How do you compensate a friend that watches your house and dog??

[LuvLuvLuv]

I know this is totally subjective.... just wondering what y'all think.

A really good friend of mine always watches my little Baxter when I go to WDW. We normally go between 5 and 7 nights. This trip is 10 full days. I feel like it's considerably longer even though it's just a couple extra days.

I work in cosmetics and normally leave her a large bag of goodness that I get as perks. She likes that. I have a brand new Versace Bright Crystal that I think she'll love!!

Since this trip is longer, I wanted to do something extra. She won't accept cash because she loves my dog and also likes the time alone

Any ideas?

 

[ilovediznee]

Our old babysitter who is now in college watches our house when we are gone and takes care of our indoors bunny. I ask her to make me a list of the foods she wants and I stock it really well and that is her fee.

She likes staying there on her own and not at her parents house with her brothers so it works both ways.

Diane

 

[usnuzuloose]

We have a young man from church, we give him cash, plus I make sure he has his favorite foods here. And he uses all the ameneties. I am happy, he is happy.

 

[ToodlesRN]

Our friend who house sits with the dog while were gone asks for $20 a day. Another friends daughter has a pet sitting business wants $25 day.

 

[ChloeLily]

I would just ask. My uncle who is single, watches our house and three dogs when we go away. (he will be staying for 5 nights when we head to WDW in 3 weeks). I always ask him what he wants as payment. This time he is requesting a 12 pack of Sam Adams and 3 Gallons of coffee milk from the dairy we get delivery from I'll also leave him some of his favorite snacks. I've given him gift cards in the past for restaurants that I know he and his GF like as well.

 

[CarlisleMom]

I don't pay my neighbor in cash. We swap services. I watch her dog and she watches mine. It saves us both a lot of money. We take care of all pets, mail, paper, etc.

 

[cbg1027]

I petsit for extra money. When I watched a good friend's animals for two weeks, I wouldn't let them pay me. So they left me a $50 gift certificate to my favorite restaurant, which was much appreciated.

Maybe something like that? A gas or grocery gift card?

I also swap petsitting time with my sister. When I go out of town, she usually watches my critters, and vice versa.

 

[Cinderella94]

One of our neighbors always watches our kitties for us when we go to WDW- we go in the summer usually for 2 full weeks; they don't accept cash from us either so we buy them a present in WDW. A t-shirt or bag or something?

 

[krcit]

I love Bright Crystal!! Maybe a nice shirt from your trip?

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Our friend watches our dog, cat, and house for us. We always stock the fridge, buy the junk food he likes, leave some cash and bring back a souvenir or two. He never wants anything, but the peace of mind he gives me is worth so much!

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

LOL for free cosmetics I'd love to watch your dogs anytime

Seriously though, I did like the idea of stocking the house with her favorite goodies b/c you said she won't take cash. Also, you could invite her out for a pedicure and lunch and insist on paying. Or just slip her a nice card with a gc for one of her favorite stores. Chances are she'll take it.

Last time I went to Disney (4 nights), our then next door neighbor came by and took care of the cats for us...we were planning on giving them a $25 gc for a restaurant and free babysitting so they could have a dinner away from the kids. Well, one of our cats went totally off the rails and decided the litterbox was her enemy Never have I been so embarrassed....so b/c of the drama, we upped that gc to $100. Cats were fine as soon as we came home. Crazy animals.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I have a great dog-sitter who stays at the house with my two dogs. I pay her $20 a day and usually give her a gift card for the local grocery store as well ($50 or $100 depending on the length of the trip). She is just great and always leaves the house neat and clean.

Teresa

 

[midnightlouise]

We're trying to sort all of this out as well...I will probably board at least one of my dogs (she's a diva...whoever heard of a bloodhound/pointer who is a diva?!) and the other dog will probably go to my MIL, but we'll probably ask our friends across the street to watch the cats...they have a lot of animals, too, so I think what will probably happen is we'll trade out pet-sitting!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

Thanks for all the suggestions!! I decided to make a bag with antibacterial stuff (she's crazy about it), the versace perfume, some skincare, diorshow mascara, and a starbucks gift card (she goes everyday).

My yorkie is hilarious and quite entertaining. She likes the quiet time here too

 

[pixiewings71]

I have a good friend with older kids, one of her girls usually comes over and stays here for us. We have 3 cats, 1 small dog and 1 saltwater fish tank, we also have a terrarium with live plants in it. We stock the house with food, pay $10 a day and usually either give a gift card or bring back something nice from Disneyland for them.

 

[LilyWDW]

I'm helping a friend out when she and her husband head down to Florida this summer. They have been saving like crazy for this trip and I offered to watch their animals while they were gone. I am not charging them, but they offered to bring me back some yummies from Epcot, so I am happy!

 

[heathernfrankie]

There's lots of ideas out there. I will need to figure out what I want to do for our friend who will be watching the house for us when we go to Disney in September. I will have to find out what she wants food wise and stock up (I'm sure she'll want adult drinks too...) I guess I can ask her what she would want b/c she will be staying here at the house taking care of 2 big dogs, a rabbit and a fish. BUT, I do also like the gift from Disney too.

 

[kidsister]

I just finished dogsitting 2 dogs..staying at their home for 10 days. It was easy work and I liked having the house to myself (ever since my 6800 sqft house sold I've been staying at a friend's and it's been HARD). She asked me what I charged and I said $25 a day but she ended up paying me $30. I watered her plants and vac'd and changed the sheets etc, but it was definitely easy money...actually paid for my condo and car rental at disney next week.

I think when people don't want money, it is nice to give them a gift certificate for something they wouldn't do for themselves: pedicure, massage, theatre.

 

[mhsjax]

I know this is totally subjective.... just wondering what y'all think.

A really good friend of mine always watches my little Baxter when I go to WDW. We normally go between 5 and 7 nights. This trip is 10 full days. I feel like it's considerably longer even though it's just a couple extra days.

I work in cosmetics and normally leave her a large bag of goodness that I get as perks. She likes that. I have a brand new Versace Bright Crystal that I think she'll love!!

Since this trip is longer, I wanted to do something extra. She won't accept cash because she loves my dog and also likes the time alone

Any ideas?

I think your gifts are great, but if you want to do more how about maybe a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant or coffee house, of store.