Babysitting $$ question

[Mermaid02]

If you were at a function for 12 hours and had a 21 year old college student babysitting for you what would you pay him/her? One child age 9-12 (I'm not sure how old, in that range though). Poll coming

 

[krcit]

Probably $100-$120

 

[DVCLiz]

If you were at a wedding/reception for 12 hours and had a 21 year old college student babysitting for you what would you pay him/her? One child age 9-12 (I'm not sure how old, in that range though). Poll coming

If my daughter did that for one of her regular customers in our neighborhood, she'd probably get $125 plus her meals and any entertainment (ie movie ticket and snack money if she took the child to a movie, etc.) Roughly ten dollars an hour and expenses. She would drive herself there and back and also drive the child wherever needed.

 

[Mermaid02]

My daughter did this yesterday and was only paid 50.00. She was very upset. She has babysat for them for a long time- granted that's a lot of $$ for one day (100.00 or more) but if you can't afford to pay your sitter- don't go.

 

[Acklander]

My daughter did this yesterday and was only paid 50.00. She was very upset. She has babysat for them for a long time- granted that's a lot of $$ for one day (100.00 or more) but if you can't afford to pay your sitter- don't go.

Didn't they discuss money before hand, or does she have a standard amount she usually gets per hour?

 

[Mermaid02]

Didn't they discuss money before hand, or does she have a standard amount she usually gets per hour?

No they didn't discuss it. They usually pay her roughly $10 per hour- the wedding was at 1pm- she had no idea they would be home so late.

 

[Acklander]

No they didn't discuss it. They usually pay her roughly $10 per hour- the wedding was at 1pm- she had no idea they would be home so late.

Then if they usually pay her $10 per hour, she should definitely say something. It couldn't hurt and might help

 

[krcit]

No they didn't discuss it. They usually pay her roughly $10 per hour- the wedding was at 1pm- she had no idea they would be home so late.

Ughh, I would be really upset. I think your dd should say something to them.....although I know at that age(or even this one, lol) I would have been horrified to do it. That is just not right, they should have told her what they would pay before hand and let her decide if she wanted to do it anyway.

 

[Mermaid02]

Then if they usually pay her $10 per hour, she should definitely say something. It couldn't hurt and might help

Ughh, I would be really upset. I think your dd should say something to them.....although I know at that age(or even this one, lol) I would have been horrified to do it. That is just not right, they should have told her what they would pay before hand and let her decide if she wanted to do it anyway.

I don't think they can afford the other 50+, but if that is the case, you leave earlier- not stiff your sitter. I doubt she says anything- they are relatives of my daughters Aunt. She just wont' sit for them again.

I was just wondering if I was thinking she should have been paid more because I'm her mother.

 

[disykat]

I voted assuming an evening and a full night's sleep that was arranged ahead so I voted - estimating $40 for the part of the evening the child was awake and a flat $50 for spending the night. After reading this was an unplanned late night I'll change my vote. She should have been paid the hourly rate until they got home.

 

[Hannathy]

I wouldn't pay 10 an hour for a 12 yr old, they really don't need watched it is more of a someone there situation but I do think 50 is a little light I would think 5 an hour would be more than enough for a child that old.

My DD never got 10 an hour for even 3 kids that were little and needed things done for them.

I'm sure she didn't do much that day so she should look at it as what would I have been doing yesterday and am I not better off having 50 for not doing much or nothing.

 

[Mermaid02]

I wouldn't pay 10 an hour for a 12 yr old, they really don't need watched it is more of a someone there situation but I do think 50 is a little light I would think 5 an hour would be more than enough for a child that old.

My DD never got 10 an hour for even 3 kids that were little and needed things done for them.

I'm sure she didn't do much that day so she should look at it as what would I have been doing yesterday and am I not better off having 50 for not doing much or nothing.

She was there from 12:30-12:30- and was responsible for the child for those 12 hours- I think that is worth more than $5 per hour.

Yours is an interesting point of view though- thanks!

 

[disney1990]

I know it's water over the bridge, but they should have at least confirmed the per hour rate before going out. And, they should have been aware of how many hours they were gone. If the price was getting out of their ballpark, then it was time to leave the wedding and come home. If they usually pay the sitter $10 an hour, then that's what they owe her this time.

In the future, they could discuss the matter and say, I know we usually pay $10 an hour, but we are going to be gone for a substantially long time today, can we cap the charge at $xx.xx this time.

So how much did they pay her?

 

[DVCLiz]

I wouldn't pay 10 an hour for a 12 yr old, they really don't need watched it is more of a someone there situation but I do think 50 is a little light I would think 5 an hour would be more than enough for a child that old.

My DD never got 10 an hour for even 3 kids that were little and needed things done for them.

I'm sure she didn't do much that day so she should look at it as what would I have been doing yesterday and am I not better off having 50 for not doing much or nothing.

Once my daughters had a little experience under their belts - and definitely by the time they were 16 and driving themselves to and from sitting jobs, they charged $10 per hour regardless of how many children they were responsible for. I agree, this should have been discussed ahead of time in the OP's case.

If they'd discussed a sitting job with you and you had made them that offer, they would have simply declined. Good sittters are in high demand here and they would easily have had more offers than they could accept at their going rate. For them, it wouldn't have been a matter of "better $50 than nothing" because they could have made that same $50 for an evening and had their weekend time free instead of tying up 12 hours at a low-paying job.

I know it's water over the bridge, but they should have at least confirmed the per hour rate before going out. And, they should have been aware of how many hours they were gone. If the price was getting out of their ballpark, then it was time to leave the wedding and come home. If they usually pay the sitter $10 an hour, then that's what they owe her this time.

In the future, they could discuss the matter and say, I know we usually pay $10 an hour, but we are going to be gone for a substantially long time today, can we cap the charge at $xx.xx this time.

So how much did they pay her?

The OP said her daughter was paid $50.00.

PS - Water UNDER the bridge and OVER the dam...

 

[disney1990]

Sorry, I missed OPs second posting.

 

[mjkacmom]

I wouldn't pay 10 an hour for a 12 yr old, they really don't need watched it is more of a someone there situation but I do think 50 is a little light I would think 5 an hour would be more than enough for a child that old.

My DD never got 10 an hour for even 3 kids that were little and needed things done for them.

I'm sure she didn't do much that day so she should look at it as what would I have been doing yesterday and am I not better off having 50 for not doing much or nothing.

But what if your dd usually got $5 an hour, and was paid $2.50 an hour for a job? The OP's dd's usual rate is $10 an hour (that's the rate here, too). Of course she expected $10 an hour.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

120 which is 10/hr.

 

[Mermaid02]

I just want to add- my daughter is an adult- I am not planning on doing ANYTHING about this- I was just wondering what other folks thought.

 

[kdfogliano]

SOmethings wrong there...

My sitters get $15 here and I would never half the rate...
Can your daughter say something like... I think I may have been underpaid the other day...

She would have to be prepared to loose the job in case that conversation doesnt go well.

12 hours is way tooo long for only $50!!!!!

 

[Acklander]

But what if your dd usually got $5 an hour, and was paid $2.50 an hour for a job? The OP's dd's usual rate is $10 an hour (that's the rate here, too). Of course she expected $10 an hour.

exactly. If the rate was going to be changed they should have explained that before she babysat and then she would have had the choice to say yes or no. It's unfair changing the terms after the fact.
OP. I can understand her discomfort on asking for more money, it's not an easy thing to do.