Need to make $150/week. Anyone clean houses?

[Jenny-momof3]

I'm exploring some different options right now. Currently I babysit several children in my home. I've been doing this for 10 years. The hours are soo long and it's getting tough on my kids to always have to share everything...including mommy. When I break it down by hour I'm making about $3/hour. And with that pay I provide lunch,snacks,etc. It just isn't worth it anymore IMO.

In order to quit I need to come up with something that brings in about $150per week. Was pondering the idea of maybe cleaning 2-3 houses??

Any other ideas out there? The budget has been beyond trimmed. This is the minimum I need to make in order to quit doing daycare.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I can't really help, but maybe raising your rates is an option? I know somebody around my home who charges $8 an hour per child, and she watches 3 - 5 kids on any given day.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

I could watch more kids...which would give me more income. But frankly...after doing this for 10 years I'm burnt out! And before that I taught preschool for years. I just feel it's time to move onto something else.

 

[ehstrojette]

you can get reimbursed for food. I watch kids in my home and even if your not licensed you can get signed up for the child and adult care food program

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/

I have 6 children enrolled but only have 4 at one time(2 leave before 3 and 2 are after school) plus my own children are enrolled and I get money at the end of the month to help pay for food.

It depends on the tier in your area but mine is 1.19 for b-fast 2.21 per lulnch and .66 for snack per child

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/ProgramBasics/Rates/Table.pdf
go down to the daycare homes section

if you have any questions let me know

 

[zurgswife]

Depending on where you live you can make really good money. Depending on the clients you choose you could make really easy money. I started cleaning about 9 years ago. I've made any where from $100 per week to $800 per week. i choose my clients carefully. I've learned that I can fire a client any time. I only work for those I want to work for; all my clients are wonderful people.

I started Nursing school 3 yrs ago so I've cut back on the hours but I still have great clients.

In my area I'm able to earn $20 an hour. The minimum I work is usually 2 hrs. I respect my clients and in turn I'm able to have flexibility if I need it for dr appts., and children emergency's.

Good Luck.

 

[laurie31]

I paid the lady who cleaned my house $12/hour, but she has not been able to come for several months. I have been looking for someone to replace her, but they all want $20/hr, and I'm not willing to pay that, but obviously lots of people are. I did provide all the cleaning supplies; I think sometimes those who charge more bring their supplies, but I prefer to buy my own.

I would think you could easily make $150/week by cleaning only 1 or 2 houses. Even at $12/hr. I think my lady only did one house a day, but I think she had a house EVERY day, so she could have been easily making $400/week.

 

[shortbun]

I pay two women to come twice a month. They make $130 for a short two hour cleaning. The first cleaning was three house and $150. I pay them cash and they are great cleaners. I tidy up a couple of times a month in the baths and keep the kitchen if fairly food shape. They do the floors, jams, heavy dusting, baths and any other little things I ask them to pay special attention to like light plates, cabinets, etc. I think you could make $250 easily in two to three house or two good days of work. I love kiddos but it's back breaking work with little ones every day. I think your housecleaning idea is a good one.

 

[allison443]

I think your idea is a good one, it would be less hours for the same amount of money.
My suggestion would be to put the word out to everyone you know that you are looking for houses to clean. If you belong to a church mention it to people there. I know people who have asked at church for babysitters/house cleaners.

Good luck!

 

[ameraumi]

I totally get where you are coming from. I was a licensed home daycare provider for 12 yrs and it did take a toll on me. While the money was good, the hours were hard. I am glad to hear they have allowed licensed exempt providers on the Food Program now. That used to be available to only licensed facilities (homes/centers).

That said, my SO's sister cleans homes and does fairly well with it. I believe she charges $45-50 a home and does it a couple of days a week, but she also goes to school full time. My mom has someone come in and clean her home and she is charged on the sq ft of the house not the hours.

I just had my mom's house cleaner come in and clean my old house that was going up for sale. We are talking a good cleaning on an empty 2 story house (windows, baseboards, floors, nooks & crannies) and she charged $75.

 

[JESW]

Can you pet sit? We pay our friends $100 - $125/week to come in and feed our pets, change the litter box and get the mail when we are at Disney. There may be some work like that in your area but not on a regular basis - and what about being a personal shopper or doing "chores" for people who work?

Jill

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Depending on where you live you can make really good money. Depending on the clients you choose you could make really easy money. I started cleaning about 9 years ago. I've made any where from $100 per week to $800 per week. i choose my clients carefully. I've learned that I can fire a client any time. I only work for those I want to work for; all my clients are wonderful people.

I started Nursing school 3 yrs ago so I've cut back on the hours but I still have great clients.

In my area I'm able to earn $20 an hour. The minimum I work is usually 2 hrs. I respect my clients and in turn I'm able to have flexibility if I need it for dr appts., and children emergency's.

Good Luck.

You would LOVE the book called "Book Yourself Solid".

BTW, we have a cleaning lady who comes once every 2 weeks. She gets $75 of ~ 3 hours work... but she can't seem to find any new customers. She told me that at one time she had 9 clients, and now has 3 or 4 most of the time.

She is "OK" at what she does, but by no means great, but we trust her to not rob us blind, so we will keep her as long as she wants to work. She also doesn't mind if I leave my kids at home while I do errands if she is there cleaning.

 

[torinsmom]

I make around $150/week babysitting one child after school. Cleaning houses would probably being in a good amount once you found people to consistently clean for.

Since you have a baby, have you thought about being a nanny for just one family? When my son was a baby/toddler, I called parents looking for a nanny and offered them my services for 1/2 what they would pay a one-on-one nanny. It took a few tries to find someone who was willing to "share" me with my son, but once I did, I was with them three years. With only two kids, it was easy to go to the park, museums, etc., and the kids really enjoyed each other. They were really flexible with whether I kept the child in their house or mine.

Good luck finding what you want!!

 

[golfgal]

Keep in mind that you would really need to clean enough houses to make about double what you want to take home after you take out taxes, expenses, etc., which is still easy to do. $100/job isn't uncommon around here but check into going rates in your area. Most people here pay a flat fee vs per hour because they want the job done right vs dawdling that can happen with some companies. You can clean 4 houses over 2 days and easily make $300, but you also will need to add liability insurance (at about $400/year, give or take), get bonded, pay for your own cleaning supplies, extra gas/car costs, etc.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Keep in mind that you would really need to clean enough houses to make about double what you want to take home after you take out taxes, expenses, etc., which is still easy to do. $100/job isn't uncommon around here but check into going rates in your area. Most people here pay a flat fee vs per hour because they want the job done right vs dawdling that can happen with some companies. You can clean 4 houses over 2 days and easily make $300, but you also will need to add liability insurance (at about $400/year, give or take), get bonded, pay for your own cleaning supplies, extra gas/car costs, etc.

Our current cleaner uses her own stuff, but the other 2 we used to have used our stuff. And, I agree... get bonded. ( though our cleaning lady isn't - but she was referred to us by a friend ).

 

[MushyMushy]

What about subbing in the school districts? You could work whatever days you want and easily make $150. If you don't have a degree, you could sign up for general staff positions like cafeteria, office worker, janitorial, aide, etc.

 

[golfgal]

Our current cleaner uses her own stuff, but the other 2 we used to have used our stuff. And, I agree... get bonded. ( though our cleaning lady isn't - but she was referred to us by a friend ).

Be careful with this. Part of the differentiation between and "employee" and not is if they use their own supplies-meaning that if investigated for taxes, you could be responsible for their work comp, social security taxes, etc. because they look like they are YOUR employee if they use your stuff. This is why a good company/cleaner uses his/her own supplies, vacuum, etc.

 

[Darcy03231]

Not trying to be snarky, but what are your plans for the baby and the 5 y.o. while you're cleaning? If you plan to bring them with you, you should let prospective clients know up front. It would definitely be an issue for me.

In my area I pay $100 every other week for someone to clean the upstairs hallway, and main bath on the second floor, down the stairway and the entire first floor (kitchen, half bath, formal living room, formal dining room, family room and hall. She's usually here for 2-3 hours.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I'm committed through the rest of this school year to watching the kids I have now. So this would be something I would look into starting next fall. My 5 yr. old would be in school all day. And I can make arrangements 1 or 2 days a week for the baby. I would definitely NOT plan on taking him with me.