For many working mothers, the end of the workday does not mean the end of their responsibilities. Office deadlines, childcare, cooking, laundry and household chores can turn an ordinary day into a demanding routine. For Gunjan Tanwani, a senior software engineer at Walmart with more than 10 years of corporate experience, managing these responsibilities has meant building a support system at home.In a social media post, Gunjan shared how much she spends each month on domestic help to balance her professional ambitions with motherhood. Her monthly expenses average around Rs 31,500, covering everything from cooking and cleaning to childcare. While the amount may surprise some people, Gunjan explained that outsourcing household tasks helps her focus on her career and her daughter without exhausting herself trying to do everything alone. Her experience highlights a challenge many working mothers face: balancing professional growth with the demands of running a household, often without enough time or energy left for themselves.
How Gunjan Tanwani breaks down her monthly household expenses
Gunjan shared a detailed account of the people who help her manage daily responsibilities. Her fixed monthly spending on household support comes to Rs 28,500, which can increase when she needs additional help. Here is how her regular expenses are divided:1. Maid – 5k2. Dusting & other chores – 3k3. Cook for lunch – 4.5k (she does extra chopping work also for dinner)4. Nanny 1-6k (3 hours)5. Nanny 2 – 10k (5 hours)Total fixed – 28.5k1. Instant help on alternative Sundays for cleaning – 5002. Instant cook on alternative Sundays for helping – 500Total fixed expenses – Rs 28,500She also hires temporary help on alternate Sundays, spending Rs 500 on additional cleaning assistance and another Rs 500 on cooking help. These occasional services bring her regular total to Rs 29,500. However, unexpected absences by a maid or cook can increase the monthly bill. Gunjan said her spending averages around Rs 31,500 when such additional costs are included. The figures offer a glimpse into the practical arrangements she has made to keep her household running while managing a demanding corporate role.
Why she pays extra for the small household tasks
One detail in Gunjan’s breakdown is her decision to hire a separate person for dusting, laundry and other tasks that may appear minor but take up considerable time. Although her household has an automatic washing machine, the work does not end when the washing cycle is complete. Clothes still need to be hung, folded and ironed. Other responsibilities include cleaning beds, changing bedsheets every third day and filling water bottles. Gunjan explained why she decided to outsource these tasks rather than expect the nannies to manage them alongside childcare.“I tried to get it done from nanny but they were super lazy in doing this and was not paying proper attention to my daughter during those works.” She chose to spend an additional Rs 3,000 each month on these chores so that childcare would not suffer while other household responsibilities were being completed. Her decision reflects a practical consideration for parents who rely on domestic support: different tasks require different kinds of attention. By dividing the workload, she can ensure that household upkeep and her daughter’s care are handled separately.
From burnout to building a support system
For Gunjan, the decision to spend on household help came from personal experience rather than convenience alone. She said she had once tried to manage everything herself, but the effort left her facing significant burnout. Explaining why she now prioritises support, she wrote, “To be enabled to work on my aspirations & dreams, I need a lot of support from my system.” She also shared a message for other working women who may feel guilty about paying for help instead of handling every responsibility themselves.“As a working woman and new mom, with high-demanding timeliness, I need my support system to take care of my extras.” Reflecting on her earlier experience, she added, “Once I was trying to do everything on my own and failed terribly with a huge burnout. So working ladies, please don’t hesitate to spend on yourself.” Her message is not simply about the amount she spends. It is about recognising the time and energy required to manage a career alongside family responsibilities, and accepting that doing everything independently is not always sustainable.
A conversation about the cost of working motherhood
Gunjan also uses her social media platform to share her corporate experiences, workplace culture and benefits at Walmart. In her post, she said she planned to share details about how she secured a position at the company on her first attempt, along with guidance for working mothers preparing for similar opportunities. Her account brings attention to an often-overlooked part of professional life: the arrangements that make it possible for someone to continue working while raising a child. The cost of household help can vary widely depending on location, working hours and individual family needs. Gunjan’s expenses represent her personal experience, not a standard budget for every working mother.Still, her story raises an important point. A successful career and a growing family can require more than careful scheduling. They may also require practical support, shared responsibilities and the willingness to recognise personal limits. For Gunjan, spending on domestic help is one way to protect her time, pursue her ambitions and care for her daughter. Her experience serves as a reminder that asking for help does not mean a working mother is doing less. Sometimes, it is what allows her to keep going without losing herself in the process.
