Food allowance for 2 weeks?

We are going away for 2 weeks and our helper will be home. She usually eats what we eat. How much money should I leave for her for two weeks of food? Please advise. Also we are locking up the bedrooms, any other precautions?

When we go away, we leave a detailed list of chores - like specific spring cleaning, windows, waxing the floors, dry cleaning curtains/duvets, scrubbing bathroom walls, emptying and cleaning cupboards and relining the shelf paper, organising the closets, etc... Also basics like bringing the post in every day, tending the houseplants, etc...


We leave enough money for emergencies and household expenses. And ask her if she has enough. But we give a food allowance and she manages the household budget although I check on it weekly.


If we left for two weeks, I would leave 1000 and EXPECT change and ask her to keep all receipts and a log of what was spent, etc... This is way more than necessary, but you want to be sure if there is an emergency she has enough. You don't want to be featured in the SCMP as leaving your maid without enough money or food :)


I would also leave the number of a friend for her to call if there are any problems, and all your contact details.


Have a great trip!

Just give her what she deserve. And just trust her

and when you come back make it day before she expected so that youll know if she's really trust worthy

i would do a big shop of dry items before leaving, things like rice, oyster & soy sauces, a couple bags of brazilian chicken wings and then leave $1000 for emergencies and food, and ask her for receipts. even the wet markets can provide receipts.


i would make a list of the chores i would like done in my absence, and prioritise them. go over them a few days before leaving, and then she might have time to digest them, and raise points about additional cleaning supplies or items needed to get the jobs done.


i wouldn't lock the doors, especially with the damp these days, i would keep the doors open to get the air circulating.


i trust my helper. each day she looks after my most precious and valuable gifts - my children. so leaving her in charge of the house isn't an issue for us.


do also leave the name of a friend of yours she can contact in case of emergencies.


we tell our helper that we respect her judgement. we have neighbours that would tell us if things got noisy, she knows this, we know this, and while she might have a few friends over for dinner like she does when we are at home, i wouldn't have a problem with it if she had them over while we were gone.


hope you have a great holiday.