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Original poster

Nanny food bills

40 replies

MummytoLO · 20/10/2012 13:14

Hi, another silly question from a FTM with first nanny.

I thought that I'd do the big shopping and the nanny would eat what's there. Obviously I ask her whether she has special wishes.

Now she says she wants to do her own food shopping (she only eats organic and health food, ££) and I should give her £30 every week on top of her weekly pay so she can buy her special food.

Is this normal?

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SilverCharm · 20/10/2012 18:11

No way! She needs to pay for her own if she doesn't like what's on offer.

frazzlerock · 20/10/2012 18:08

Ahhhh....

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 20/10/2012 18:04

She is effectively asking for a raise which I think is very cheeky. As long as you've got reasonable amounts of healthy fresh food in you dont need to do this. I would tell her you'd add s couple of items on her list personally if they seem reasonable but let her buy anything out of the ordinary.

ChippingInLovesAutumn · 20/10/2012 17:57

Frazzle - really couldn't see why 'reasonably stocked pantry' was that hilarious, even though I'm aware it's a word more used where I used to live than it is in the UK, should have stuck to 'food cupboard' maybe... but then realised why you were laughing....

I wonder what a 'reasonably stocked panty' would look like Grin

frazzlerock · 20/10/2012 17:08

Sorry I have nothing to offer but I am howling at "reasonably stocked panty"
Chipping Shock

ChippingInLovesAutumn · 20/10/2012 17:04

Hmm I don't think it's that black & white tbh. If you have a live-in nanny (I presume she's live-in otherwise this would be a very odd thread) then part of that is their food. A reasonably stocked panty/fridge should be available to them. If the food you eat as a family isn't what she eats, then a food allowance is a reasonable solution. Of course this should have been discussed and agreed at the interview stage, however, sometimes you just make assumptions about the type of food that will be available and things need to be adjusted afterwards. £30pw is subjective - personally, I think that's perfectly reasonable.

RobinSucks · 20/10/2012 16:50

Is she live in or out? The only time I've ever had a food allowance was when I was technically live-in but it was a separate bedsit within the house- they didn't want me coming in the main house to cook each evening so I got £25 or £30 a week, can't remember.

In my current job I buy all my own food as they never plan for me, they buy some food for the children but there is never enough for me, and they barely give me any float.

SavoyCabbage · 20/10/2012 14:41

No way. That's like a teacher asking the cook to roast a quail as she doesn't like chicken curry or whatever it is.

Your nanny doesn't have to eat the food. She can buy other food with her wages.

annh · 20/10/2012 14:38

It's also a tax dodge on her part as you would be handing her £30 net on which she is not paying tax. Not that you are going to do this anyway because it's totally unreasonable, if she wants to eat particularly expensive food she will have to buy it herself.

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 20/10/2012 13:52

no not normal even if live in she eats whats available as long as plenty available if she has food intolerances obv these need to be considered but should have been mentioned at interview.

Just buy the fruit and take out of packaging and tell her its organic she will never know!!

colditz · 20/10/2012 13:48

No. Se has a food allowance, it's in your fridge.

ihearsounds · 20/10/2012 13:47

Hahaha. No. In the real world, if the job includes food you eat that or you buy it yourself.
If she really wants a food allowance, tell her its £8.75 a week. Based on a feed a family of 4 on a fiver a day Smile

CelineMcBean · 20/10/2012 13:41

You're not your Blush

CelineMcBean · 20/10/2012 13:40

Hahahahaha. If she wants to eat special wanky food stuffs she buys her own. Your her employer, not her mum.

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/10/2012 13:30

def not normal and tbh if this is what she wanted then should have discussed it as interview, and sure you would have firmly told her no, or not offered her the job

nannies do eat at their place of work and usually what is in the cupboard, some employers will say buy their fav brand of food, ie i hate any beans that arent heinz

tell her a firm no