you have guests, they would much rather be given a small task than feel guilty about doing nothing whilst you have a minor breakdown. Most people would prefer to help out. This way, they feel useful and part of the proceedings, as opposed to an additional burden.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling the strain of organising all the gifts, enlist any passing family member in collection or delivery or wrapping or hiding or assembling (whichever is appropriate). If you know what needs to be done and are wondering how to do it all, asking for help can be a surprisingly simple way of relieving your workload. Leaving you with a little breathing space to inject some enjoyment back into what is, after all, supposed to be a joyful experience.

Plan, plan, plan.
Yes, it is a busy time and sitting down with pen and paper (or laptop, if you prefer) may seem like an indulgence but it will, without a doubt, make you more efficient, organised and less-stressed than if you wing it from one chaotic flurry of busyness to another.
You’ve done Christmas before. You know the drill. You know the flash-points and the areas that lead to panic-inducing mania. Take advantage of your hard-won experience and use it to sketch out a calmer way this year. Picture a more serene and happy scenario, then plan ways to make that happen.
Getting ahead may sound boring and unexciting but it will free up so much more time and energy that you’ll be more able to find your fun and excitement in the magic of the season.

Turn chores into joys
What’s your least favourite Christmas chore?
For me, it’s wrapping. I find it monotonous, joyless and endless. So after too many years of approaching it as a necessary unpleasantness, I have developed a little plan:
I co-ordinate some time alone in the house (hooray for grandparents!), I stick on a favourite chirstmas movie, I stoke up the fire and arm myself with the relevant sustenance for the task (either Warnink’s or Nigella’s Santa’s Little Helper), et voila! I have turned a dull and boring task into something of a seasonal highlight. I’ve actually come to love this period of relative calm before the storm, happy in the knowledge that I am getting on with what needs to be done in the true spirit of Christmas: home, family, warmth, nostalgia, generosity and a cheerful tipsiness.
* * *
So, there you have it, my little guide to staying sane and smiling amidst the festive madness. I hope you find it useful and as always I would love to hear what you think, especially if you have any tips of your own you’d like to share.
And finally, before I leave you to surrender to “the long, hard, glorious slog that is December” (as summed up so beautifully over on Brocante Home), I’d like to wish much peace and joy to you and yours over the festive season.
Have yourselves a merry little Christmastime.
Danielle
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Girl, put your records on!

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 11:27:01 +0100

Any regular readers will no doubt be aware that I have a natural aversion to housework. This is not to say I don’t do it - I want to live in a pleasant and comforting home, so needs must etc... But generally speaking it’s not top of my list of things I want to do.
So you probably won’t be too surprised to discover that when I do eventually shift my gears into housework mode, I race about at a frenzied pace, trying to get the jobs done and dusted (literally) as quickly as possible.
Now there is nothing wrong with working quickly, if that’s how you work happiest. Also, there may be times when a brisk pace is essential (ie impending guests are looming). Quite often, though, I have no need to rush the housework, other than my in-built urge to get it over with. And I have also noticed that these domestic frenzies don’t leave me feeling satisfied and competent, instead they actually they wind me up. They make me anxious and tense. So not only do I begrudge the work as I’m tearing through it, but when it’s over, I feel slightly glum or more than a little snappish. Hardly domestic bliss.
All this begs the question - what’s the rush?
In my bid to answer this, I recently noticed that whenever I make a mental effort to just calm down and do the job efficiently and well but without the manic racing, I actually feel relaxed and less resentful. There are even (don’t be shocked) fleeting notions of domestic goddessness. Not to get all Zen on you, but when I slo-o-o-o-ow down, I feel more at peace with what I have to do.
As an added bonus, when I ditch the resentment which causes all the rushing in the first place, the workload actually feels lighter (such is the weight of negative energy). Plus I usually do a better job of it and am left feeling much happier and contented afterwards.
There are a number of complex psychological reasons why this is the case but suffice to say this latter scenario is clearly the more enjoyable one. It may not be my natural instinctive method but as I write this, it becomes blindingly obvious that this is how I ought to approach my household chores.
So why don’t I? And if you are of a similar predicament, why don’t you?
Well, I’m still working on that one - we’re complex beings and we don’t always make sense or do what’s best for us. However, what I have discovered is a little technique that can give us a helpful nudge us in the happier direction:
Music.
Now using music for housework is not a radically new idea (I have it mentioned it before, both here and in my book). However, the general consensus so far has been that you put on some energetic, upbeat music to raise your sluggish mood to the point where you can manage a bit of housework. This is a great tip and works a treat if you need a bit of a kick mop-wards.
But if, like me, you can suffer from too much unwanted energy (ie the frenzied rushing), putting on some loud and lively tunes could actually tip you over into a hyperactive mania. Not fun.
So, for those of us who find ourselves racing through the housework in a desperate bid to move on to something (anything) else, music can still come to our rescue - but we need to reverse the tempo. We need relaxing, calming, soothing music, tunes that will bring us back to a more reasonable speed. We need a musical chill-pill.
This sounds simple, but you may be surprised by how effective this tip can be. For example, when my heart sinks as I survey a trashed kitchen after the latest feeding frenzy, I nip my despair in the bud, press play on my iPod and voila: one much happier bunny!
But don’t take my word for it, the next time you’re busily, anxiously trying to get some chore speedily dispatched (all the while mentally grumbling about how you don’t want to be doing them - or is that just me?), take a moment to put something relaxing on your music system.
I promise you, you’ll return to your jobs with a much calmer kalma. You may even slip into a mood of happy contentment as you experience the joy of being in the moment. (If even I can find momentary happiness in mundane maintenance, there is hope for anyone.)
So, I hope you’ll try out my theory and let a little easy listening reduce your housework blues. (If you like, you can check out my chill-out playlist on spotify.) Let me know if it works for you!
Danielle
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PS I concocted this blog as I was restoring order to my sons’ bedroom (a job that ranks quite highly on the I’d Rather Not Be Doing This List) Yet, once I put on my favourite chill-out tunes, I didn’t mind the work quite so much. I even managed to raise a smile at my 5-year-old’s attempt at tidying. (Or rather redistributing). Plus, I was inspired to put fingers to keyboard which also goes to prove one of my previous theories that housework is fertile ground for creative inspiration.
So there you have it, Zen housework.
Which reminds me, I need to get back to the boys’ bedroom, with all its ‘potential for enlightenment’ - I may be some time....

Taking care of the workforce (ie you)

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:25:13 +0100

Looking after a home and family is physically demanding work. Without health, energy and emotional calm, it can be an uphill struggle. So it makes sense to prioritise your well-being, make it non-negotiable. Looking after No1 needs to be Job #1.

However, the life of a House Slave is a busy one and there may be times when what should, in theory, be top of your To Do list, can drift and slide to the nether regions of your Things That Get Neglected list.

So what to do?

Well, today I offer you one single solitary health tip which could not only reap rich rewards for your vitality, vigor and mental wellness, but also requires only moments of your day. On top of that, it brings with it real beauty benefits, reducing wrinkles and giving you a youthful glow.

And what is this magic pill? Well actually, it’s a liquid remedy, commonly known as ....water.

Yep. That’s it. Drink more water.

Now, before you yawn and roll your eyes, muttering Yes, yes we know, we’ve heard it all before, just ask yourself how much water you drink regularly? Is it close to the recommended 8 glasses? If yes, then I salute you! If not, though, why not?

The accepted wisdom is that drinking plenty of water is vital for good health, yet few people do it. I believe that those who do manage it, do so not because they are more virtuous or disciplined than the rest of us, but merely because they’ve adopted the habit of doing it.

Adopting the habit of drinking plenty of water could be one of the best things you can easily do to improve your health and vitality. It can even help with weight management (which will, in turn, improve your health). It will also have you looking younger and vibrant (and improved self-esteem is also good for you). So, not only can this habit help you feel amazing more of the time, it keeps you looking gorgeous, too. Pretty useful habit, n’est pas?

So, if you want to take better care of yourself and, by default, be fit and able to take better care of your loved ones, set yourself a Water Challenge!

Although the actual advised amounts continue to vary, there is one generally accepted True Test of whether you’re drinking enough. Or should I say Loo Test...ie, you check the colour of ‘your water’ when you go to the loo. For anything darker than pale yellow - get yourself a drink!

Developing routines or habits where drinking water becomes natural and automatic is the easiest way to get more water into your day. So, here are a few ideas of how to do exactly that:

★ Start your day with a large mug of warm water with a slice of lemon. This is a well-known trick for gently getting your metabolism going after the night’s fast. (Elizabeth Hurley is a big advocate of this and she looks pretty good...) Now, you may argue that you need a caffeine shot to get going in the morning but if you get into the habit of drinking plenty of water, you may well find that your natural energy and vitality will do the trick instead.

★ Keep a bottle of water and a glass on your desk and by your bed. You’re much more likely to drink water if it’s within easy reach. Plus it’s a visual reminder. Perhaps you could treat yourself to a pretty glass or tumbler in support of your new quest, to make that reviving glass of water even more appealing.

Note: Beware of keeping drinking water in plastic bottles in the car or in the sun - the heat destabilises the plastic and can make the water toxic.

★ Alternate herbal teas with your usual tea/coffee. Caffeine drinks count against your water intake, ie you need to add yet another drink of water to your daily quota to compensate. However, drinking herbal teas are triply beneficial because;
• they count towards your water intake goals
• they are free of the toxins found in other teas and coffees
• the carefully selected herbs have additional health-giving properties. For example, you can get herbal teas that help with detoxing, skin health, joint health, Immune system, digestion, sleep or weight.
(You can even add them to your bath for a bit of homespun spa-therapy!)

My favourite herbal teas are Dr Stuart’s (my graphic designer side loves the gorgeous packaging, whereas my Tea Connoisseur side loves their light, refreshing taste...) They have loads of different flavours so why not pick and mix till you find your favourite?

★ In social settings, alternate alcoholic drinks with mineral water. You’ll barely notice at the time but you’ll be very thankful the morning after! (Also helps with weight loss.)

★ Instead of reaching straight for the painkillers when you get a headache, try a glass of water ﬁrst. It could just be your body trying to tell you that you’re dehydrated. (It’s been suggested that by the time you feel thirsty, your body is already suffering from dehydration effects.)

★ If you get bored of water on its own - mix it up! Combine a good quality fruit juice half-and-half with sparkling mineral water for a refreshing long drink (helps towards your fruit portion too!)

There are a number of great books which go into this subject in a lot more depth. I recently enjoyed Water: Pure Therapy which really inspired me to increase my water intake. A more recent popular read is Your Body's Many Cries for Water: You're Not Sick; You're Thirsty - the title alone is enough to make me grab a bottle of Badoit!

So here’s to prioritising your health and well-being with one easy new habit: drinking more water. Cheers!

Danielle
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Comments:

Hi Danielle,

i just wanted to add to your comments on water, that the quality of water will effect it's benefits on the body.
drinking pure water is absolutely vital. general tap water is full of toxins and chemicals and whilst it does hydrate the body, it is slowly poisoning the body at the same time.
i recently spent $500 on a top quality under sink water filter + alkalinity/mineral booster. which i see as a completely necessary part of my kitchen. the water tastes great, and hence also encourages me to drink more as i love the taste.
the next best thin would be rain/spring water or bought/delivered spring water and of course filtered tap water.
i would urge you to urge your readers to invest in some sort of the above... your body will be even more grateful. i realise it's not affordable for everyone, and so for those who cannot afford it, there are those water filtration jugs that are relatively cheap, and worthwhile if you cant afford to go the whole hog.
:)

regards,

Steve

Comment from Danielle:
Excellent point, Steve. The quality of the water you drink has a huge impact on your health - especially if you are drinking the recommended daily amounts.
I live in a spa town and the water is notoriously high quality, so I’m not averse to drinking tap water. I have also been advised that if it’s a choice between tap water and no water, tap water would be best. However, given a choice, I opt for mineral water.
There are certainly arguments for filtered water (I use one in my home) but the quality of tap water can differ greatly depending on where you live, so it may be worth doing a little homework, especially if cost is an issue. (Though don’t forget to weigh up extra costs against the expense (and misery) of ill-health.)
Thanks for raising this important issue, Steve!