adding to the billionaires' successful habits: wears the same clothes every day/eats the same breakfast every day. you won't believe how much effort that saves!! save your brain power for more important decisions when you do finally check you mail for the one time every day [to read the emails three assistants already filtered for you]!!
Chores for kids: 9 and 11 yr old could definitely do more than they do; right now they pretty much set the table (when asked), make their beds (when reminded), clear the table/put dishes in the dishwasher, and fold their laundry. They'll do most anything when asked, but neither of them really feel the responsibility of "oh, it's Wednesday evening, I need to roll the trashcans out to the curb." They're both really interested in earning an allowance though, so this will change here in the next bit of time. I also know we'll need some extra helping hands once baby comes, and I'll take it in whatever form it comes. The only problem is that 11yr old can be a real dingus about the level of effort the puts in, and also gets really hung up on needing breaks (like if he's doing yardwork). That alone is infuriating enough to just not have him do it. The struggle, though, is that we only have them 50% of the time and are already the 'strict' house... not that it's not perfectly fine for kids to have different expectations at different places, it's just hard that the learning curve on everything is so steep because it doesn't get reinforced all the time.
Husband and I both enjoy yardwork, in that masochistic kind of way, and don't mind doing it/don't want to pay for yardwork. Housecleaning, though? I loathe washing the shower/bathtub and no way are kids going to do a good job of that. Bathroom deep clean alone is probably worth getting a monthly housecleaner here soon (post-baby). I feel a little lame knowing we're physically capable of doing it ourselves... but if we both work and can afford it (and it means I never have to do it) I think it's worth it.
