We offer help and accept it - I have some lovely friends. We're also having friends move us: we can't afford removers. We can afford a pub meal out for everyone, however. And have marked our most precious things as fragile for me to take in the car rather than the lads to take in the luton. Last move was a full day to move half an hour up the road, done in 4 van journies. This time we're getting two larger vans and not having to clean the house when we move out (we were renting before). The place is going to be left clean, but not completely sparkling, IYSWIM. So that frees me up a lot more - and the house we're moving to hasn't been left vacant for several months with rotting (insect) bodies under the kitchen and mould growing, so shouldn't be as manky. Not sparkling, but not horrid either.

When I help out I don't expect to be paid either, except maybe with help in return. I wouldn't offer to help if it seriously inconvenienced me: usually looking after a child DS's age or thereabouts gives me a sit down, so I don't want anything else!