? about in home babysitting

[ameraumi]

With certification you can DEDUCT several things for TAXes. Such as part of your mortgage, all utilities and a basic amount of your food bill. Plus several other things.

Actually, anyone doing childcare can deduct expenses on their taxes. Licensed or not.

 

[coach's wife]

Actually, anyone doing childcare can deduct expenses on their taxes. Licensed or not.

I would still get certified ( if Jersey does it) for legal reasons..... you never know...

 

[disneyboundinne]

I nearly fell off of my desk chair when I read $100 for 5 11 hr days!!! That is $1.81 per HOUR!!! It is so nice that you are trying to help her out but that amount of money is ridiculous. AND PLEASE DON"T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, because you sound like such a nice, caring person, but if someone told me that they were paying $100/wk I'd really wonder about the type of care their child was receiving.

I live in Mass and have family in Jersey so I know that the cost of living there is on the high side. This post truly amazes me because where I live, people pay their babysitters (you know, the teenage kids who watch tv and eat your food while your kids sleep!) $10/hr! I have always thought that was crazy for nighttime babysitting but perfectly reasonable for watching children during the daytime hours. It's a huge responsibility and a hard job, so IMHO it's worth $10 or more/hr.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Honestly - that is an incredibly long day to be with another person's child - My kids have playdates and I'm ready to throw in the towel after 2 hours.

I understand she wants to save money - but, really - you're dealing with a woman going through a divorce (who knows how antagonistic). The father should be contributing toward the cost of daycare just as he must have been before they started going through the divorce. If money is suddenly an issue and he's not helping to pay for daycre, then the divorce is already adversarial (if you're screwing your kid right out of the starting gate, then you're a jerk, kwim?).

I dont' know that I'd want to be, basically, the lone caregiver of a child caught in the middle of such a thing - not in this litigious day and age.

I would most definitely check with your homeowner's policy regarding your coverage for liability, etc.

I really would want much more personal information about the divorce, the soon to be ex, why she can't afford daycare she used to be able to afford, etc. You have a right to know this because you are bringing this into your home.

I think the two-week trial period is a great idea and I think you're worth a whole heck of a lot more than $150 a week - there's a reason her daycare was expensive - it's a lot of work!!!

Good luck in whatever you decide. I don't want to be negative nelly, but I'd hate to see you end up in a bad spot.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Me too!! Just outside of Charleston in Alum Creek.

Hi Neighbor! We're in Hurricane, Teays Valley area!!!

 

[jakoky]

hi there, i have been babysitting for years and i get $30/day for 1 child and $35-40 for 2 from the same family..that is a long day to be getting only $100 a week..my day is usually from around 8 or 8:30 til between 4 and 5...it is always nice if the amount you decide on can benefit both you and the person whose child you are looking for...my 3 kids (15,13, and 11)rarely complain about having so many extra kids in our home...i have seen many people comment on this in other threads, but i have always reminded my kids the odd time they do complain, that if i had gone out of the house to work, they would have been in daycare when they were younger, at least this way they got to be home and can have friends over and was always around...good luck on whatever u decide
sharon

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I can't offer you too much advice about the going rate for in-home daycare, but as a stay-at-home mom who has been approached by two other mothers asking if I could watch their kids while they work, I have to say that I would NEVER EVER do anything like that for only $100 a week! We are on a very tight budget; but even so, it's not worth rearranging my entire life and being at someone else's disposal most of my waking hours for that paltry sum. IF the child would fit seamlessly into your plans, and isn't too much work (depending of course on age/personality), I'd say do it, but ask for more money. If it would really change things for you, I'd say don't do it at all. My reasoning is that I stay home in order to be with MY child. If something's going to substantially detract from that, it's not worth any amount of money, to me. I'm sure a lot of people would say, well it's easy to come to that conclusion if you don't NEED to work...but we live on far less than most people in our area and are able to budget well enough to take two big vacations annually, drive two cars, and generally lead rich, full lives. In other words, most people would look at our income and say I NEED to work, but in fact I don't. If I did, it would be a choice based on different priorities...even if the work was done in my own home. You can't allow your sympathy for someone in a hard situation to cloud your judgment about the impact this may have on YOUR family. Good luck with your decision!

 

[kristen821]

I don't think that is close to enough money. You will end up spending that much on the child in a week. If it was a couple days a week I would do it but not everyday. Maybe you can offer 2 days a week and she can find someone else for the other 3 days. Then you can charge $50 or so or even do it for free. I think a couple days a week would be nice for your son, but not 5 days a week.

 

[mericletwins]

Thank you for all of your advice. I told her that I will try it for 2 weeks and then we'll see what happens. The money is not going to make or break our family...it would just be nice to have the extra to save for things like Disney. I will definitely think this through completely and will ask for more money. She is going to supply her food so I think 150 would be ok. She will be giving me a carseat so that I won't be stuck in the house with the kids. I really appreciate all of your help! Barbara

I would say $150/week is good if she is supplying the meals. In my area at the bottom of NJ, the average is $25/day which includes snacks, but not meals. I missed how old this child is. Do you have others at home? Is she paying you cash? There are tax implications if paid by check and I think you have to decide if she takes care of paying taxes and SSI etc or if you have to claim as an independent contractor. Look into that. If it's all cash.....

If she is going to claim the money on her taxes, then you will have to also.

 

[ameraumi]

I would say $150/week is good if she is supplying the meals. In my area at the bottom of NJ, the average is $25/day which includes snacks, but not meals. I missed how old this child is. Do you have others at home? Is she paying you cash? There are tax implications if paid by check and I think you have to decide if she takes care of paying taxes and SSI etc or if you have to claim as an independent contractor. Look into that. If it's all cash.....

If she is going to claim the money on her taxes, then you will have to also.

If the mother is bring the child to OP's home, then the OP would be responsible for taxes. You cannot ask the parent to pay that as well.

Man, I need to move. In my area of Indiana, I am lucky to get $85 a week. I have had a few potential parents look as if I am robbing them asking for that amount. And I do provide all meals and activities.