I am hiring cleaners because I came to the conclusion that I cannot handle cleaning. I can only handle cooking and decluttering to prepare the area for cleaners. People who have cleaners say that it helps their sanity and I am hoping for the same for me. I will save on everything I can - no Starbucks, buying food in bulk, buying generic food, no farmers' market, comparison shopping, no manicures, and whatever else I can cut out just to be able to pay the cleaners.

I do love to cook so I enjoy inviting people over and cooking for them. I do not cook much for myself, and this is how I handle eating at home alone:

- rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or Costco (kills two birds because my cats enjoy it as well) regularly
- steam-in-the bag frozen vegetables that you can microwave without any mess - one the the best technological inventions as of recently, in my mind
- microwave steamer - a plastic contraption I bought for $7 in a drugstore a number of years ago, in which I cook asparagus and frozen artichoke hearts and then eat both with olive oil - little mess, tasty, and very healthy
- low sodium chicken broth and I heat and drink

Rotisserie chicken should work for you even better than for me since you have several people to feed. If they like it, of course.

Post what your family likes to eat and we will come up with ideas on how to simplify your cooking.