How much would you charge/pay for this type of childcare?

[CBRorBust]

The family I sit for during the summer has asked me if I'd be willing to pick up their 2 children (ages 11 and 8) 3 days a week from school. I would be traveling about 30 miles round trip and be there for about 2-3 hours max.

She mainly wants me to pick them up, get their homework done, feed them a snack, and make sure they do their chores. I know that what she really means is all the above plus unloading the dishwasher, loading the dishwasher, starting dinner, 1 load of laundry (either folding or washing or both), and running errands if needed.

So my question is what would you charge to do this or what would you pay? This would be per week. The kids are very well behaved, and don't really *need* me there, but I more or less serve as a watchful eye.

I have no idea what is normal? I have a flat fee in the summer but that is a all day thing. Please help!

 

[Christine]

Well, I would probably pay about $200 per week for 2 kids. But I live in a suburb outside of DC. Don't know what the economy is in your area, so rates could vary.

Edited to add: That's $200 per week for JUST the 3 days. If you were doing it all week, I'd pay more.

 

[whirlsy]

I would charge at least 25.00 a day.

 

[Alice28]

I would charge $35 per day. That's a lot of gas you will be eating up there, and NOT just childcare----childcare + maid service= more $$. I babysit one baby a day, they bring him to my house, and it's anywhere from 4-8 hours a day (usually 4 or 5) and I charge $25 a day.

 

[janette]

I could use you at my house! If only I could afford it

Most nannies don't do that much. When my niece had a similiar job in this area she made $10 an hour with a $150 week minimum. That was for picking up the kids, taking them to after-school activities and homework. No other household duties.

 

[CBRorBust]

Well...see that is my problem.

Is that I never intended to be their maid. But I am the type of person who will not tell my employer No if they need me to do something. That is regardless where I am working. So I slowly became their "babysitter maid."

I just don't want to accept the job and feel like I am doing more than I'm getting paid for. My boyfriend originally told me don't take less than $100, and I told him he was CRAZY! I told him there was no way anyone was going to pay me that much to pick up their kids from school! But then I started to think about it and what I would be doing exactly, and maybe that is the going rate.

So I came to you guys, my trusty know it all friends! Have I told you guys lately that I love you!?!?! My fellow Disers always know the answers to my silly questions!

 

[DizzieDizney]

Hello, I live in Georgia....and I pay my sitter $80 a week for my 3yr old..I drop him off at her house and he stays for about about 8 to 8 1/2 hrs Monday-Thurs. I think that is a very great deal on my part considering she provides Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack and takes him to the park if it's a nice day. I use to pay $95 a week at a daycare (which was a terrible place that's why he's not there anymore) ....For two kids and all she is expecting of you....I would take no less then $200!!

 

[ahutton]

When considering pricing... please, please PLEASE consider talking to your insurance agent first about what coverage or additional coverage you will need to carry someone's children in your vehicle when they are paying you for it. I'm sitting in a high level insurance contract class right now and there are MANY potential problems with exposure for someone doing this. Factor that into what you would charge so it doesn't cost you our of pocket and you will be protected.

Aside from that factor you might check into a couple places in your area that offer after school care, such as day care centers or after school programs, and see what they would charge for care and transportation if they offer it. That way you know what is expected in your area...

 

[Lynn CC]

I would say $100 a week is fair, plus another $25 a week for gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. 30 miles a day is a lot, it would be different if they were going to your house.
So I would say to them $100 plus $25 for gas. I think if it means a lot to them they should pay you well!
Let us know what you agree upon if you come to an agreement.
Your worth it...Good Luck!

 

[luv2nascar]

I'd pay $100 - $150 I guess
around $10 hr plus mileage & gas basically
If you weren't picking the kids up and doing all the extra laundry & dishes etc much less

 

[JulieWent]

I live in Alabama, so I guess childcare prices vary, but I pay a very sweet college student to pick my son up from school four days a week. She stays with him about 3 hours a day (sometimes less but never more). They do homework, snacks, and play, BUT I MAKE IT VERY CLEAR that I don't want her to do housework or cook. I want her to be with my son. I pay her $8 per hour. Works out to $96 per week. The weeks she does 5 days (happens every once in awhile) works out to $120. I feel this is fair, but I would never ask her to cook and clean or run errands.

Julie

 

[wdwnutze]

What is your flat fee for the summer? You could try to divide that up and come up with a starting point for pay. I would think for 2 kids and the added things she wants you to do, somewhere around $150.

 

[polyfan]

the babysitter for my 4yr. old charges $15day/ $75 for the week. She watches him from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Mon.-Fri.

 

[Kermit]

When I was in college at UT Arlington, I made $7/hour as a nanny, and I didn't drive the child anywhere or do anything but watch him. It was just one 2 year old. That was about 5 or 6 years ago, but it was obviously very close to where you are. You could easily charge about $10/hour plus expenses for gas and wear and tear on your car. With the price of gas right now, it would be well over $100/week.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So we are talking 9hrs watching time, 100 miles/week, and light housekeeping plus (possible) errands a week.

$60 -childcare (thats almost $7 an hour for 9hrs)

$30- mileage
Mileage is tricky. There is an actual "set" mileage chart from the government that you can charge and write some off on your taxes too. Includes wear and tear on your car.
Approximate .30/mile

$50-light housekeeping duties. (almost $5 an hour for 9 hrs)
If she expects you to go to the grocery store and start dinner, I might charge more.

$???- Car insurance rate increase? I might double check to make sure you are totally secure in your limits. If you have to increase, then add to your total.

Bottom line I would spell out an agreement between you so you can charge her accordingly.

My total comes to $140.
However I would minus the mileage out of the equation and you would be making around $12 hour.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I do babysitting, and I would say get at least $10 an hour plus mileage.

BUT ... I just have to say that I laughed when I read your post - I know mothers EXACTLY like the one you are describing, where housework and making the house "perfect" is the real job, not playing or caring for the kids. When I first started babysitting in college, I would actually play with the kids I babysat, and when the mom came home - horrors! I quickly learned - all that mattered was if the kitchen was spotless, the dishwasher was unloaded or had "clean" dirty dishes, and not a toy anywhere on any floor (especially not the playroom where they should be allowed to play!) That's how my performance was judged - by how perfect the house was.

Hopefully your parent is not this bad as the ones I knew - but if this is the kind of parent you are dealing with, I wish you luck!!! Ever read the "Nanny Diaries"? My favorite book!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[nealymouse]

Have to agree. You need to charge for gas, miliage, maild service and child care.

If you start doing the house work right off they wil expect it.

I was a house keeper for years. When I stopped 10 years ago I was making at least 12 an hr. I had one woman who every week would add on a task. We had a set price for set hours so I had the same check every week.

One week it was something simple took maybe a minunt so I didnt mind but as the weeks went on the tasks were major but the check was the same.

I left her a note (we never really saw each other) and told her I would be more then happy to do the extra work she wanted but my rate was 12 an hr and my check had to reflect that.

Never was asked again to do the "extras"

Dont give your time away if its a job.

Good luck