Couples who spend money on time-saving services—getting takeout, hiring a housecleaner, or calling a dog walker—report greater relationship satisfaction, especially during stressful periods. Ashley Whillans, a behavioral scientist and professor at Harvard Business School, has studied how people make tradeoffs between time and money. “When you spend money to save time, you feel more control over your life,” she said. “That sense of autonomy boosts well-being.”
Research from Whillans’s team tracked busy, dual-income couples and found consistent patterns. In one six-week diary study, couples who made “time-saving purchases” on a given day were happier and more satisfied with their relationships. But simply outsourcing chores is not a magic fix. “It’s about being intentional with the time you get back—using it to spend quality time together, to reconnect,” Whillans said. “Think of that half hour not as an opportunity to send more emails, but as a chance to spend time with your partner.”
Targol Hasankhani, a Chicago-based marriage and family therapist, stressed that while outsourcing labor can ease daily stress, it doesn’t replace communication. “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.”
The research extends beyond household chores. Elizabeth Willard, who runs a culinary service in Miami, noted that families juggling mixed dietary needs are “not fighting over what’s for dinner. It’s one less daily decision.” Casey Mulligan Walsh, a 71-year-old former speech pathologist in upstate New York, said the best part about hiring a housecleaner once a week was that it freed up time for her and her husband to get coffee together instead of arguing about who should vacuum. For couples managing the stress of careers and child-rearing, even small time-saving purchases can shift the dynamic.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.dailypress.com/2026/01/06/be-well-couples-buying-time/