The Financial Case for Outsourcing Annoying Errands
Many people think outsourcing errands costs money. But when you run the actual numbers—factoring in time value, opportunity cost, and hidden expenses—outsourcing often saves money while providing better results. Here's the complete financial case for outsourcing annoying errands, with returns as the primary example.
The True Cost Framework
What Most People Calculate
DIY Cost:
- Service fee: $0
- Appears free
- "Saves money"
Outsourced Cost:
- Service fee: $20-25
- Clear expense
- "Costs money"
Surface Conclusion: DIY is cheaper Reality: This is wrong
What Actually Matters
True DIY Cost:
- Direct expenses (gas, parking, etc.)
- Time investment × hourly value
- Opportunity cost
- Stress and energy cost
- Hidden inefficiencies
True Outsourced Cost:
- Service fee
- Minimal time (60 seconds)
- Zero hidden costs
Real Conclusion: Outsourcing often cheaper
Complete Return Example
DIY Return Real Cost
Direct Expenses:
- Gas: $5
- Parking: $3
- Subtotal: $8
Time Investment:
- Total time: 90 minutes
- Your hourly value: $50
- Time cost: $75
- Subtotal: $75
Opportunity Cost:
- Could have worked: $75 earned
- Could have done valuable task
- Lost productivity
- Subtotal: $75 minimum
Stress Cost:
- Mental load: Real
- Energy depletion: Significant
- Estimated value: $20
- Subtotal: $20
Total DIY Cost: $178
Outsourced Return Cost
Service Fee:
- Pickup service: $22
- Subtotal: $22
Time Investment:
- 90 seconds
- At $50/hour: $1.25
- Subtotal: $1.25
Total Outsourced Cost: $23.25
The Comparison
DIY: $178 Outsourced: $23.25 Savings with Outsourcing: $154.75
Outsourcing is 87% cheaper!
The Break-Even Analysis
Finding Your Break-Even Point
Formula:
- Service cost: $20-25
- Time saved: 90 minutes = 1.5 hours
- Break-even: $20-25 ÷ 1.5 = $13.33-16.67/hour
If your time is worth more than $15/hour, outsourcing saves money
Income-Based Analysis
At $25/Hour:
- Time cost: $37.50
- Plus direct: $8
- Total DIY: $45.50
- Outsourced: $22
- Savings: $23.50
At $50/Hour:
- Time cost: $75
- Plus direct: $8
- Total DIY: $83
- Outsourced: $22
- Savings: $61
At $100/Hour:
- Time cost: $150
- Plus direct: $8
- Total DIY: $158
- Outsourced: $22
- Savings: $136
At $200/Hour:
- Time cost: $300
- Plus direct: $8
- Total DIY: $308
- Outsourced: $22
- Savings: $286
Monthly and Annual Impact
Monthly Analysis (3 Returns)
DIY:
- Total cost: $534 (at $50/hour)
- Time investment: 4.5 hours
- Value lost: High
Outsourced:
- Total cost: $70
- Time investment: 4.5 minutes
- Value preserved: High
Monthly Savings: $464
Annual Analysis (36 Returns)
DIY:
- Total cost: $6,408 (at $50/hour)
- Time investment: 54 hours
- Massive value lost
Outsourced:
- Total cost: $840
- Time investment: 54 minutes
- Value preserved
Annual Savings: $5,568
That's a $5,568 annual return on $840 investment!
Beyond Returns: Other Errands
House Cleaning
DIY:
- Time: 4 hours
- Hourly value: $50
- Total cost: $200
Service:
- Cost: $120-150
- Time: 0 hours
Savings: $50-80 + 4 hours reclaimed
Lawn Care
DIY:
- Time: 2 hours
- Hourly value: $50
- Equipment costs: $50/month
- Total cost: $150/month
Service:
- Cost: $100/month
- Time: 0 hours
Savings: $50 + 2 hours reclaimed
Meal Delivery
DIY:
- Shopping: 1 hour
- Cooking: 5 hours/week
- Total: 6 hours
- Value: $300/week (at $50/hour)
Service:
- Cost: $200-250/week
- Time: Minimal
Savings: $50-100/week + 6 hours reclaimed
The Compound Effect
Time Reclaimed Value
54 Hours Per Year (Returns Only):
- Could earn: $2,700-10,800
- Could invest in career: Priceless
- Could spend with family: Invaluable
- Could rest and recharge: Essential
Additional Errands:
- House cleaning: 208 hours/year
- Lawn care: 104 hours/year
- Meal prep: 312 hours/year
- Total: 678 hours reclaimed
678 Hours = 28 Days = Almost One Month Reclaimed!
Career Impact
More Time for Work:
- Higher productivity
- Better quality
- Faster advancement
- Income increase
Value:
- Promotion: $10,000+ raise
- Skills: Career-long benefit
- Network: Future opportunities
- Performance: Better results
Career ROI: Massive
Investment Opportunity
Money Saved + Time Value:
- Save $5,568 on returns
- Earn $2,700 with reclaimed time
- Total: $8,268 annually
Invested:
- At 8% return
- 10 years: $119,803
- 20 years: $377,169
- Wealth creation through outsourcing!
Common Objections Answered
"I Don't Make $50/Hour"
Response:
- What could you earn with extra time?
- Side income potential?
- Career advancement value?
- Family time worth?
- Your time has value
Even at Minimum Wage:
- $15/hour × 1.5 hours = $22.50
- Plus direct costs: $8
- Total: $30.50
- Service: $22
- Still saves $8.50
"I Can't Afford It"
Response:
- Can you afford NOT to?
- Total cost with time: $178
- Service cost: $22
- Saving $156
- Outsourcing is more affordable
"It's Wasteful"
Response:
- Wasting $156 per return is wasteful
- Smart investment is not wasteful
- Optimizing time is wise
- Financial logic is clear
Strategic Outsourcing
Priority Ranking
Outsource First:
- Returns (high time cost, low value)
- House cleaning (physical labor, time-intensive)
- Lawn care (seasonal, physical)
- Meal delivery (daily need, time-consuming)
Keep Personal:
- Exercise (health benefit)
- Quality time with family
- Meaningful hobbies
- Important decisions
Budget Allocation
Monthly Outsourcing Budget:
- Returns: $70
- House cleaning: $300
- Lawn care: $100
- Meal services: $400
- Total: $870/month
Value Received:
- Time saved: 40+ hours
- Cost saved: $2,000+
- Net benefit: $1,130/month
- Positive ROI
The Tax Perspective
Business Deductions
If Self-Employed:
- Return pickup: Business expense
- Reduces taxable income
- Effective cost: 60-70% of fee
- Even better economics
Home Office
If Work From Home:
- Some services deductible
- Reduces effective cost
- Tax-advantaged
- Better value
Conclusion: The Math Is Clear
When you calculate the true financial impact of outsourcing errands, the case is overwhelming. For returns specifically, outsourcing saves $150+ per return, $464 per month, and $5,568 per year compared to DIY—while reclaiming 54 hours annually.
This isn't about being wealthy or wasteful. It's about understanding basic economics: when your time is worth more than the service cost, outsourcing saves money. And for anyone earning over $15/hour, outsourcing returns is financially superior to DIY.
The financial case is clear: outsourcing annoying errands doesn't cost money—it saves money while improving quality of life. The question isn't whether you can afford to outsource. It's whether you can afford not to.
Ready to make the financially smart choice? Check Returnful's service and start saving money today.
Want to run the numbers for your situation? Text us at 469-790-7579 for a personalized cost-benefit analysis!
Written by
Returnful Team
Part of the Returnful team, helping DFW residents save time on their online returns with same-day pickup service.
Get Return Tips in Your Inbox
Weekly tips to save time on returns. No spam.
