What do you think?

[PinkCow]

Okay... So this summer I am mostly babysitting. Yay me. The job that I have 3 days a week is from 8:00am to 3:00pm so 7 hours. The parents have decided to pay me 135.00 for those 3 days. So I'm guessing its like in $6.42 an hour I'd something like that. That's not even minimum wage... My mom thinks I should ask for $7.00 an hour... I don't like to talk to people about money, so I need your advice... Should I ask the mom for $7.00 or whatever minimum wage is around ( I will google it) or should I keep quiet and stick with the $6.42ish?My other question would be if you were paying me or any other babysitter to watch your kids for 7 hours a day for 3 days a week... What would you pay them?

[prospectmom]

You don't say how many kids???? Are these people friends ????? Are they paying you what they can afford???????? To me its never just about the money........ What do you think??????

[PinkCow]

um I think they are 4 and 7. So its not like I have to be with them all the time. Like right now I am upstairs and they are downstairs. I personally think that 135 is good enough but I'm not sure if I'm getting ripped of or whatever.

[hordak]

Depends on market forces. Here i can pay $140 for both my kid to do to daycare 5 days a week,8 hours a day. I don't know how old you are or what your skills are but $6.46 watching kids is better then $7 flipping burgers. IMO.

Is risking losing the job offer worth the extra $12 a week?

[Jason76]

Are you content with what you are being paid? If you are then it shouldn't matter what your mom wants. It's your time and your money. Plus, I'm guessing if you babysit 3 days a week that you live with your parents, which means you don't have a ton of expenses, whch means minimum wage isn't too relevant. Do what you want to do and not what others think you should do.

[VisionOfLehi]

If money is a big thing for you (if you have need) then you might want to bring it up.

As far as minimum wage... That's not applicable in casual jobs like babysitting. I understand you're just comparing it, but I just wanted to point that out.

Other things to take into consideration are food. Do you have to bring your own, or are you allowed to eat from their food supply? If yes, you have to take that into account for "pay," especially with rising food costs.

And, how do you like dealing with children? Do you find it rewarding? I absolutely love kids, and being able to work with them would help alleviate the "pain" of getting paid less.

[prospectmom]

Do you just watch the kids or do you clean too... Do you think they could/would pay more?????

Are you paid under the table /cash then you pay no taxes so really you are making more money in the end ...

[PinkCow]

I just watch the kids, and like do the dishes but thats it.

I'm paid under the table.

I think I have deicded that what I'm getting paid now if fine with me.

Thanks for all of your oppinions!

=)

[prospectmom]

Your too cute >........... Good luck with you summer job

[VisionOfLehi]

Can you pay tithing under the table, too? lol!

[MorningStar]

Getting paid under the table is a good deal then if you're not going to pay taxes. :)

[FayetteIA]

That would be a lot here in IA..we charge $1.50 - $2.00 per hr per child. (unless it is a registered Day-care center) for child care. That is per child. And you do not want to price yourself out of a job either. The diff btw $6.42 and $7.00 is so small it would not be worth a challenge (to me)

Also the rules are diff for like child care, farm workers and so on as defined by minimum wage. Is your employer taking out Fed and state taxes along with FICA? Probably not. You have to chose you challenges wisely, would be my advice. You are proving a much needed service. You should also look at the rewards you are gaining beyond the dollars.

Joni

[NeuroTypical]

The job that I have 3 days a week is from 8:00am to 3:00pm so 7 hours.

...

I think they are 4 and 7.

You're babysitting a 7 yr old 3 days a week? Why is this kid not in school?

What state do you live in? There are laws on the books about when kids have to be in school. Depending on your state's laws, the parents might or might not be breaking the law. It sure would be a shame if you were pulled into a truancy investigation...

Go to this website to see the compulsary attendance ages in your state.

HSLDA State Laws webpage

LM

[PinkCow]

You're babysitting a 7 yr old 3 days a week? Why is this kid not in school?

What state do you live in? There are laws on the books about when kids have to be in school. Depending on your state's laws, the parents might or might not be breaking the law. It sure would be a shame if you were pulled into a truancy investigation...

Go to this website to see the compulsary attendance ages in your state.

HSLDA State Laws webpage

LM

It's summer! =) We are in Canada

[PinkCow]

Anyways, so this week was the first time I babysat them for 3 days straight... She when 3:00 turned around, she gave me $120.00. Maybe I thought she said $135.00 on the phone? Silly me, I threw out the papaer that I wrote all of her information on. I hope that it does not sound like I am being greedy. $120.00 is alot of money, I am just looking for oppinons. =)

[PinkCow]

Thediff btw $6.42 and $7.00 is so small it would not be worth a challenge (to me)

Joni

I agree

=)

[Fiannan]

Getting paid under the table is a good deal then if you're not going to pay taxes. :)

Agreed!

[ruthiechan]

You are a teenager who knows how to dial 911 and can treat a child with respect (I am assuming). You are not a licensed teacher nor a family day care.

Besides, even at day care settings for one full day (which is generally over five hours) a parent is often charged only $30. I've seen that at $25 and at $35. More for infants (2 and under). So, a family day care is charging only $30 a day for a child who is going to be staying there that day for ten hours that's only $3 an hour.

So be happy with the $120. It's not like you have to be actively involved with them the whole time, come up with lesson plans, and activities or anything. . .

Edited July 10, 2008 by ruthiechan

[miztrniceguy]

at the time you were given the 120 i would have mentioned you thought they had said 135, but by accepting the 120 it might look like that is the agreed upon price, unless something was said about paying you the rest later.

did you count it in front of her?

Anyways, so this week was the first time I babysat them for 3 days straight... She when 3:00 turned around, she gave me $120.00. Maybe I thought she said $135.00 on the phone? Silly me, I threw out the papaer that I wrote all of her information on. I hope that it does not sound like I am being greedy. $120.00 is alot of money, I am just looking for oppinons. =)

[PinkCow]

at the time you were given the 120 i would have mentioned you thought they had said 135, but by accepting the 120 it might look like that is the agreed upon price, unless something was said about paying you the rest later.

did you count it in front of her?

No I did not count it infront of her. I counted it infront of my house which is um 5 houses down from hers.

[miztrniceguy]

ask her if she made a mistake, because you thought it was to be a different amount. next time count it in front of her. if you don't want to appear distrusting, do it as you make sure all the bills are the same way.

[siouxz72]

Hi Sweetie Pie!! Guess what littlemisschatterbox is doing this summer?! Being a nanny for her three little cousins (ages 11, 9 and 4)! She's getting paid $120/wk + is being spoiled rotten by her favorite aunt and uncle...lucky girl! So, you should ask her what she thinks...and here's what I think. it's 7 hours a day 3 days a week and the kids seem fairly easy to take care of. They're not causing you any grief are they? If you're happy with what you're doing, then just leave it be. If you think that they're enough of a problem that you need $15 more dollars a week, then go ahead and ask. And you can ask just like the others said to..you know something like you thought over the phone the agreed upon price was $135. whatever you do...don't let your mom call and yell at the lady. That happened to me once and I was so embarrassed that I had paid the girl incorrectly that I never called her again and probably lost what would have been a great babysitter for my kids. anyway, good luck and have fun! :)

[PinkCow]

Hi Sweetie Pie!! Guess what littlemisschatterbox is doing this summer?! Being a nanny for her three little cousins (ages 11, 9 and 4)! She's getting paid $120/wk + is being spoiled rotten by her favorite aunt and uncle...lucky girl! So, you should ask her what she thinks...and here's what I think. it's 7 hours a day 3 days a week and the kids seem fairly easy to take care of. They're not causing you any grief are they? If you're happy with what you're doing, then just leave it be. If you think that they're enough of a problem that you need $15 more dollars a week, then go ahead and ask. And you can ask just like the others said to..you know something like you thought over the phone the agreed upon price was $135. whatever you do...don't let your mom call and yell at the lady. That happened to me once and I was so embarrassed that I had paid the girl incorrectly that I never called her again and probably lost what would have been a great babysitter for my kids. anyway, good luck and have fun! :)

=)

I'm trying to get a job as a nanny for the fall... hopefully it works out! :)

They're not causing you any grief are they?

Well the 4 year old pooped his pants, once or twice.. hehe

I think I am going to stick with the $120... it's better than nothing! =D

[ruthiechan]

The pooping thing is something you *should* talk to the mother about politely and see if there's something else going on with him. Most kids do not poop their pants on purpose.

Does he have a medical issue? Is this something that's common for him? The mother should let you know if they have any medical issues or special needs. Whatever you do, do not yell at him for it, just be calm about it. Read up on potty training and see if there's anything you can do to help him with this. Some kids are behind on the potty training thing. Also get the Mom's thoughts and advice on this as well.

Also, was it once or was it twice. Accidents still happen with four year olds. If it was the once then it's probably not a big deal but if it was twice there could be a problem that needs solving.

[PinkCow]

The pooping thing is something you *should* talk to the mother about politely and see if there's something else going on with him. Most kids do not poop their pants on purpose.

Does he have a medical issue? Is this something that's common for him? The mother should let you know if they have any medical issues or special needs. Whatever you do, do not yell at him for it, just be calm about it. Read up on potty training and see if there's anything you can do to help him with this. Some kids are behind on the potty training thing. Also get the Mom's thoughts and advice on this as well.

Also, was it once or was it twice. Accidents still happen with four year olds. If it was the once then it's probably not a big deal but if it was twice there could be a problem that needs solving.

It's happened twice. The thing that gets me a little bit mad is that when I ask him, if he pooped his pants he says no. I know that he did. Also The first time he did it, he would not let me help him clean himself up etc. So I let him sit in it. Then then next time, we were all about to go swimming at my house, and I smelt something, and I asked him if he pooped, and he said no.. I knew that he did. So I said, that if you won't let me help clean yourself up then none of us are going swimming... that KINDA worked. He ran upstairs and LOCKED the bathroom door. (I talked to the Mom about that) About 10 minutes later he called "Dana... I need help" I was scared to go into the bathroom. So he had made more of a mess of the bathroom and himself, so I cleaned him up, and said that we poop in the toilet, and blah blah blah. The thing is he gets a prize from "The Magic Poop Bag" when he poops in the toliet... I asked him wouldn't you rather poop in the toilet and get a prize, than poop in your pants and not get a prize... he just rolled his eyes.

Anyways, I kinda talked to the Mom about it, the first day she knew because he sat in it for about 3 hours, and then then next day after we came home from my house his older brother blurted it out. (Gee... what are brothers for?) She just told me that I need to keep reminiding him to go pee etc. She just said that he is upset with her for going back to work.

But he has only done it twice, and I have been babysitting them for about uh 3 weeks now? I hope it does not keep happeneing.