I was a millionaire by 30 and retired at 36. I outsource many parenting tasks I don't enjoy, but you don't have to be rich to do the same.

Christine Landis was a millionaire by the time she was 30 years old.

Courtesy Christine Landis

• Christine Landis is a mom of two and a multimillionaire.
• She manages parenthood like a business, outsourcing tasks where possible.
• Even parents with moderate incomes can benefit from outsourcing, she said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christine Landis, CEO of Peacock Parent. It has been edited for length and clarity.

By the time I was 30 years old, I had a million dollars in the bank, but throughout the first half of my 30s, I still didn't feel financially secure. I also knew that if my husband and I had kids at that point, I would feel a constant pull between my obligations at work and my obligations as a mother, even with his support. I didn't want to constantly feel pulled in two directions, and the truth is that my priority was my career.

At the time, I was the CEO of National Cred-A-Chek, which provided banking information to casinos and gaming operators. When I was 36, a Canadian company acquired the business for eight figures. The offer was unsolicited — we hadn't been actively trying to sell the company — and the transaction happened quickly. Suddenly I had enough money that I never needed to work again, and I was retired at 36.

Christine Landis outsources some of the tasks of parenting that she doesn't enjoy.

Courtesy Christine Landis

I outsourced tasks and did the ones that brought me joy

I decided to work on my next big venture: motherhood. I had my first child at 37 and my second at 39. Because I was financially secure, I was able to outsource the more mundane tasks of being a parent. I hired two nannies and didn't worry about the cost. I outsourced laundry, housekeeping, and cooking, in addition to the childcare help.

I approached motherhood the same way that I ran a business. Most parents have limited time, money, and energy. I was in the unique position of having plenty of money, and I knew I could use it to buy myself more time and energy, in a way.

I didn't engage with the parenting tasks I dreaded, like doing bath time or reading the same book 500 times. That freed me to show up fully, energetically, and passionately to the parenting activities I do love, like swimming together, eating breakfast, and exploring museums.

I think all parents should outsource some of the job

Most parents don't have millions in the bank, but they can still use a similar approach. In 2003, five years after the sale of National Cred-A-Chek, I started another company, Peacock Parent, to help other parents vet concierge services that can free up their mental energy and give them more time to enjoy the aspects of parenting that bring them joy.

Even if you're not wealthy, you can still use three of my favorite outsourcing tools, including:

• A virtual family assistant: Lots of people are familiar with working with virtual assistants in the office, and I think it's time we apply the same idea to the home. This isn't just a help for moms — it's an assistant for the whole family, including dads and childcare providers. I've used a family virtual assistant to schedule doctor's appointments. They're great for keeping an eye on your calendar so you know when events like Teacher Appreciation Week are coming up.There are lots of options for virtual family assistants. If you use an actual person, you'll pay more, but you'll also get a higher level of service. One of my favorite AI-driven options is DuckBill, which starts at $99 a month.
• Laundry service: Parenthood adds at least 5-10 loads of laundry each week, which is downright exhausting. I love Poplin, which is like Uber for your laundry — they pick it up, and then they wash, fold, and return your laundry to your home. The minimum order price is $20, enough for about two hampers of laundry. I understand that might be a lot of money for some people. And yet, if you have the financial resources, you have to weigh the cost against the freedom of having more quality time to spend with your kids.

• Gift-giving services: Even when it's not the holidays, as a parent, you're constantly thinking about things like birthdays, showers, and graduations. Finding a gift requires lots of thought and emotional energy, not to mention the time needed to actually go shopping.That's why I love Poppy Gifting. For $25, Poppy gifting will curate a list of 10 gift ideas based on the event, recipient, and budget. I recently used the service to get a friend a bag to celebrate an award she got at work. She appreciated the gift, and I appreciated how easy it was to get.

  

  Christine Landis founded the company Peacock Parent to help other parents learn how to outsource tasks.

  Courtesy Christine Landis

Weigh the time saved against the money spent

I know my financial situation isn't typical, and I don't pretend it is. I'm able to splurge on some parenting support that is unobtainable for most people. My favorite is a personal chef. Three days a week, we have a chef that comes in for eight hours a day. He takes care of all shopping, prepping, cooking, meal serving, and cleanup.

That's a ton of work, and since I'm not someone who enjoys cooking, it's money well spent to remove it from my plate. But it comes with a high price tag: we pay the chef about $70 an hour. Most people can't afford that, but maybe you can outsource some of the mental load of meal prep by buying pre-sliced fruits and vegetables or meal kits, or budget for takeout when work is especially busy.

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