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AIBU?

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To think this is a bit cheeky?

64 replies

Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:13

I do private tutoring and charge £20 an hour. I'm a qualified teacher and have about 12 years of experience.
I've recently got a new pupil, her and her family speak English as an additional language, and her Mum asked me if I would offer conversation classes for herself and what the rate would be.

I said it would be £20 and she said that's far too expensive, can you do it for £10? £10 is below minimum wage!
I understand she thinks it's just conversation classes, but it still involves some prep.
What rate do you think I should charge?

OP posts:
devastatedagain · 31/01/2025 20:29

FantasiaTurquoise · 31/01/2025 20:22

£20. It doesn't matter how much prep is or isn't needed - she's paying for an hour of your time at £20 an hour.

Yes this. It's still an hour of your time.

let her find english conversational classes elsewhere if she wants them for free.

Choccyscofffy · 31/01/2025 20:29

She wasn’t wrong to ask, you weren’t wrong to say no.

Where’s the cheekiness? Some people would do it if it’s just conversation (no lessons, materials, etc).

WhenTheyComeForYou · 31/01/2025 20:28

MaggieBsBoat · 31/01/2025 20:14

Good grief even £20 is cheap!!

£38k for talking to someone in your mother tongue?!

£20 is fine, if people are willing to pay for it (not me) but it’s hardly cheap by anyone’s standards (except yours surely).

Wakeywake · 31/01/2025 20:26

If she wants lessons she needs to pay what you charge for lessons. If she just wants to talk to someone for an hour to improve her English she can pair with someone who wants to learn her language or pay a teenager £10/h.

BlueMum16 · 31/01/2025 20:24

I'd put your rates up. 20£ is too cheap. We paid this 8-10 years ago for DD.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 31/01/2025 20:24

Do not drop your price. If she thinks she can find someone for a tenner, good luck to her.

Moonnstars · 31/01/2025 20:23

£20 is cheap! She should be snapping you up! I would say you can't go any lower and suggest they find someone else.

FantasiaTurquoise · 31/01/2025 20:22

£20. It doesn't matter how much prep is or isn't needed - she's paying for an hour of your time at £20 an hour.

Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:20

Maybe I am underselling myself, I just couldn't believe the cheek of her expecting to pay below min wage. I know she thinks it's just conversation so there's no work involved, but it's still taking time out of my week.

OP posts:
MumChp · 31/01/2025 20:20

Just say no.
£20 isn't expensive at all for 60 minutes.

Overthebow · 31/01/2025 20:18

I think you're underselling yourself at £20. I used to charge that as a student for an hours tutoring and had lots of business, and that was 15 years ago.

Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:15

That's what I thought too, I know a lot of tutors charge 40+

OP posts:
NotinToTintin · 31/01/2025 20:15

£20
if they want someone to do it for less they can find someone who is not a teacher/ or someone who is just looking for pocket money

MaggieBsBoat · 31/01/2025 20:14

Good grief even £20 is cheap!!

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