how much to charge for watching friend's kids??

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Hi there! I could use some advice. My very good friend has asked me to watch her kids...she has started back to work. It would be only for 7 hours a week. 3 hours one day (3 kids) and four hours another day (only 2 kids - one in kindergarten).

She isn't making much money and has been very good to our family so I want to make it worth her while, but would also like to make some extra money on my end. What do you think would be fair? I was thinking $5 an hour?? I really don't know....being a good friend I don't want to say too much and make things uncomfortable.

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[brymolmom]

Just make sure to establish guidelines upfront so that the friendship isn't hurt. For example:
1) Does she still pay if the kids don't show (ie: are sick)?
2) What happens if you or your kids are sick or out of town and can't take them?
3) What happens if she is late picking them up? Do you get extra $? Are extra hours 'allowed'?
4) Who will provide food?
5) Are you expected to do homework, etc. with them? What about TV time or other activities - expected?

As for money...I think $5 an hour is VERY GENEROUS of you - however, it depends on your location. Maybe call around to a couple of in-home daycares to see what they do. I pay about $8 an hour or so for one sitter - more like $11 an hour for my before-school sitter (for 2 kids).

 

[disneyjunkie]

I wouldn't charge her anything since she's a friend who has been good to your family.

 

[Mish]

I pay $6.00 an hour for before and after school care. My babysitter is also paid no matter what. If my son does not go for the week she gets paid the only time we don't pay her is for the summer. She holds a spot for him all year and is very reliable so I feel it is only fair to pay her. Also the going rate in this are is $8 to $15 an hour. Michelle

 

[auralia]

i pay the neighbor girl 5 bucks an hour, i have one child and mostly the neighbor sits around and plays video games because mostly i need to go out when my daughter is naping... the going rate for babysitters where i am ... and i live in a very poor area is 10$ an hour so i am glad the neighbor girl is willing to take 5 but she does because she isn't 18 yet i'm sure when she is 18 the price will skyrocket... she also gets access to all my food and what not and does a good job of cleaning out the treat cupboard and icecream ... which doesn't bother me i figure it suppliments the 5$ an hour i pay her or if she needs some money to go to say a foot ball game and she is out i will give it to her so it ends up being a bit more than 5$ an hour....

you need to charge what you feel will make you not resent this woman... i tried to help out a friend once by doing the same thing... we are no longer friends... i was working 12 hours a day and they would want me to watch their 2 year old for nothing while they went out working on a pyramid amway type scheme (which i dont believe in) i did it a few times but this kid wouldn't stop screaming if his mom and dad were gone and after 12 hours of work myself and them wanting me every other day or so i put an end to it and this was my husbands friend i just said i can't do it any more and after that they hated my husband forever and never did speak to him kindly again because i just couldn't keep up with all that work and college and their baby... anyway make sure that doesn't happen to you! if it were me and we were really good friends and i knew she wouldn't take advantage of me i'd charge her 20-25$ a week maximum just a nice small even number 100$ a month... a little extra for me and yet still very affordable for her.