Help me figure out what to charge

[donac]

After mowing my sil and fil's lawn for the last 6 years for nothing I can understand paying a person. If you are the only sibling around then you do what you have to do but when there are other siblings that are not helping out I can understand it. I am not even expecting a lot. Maybe a gift card to a gas company to help pay for gas for the lawn mower or to a local fast food place that we can get lunch at.

My parents need a ride to visit relatives once a month. There are 6 of us. ONly 4 have driven them in the past 5 years. I never ask for gas money but they don't let me pay for lunch since they know I am doing them a favor.

 

[luvmy3]

It sounds like the OP will be giving up an income in order to take care of her grandparents. While it would be nice if we all could just help out family because they are family, that isn't a reality for some.
I don't know exact numbers OP, but if you are doing it to help them financially and you can afford to be paid less than what they are paying the service they use now, then that is what I would suggest. I don't think you should put yourself in financial stress in order to help them, but at the same time I don't think you should be getting a huge "profit" from it either. At least that is how I would feel for me in your situation.

 

[Judique]

My grandparents are getting to the point where, in order to stay in their house, they need some help with housekeeping, meals, errands, etc. They are currently using a company that charges $19 an hour for (very) light housekeeping and (sporadic) meal preparation. I am currently doing a lot of their errands. They have been contacted about meals on wheels but that would be $4.65 per meal per person. They can't afford both and quite honestly, no one has been really impressed with either (my greatgrandmother used MoW before). I am going to be taking over with the housekeeping and meal prep slowly over the next few weeks and full time starting in June. Obviously the housekeeping I can charge an hourly fee and that's pretty self explanatory. My question comes with meal prep. Do I have them buy the groceries for the meals and then charge for meal prep time or is there some way I can make extras of whatever I am making for us and then charge a per meal rate? Any other suggestions?

I've hired a few housekeepers who did cleaning, vacuuming, bathrooms , etc and usually it ranged around 4 hours for $60 or $15 per hour. No experience with having them cook.

 

[smidgy]

Elder care lawyers can assist with written contracts so that family members can receive a market wage and in some states are even paid by government agencies to provide home care for loved ones. It is not necessary for younger family members to jeopardize their own standard of living in order to care for the elderly. Not everyone is wealthy enough to donate their time and resources.

OP, my mother was evaluated by a county health department nurse and social worker in her home and was found to be eligible for medical adult day care at a reduced rate based on her income. That included transportation and two hot meals per day on the days she attended. She could have had Meals on Wheels at a reduced rate. She was deemed eligible to have LIfeline installed through a service offered by the local hospital. If your grandparents have not been evaluated for services or as their needs change, they may be able to receive some of these services, which vary by community.[/QUOTE

in addition: are either of your grandparents veterans? there is an allowable monthly sum for eldrely care os veterans, which can go to the faimly helping out.

 

[LJSquishy]

There is nothing wrong with being monetarily compensated for providing assistance to family members. This is not an "every now and then" situation, it is employment basically.

I can't help you with how much to charge, but I would probably come up with a monthly or bi-weekly fee rather than separate all costs out. The grandparents should pay for groceries and all housekeeping supplies but you will likely be doing their grocery shopping I'm assuming. You can always factor food & supplies into your monthly fee if you don't want to keep that separate. It wouldn't make sense to charge a set price per meal because wouldn't you be making their meals daily? Since they are unable to manage their household on their own, you want to make things as simple for them as possible...one set fee each month (or bi-weekly) that remains the same so there is no confusion.

If you know what they are currently paying for help, start from there. It needs to be fair for both parties...meaning it will be cheaper for them most likely and at the same time you are being compensated for your time. It is more difficult to work for family than it is to work for a company. I've been cleaning my in-law's house every month for a couple of years now for $50 each time. I usually am there for 2-3 hours. It helps both of us, which is why it works fine. I would not clean someone's house for free every week or even month unless it were my own parents.

 

[burnurcomputer]

What the OP is describing is a home health aide. Its a paid postion for many agencies, and nursing homes. It doesn't require any special training and is well suited for SAHM's. If she is giving up income to help and the family would like to reimburse her, then why is it better to pay a stranger who doesn't know the family as well as its own member?

 

[Swan4Me]

If you go thru an agency you oay $18 + per hour
Private sitters/housekeepers are more like $10 an hour

Agencies force you to book in 4 hour blocks-even if there is only2 hours work required-
I would have them pay for the food & you cook while there-or while cooking your own food

meals on wheels here is $1 a meal-yours seems VERY high-higher than a frozen dinner at store

 

[PaulaSue]

I would charge for time to run errands, gas and food but not for making food. I would make mine/familys and theirs at the same time and then just send over there when going there as tv dinners. KWIM

 

[dancin Disney style]

OP, kudos to you !!!!! I work in a long term care facility and far to often I see seniors dropped off and forgotten about by their family. Your grandparents are far better off living in their own home than in any type of facility. They will be healthier and happier.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I would never charge! In my family we all help out. If I'm the one that has the time, I do it, no pay needed or wanted.

 

[Bob NC]

I would never charge! In my family we all help out. If I'm the one that has the time, I do it, no pay needed or wanted.

The OP is not asking whether to charge, the OP is asking HOW MUCH to charge.

I imaging if the OP wanted opinions on how other peoples families operate, she might have asked that question.

OP, I would probably find out exactly how much they are paying others to do their chores/tasks for them, then maybe charge a little bit less.

After all, they are going to pay somebody, it may as well be you....And you are going to do a better job for them.

 

[scrapquitler]

My grandparents are getting to the point where, in order to stay in their house, they need some help with housekeeping, meals, errands, etc. They are currently using a company that charges $19 an hour for (very) light housekeeping and (sporadic) meal preparation. I am currently doing a lot of their errands. They have been contacted about meals on wheels but that would be $4.65 per meal per person. They can't afford both and quite honestly, no one has been really impressed with either (my greatgrandmother used MoW before). I am going to be taking over with the housekeeping and meal prep slowly over the next few weeks and full time starting in June. Obviously the housekeeping I can charge an hourly fee and that's pretty self explanatory. My question comes with meal prep. Do I have them buy the groceries for the meals and then charge for meal prep time or is there some way I can make extras of whatever I am making for us and then charge a per meal rate? Any other suggestions?

Why not just do the grocery shopping and have them pay for the food, and then have them pay you the same hourly pay for cooking as for housekeeping? You could start cooking and have things cooking while you do housework so it won't add tons of time if you multitask.

 

[Califgirl]

My grandparents are getting to the point where, in order to stay in their house, they need some help with housekeeping, meals, errands, etc. They are currently using a company that charges $19 an hour for (very) light housekeeping and (sporadic) meal preparation. I am currently doing a lot of their errands. They have been contacted about meals on wheels but that would be $4.65 per meal per person. They can't afford both and quite honestly, no one has been really impressed with either (my greatgrandmother used MoW before). I am going to be taking over with the housekeeping and meal prep slowly over the next few weeks and full time starting in June. Obviously the housekeeping I can charge an hourly fee and that's pretty self explanatory. My question comes with meal prep. Do I have them buy the groceries for the meals and then charge for meal prep time or is there some way I can make extras of whatever I am making for us and then charge a per meal rate? Any other suggestions?

OP here. A few years ago, when my grandmother had surgery, we had a huge family meeting where it was decided that I would pick up the housekeeping aspect. A price was decided upon by a few of my other family members and my grandparents. It is way less per hour than they are paying now for the service, I do a better job and I don't leave 2 hours early every day. I actually stopped doing the housekeeping when I was about 7 months pregnant with DD2.
At this point, I am babysitting a little girl but have already told the parents that I will not be able to continue after the end of the school year. I have talked with both my grandparents and my husband about my grandparents having me full time after that.
I'm not trying to do this to take money from helpless people, I am trying to do this because no one else in the family really has the time or desire. I have talked with each of my grandparents and they both want to stay in the house with help. I know they both enjoy having my girls come visit them much more than they have a stranger coming into the house. Neither of my grandparents are in any way not in touch with reality nor are either of them shy about saying what they think or feel. If they have a problem with something, they will let me know. I am assuming from the 2-3 times a day they are mentioning to me that they can't afford MoW and the service they have coming in, they are looking to me for a solution. They aren't destitute (one of my errands last week involved carrying around several of their checkbooks), they have much more money than we do, and they would rather see the money go to me and my girls than some agency. I guess I'm just going to have to sit down and come up with some meal ideas and then sit down with my grandmother to plan it out. Thanks to you who helped to answer my question!

It seems that at the family meeting you mentioned, you all came up with a viable number to charge. Do you feel you need to charge more than that?

Also, your grandparents don't feel they can afford the current cleaning service AND MoW, can you charge less than what they would be together? Are you feeling like you should charge more because 'they have so much more money than we do'? Remember, you can still earn money, they must make theirs last. I think you might want to let go of how much money you think they have, and realize they may look at their finances differently. If they start paying you a substantial 'wage' they may well demand more of you and your time - and they should get it. You are no longer just 'helping them out', you're working for them with all that having that type of job entails.

I think it's great that you can bring your children, which saves you from having a babysitter, as you would for a normal job.

 

[bemily]

I would NEVER even consider charging my grandparents for helping them.

Why do people get all holier than though? It makes me shake my head on this board. When my grandparents were alive and needed the extra care, I would have loved to have quit my job and taken care of them, but for most of us... that isnt reality. I did what I could, which was a lot, but I couldnt be there 24/7, working fulltime, have 2 children of my own. If I did quit my job and did that full time, who was going to pay my mortgage or electric bill when it came due? Or feed my kids??

Instead of jumping in and telling the OP that you wouldnt charge family, maybe sit back and realize that for some people it is necessary or else she would have to work elsewhere and I am sure her grandparents would love to be paying her, what they can afford, and spend precious time with their grandchildren. Sounds like a win-win for all.

OP, maybe sit and talk directly to them and see what they feel comfortable with and if that works for your financial needs. Good luck!

 

[AnastasiaF]

Since you gave up a babysitting job to help them out, could you charge the same as what you were charging for babysitting?

I think its great that you can step in and do this. Not everyone can afford to quit their job and care for family members and at least this way you know they are getting excellent care while you can still afford to feed your own family.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

The OP is not asking whether to charge, the OP is asking HOW MUCH to charge.

I imaging if the OP wanted opinions on how other peoples families operate, she might have asked that question.

OP, I would probably find out exactly how much they are paying others to do their chores/tasks for them, then maybe charge a little bit less.

After all, they are going to pay somebody, it may as well be you....And you are going to do a better job for them.

You post, you open yourself for opinions. I have never charged a grandparent & would be mortified to do so. That's not how we work in my family. We take care of our own no matter what. So in response what should she charge? $0.

 

[marmalade]

Why do people get all holier than though? It makes me shake my head on this board. When my grandparents were alive and needed the extra care, I would have loved to have quit my job and taken care of them, but for most of us... that isnt reality. I did what I could, which was a lot, but I couldnt be there 24/7, working fulltime, have 2 children of my own. If I did quit my job and did that full time, who was going to pay my mortgage or electric bill when it came due? Or feed my kids??

Instead of jumping in and telling the OP that you wouldnt charge family, maybe sit back and realize that for some people it is necessary or else she would have to work elsewhere and I am sure her grandparents would love to be paying her, what they can afford, and spend precious time with their grandchildren. Sounds like a win-win for all.

OP, maybe sit and talk directly to them and see what they feel comfortable with and if that works for your financial needs. Good luck!

Being someone who would not charge their grandparents has nothing to do with being "Holier than thou", it is just how some families are. The OP said nothing about giving up a full time job, she said she will have to stop babysitting a little girl. Also from how I read it, it is making meals and cleaning the house, not exactly a full time care giving job. How much of a mess can 2 grandparents make?

 

[Eeyore98]

It seems that at the family meeting you mentioned, you all came up with a viable number to charge. Do you feel you need to charge more than that?

I got the impression from her post that the number the family came up with back in the day was just for the housekeeping and did not include any cooking/grocery shopping.

OP, I would try to come up with a number that is less than they would be paying for both outside housekeeping and MOW, but slightly more than the housekeeping-only figure your family agreed on back before DD2 was born.

Or, as some others have said, have them pay for their groceries, and you just charge an hourly rate that is the same whether you are cleaning, shopping for them, cooking, etc. Unless you are planning to make a lot of their meals by buying and making extra when you make meals at your own home...then that wouldn't quite fit as well into the hourly rate scenario.

 

[bemily]

Being someone who would not charge their grandparents has nothing to do with being "Holier than thou", it is just how some families are. The OP said nothing about giving up a full time job, she said she will have to stop babysitting a little girl. Also from how I read it, it is making meals and cleaning the house, not exactly a full time care giving job. How much of a mess can 2 grandparents make?

It shouldnt matter what her situation is, because the point is everyone's situation is different. Just because you and many others think it is sacrilege to charge grandparents, to others it is a necessity to take on that task while giving up other income (which she is doing), no matter how large or small that previous income was.

The OPs question was asking for opinions on what the service is worth and reasonable to charge, not whether you, or quite a few others, would charge or not charge family members.

 

[Bob NC]

You post, you open yourself for opinions. I have never charged a grandparent & would be mortified to do so. That's not how we work in my family. We take care of our own no matter what. So in response what should she charge? $0.

I believe when you post you open yourself up to all kinds of answers to the question you asked, not answers to something you didn't ask.

And ya know what, in my family the grandparents would be mortified to accept this huge outlay of time and labor without compensating for it.

Many grandparents would refuse the offer if they couldn't compensate at least what they have been paying someone all along to do it anyway.

So, in response, go answer some questions that folks have asked.