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Original poster

Au pairs - actual costs?

29 replies

Nonnus · 21/11/2012 11:06

I am planning to get an au pair and am trying to get an idea of what it will actually cost, i.e. what are the 'extras' that you HAVE to pay for and then what are the extras that are non-essential?

From other threads on here I am estimating I'll need to pay £90 per week for an au pair aged 21+ to work 20-25 hours a week in Woking/Guildford area. Might start off at a lower weekly rate but am willing to/can afford to pay up to £90 to get/keep someone really good.

As I will need the au pair to use the bus to get to/from school to collect the DCs, I assume I will have to pay for her/his bus pass? That seems to be about £50 a month (quite expensive, I thought!). Then I have seen others on here say they pay £15 or so towards au pair's PAYG phone. Again, as I will need to contact the au pair during the day, this seems reasonable too.

Other things that I don't think I could stretch to would be gym membership, use of a car (insurance too expensive and I only have one car, which I use to get to work), and language lessons. Would the absence of any or all of these be a dealbreaker do you think?

Am also allowing an extra £75 a month in housekeeping budget to cover feeding the au pair as well as our family. Is that realistic?

Any other hidden costs I should be budgeting for?

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Original poster
Nonnus · 21/11/2012 20:09

Thanks all. Metrobaby, if you have to dismiss an au pair why do you have to buy their plane ticket home? I can't think of any parallel requirement under standard employment law.

I am slightly torn between an au pair and a housekeeper/cleaner for a few hours a day but am leaning more towards au pair because occasionally I have to stay late at work and thought au pair would give me more flexibility. But sounds like it might be a bit of a nightmare!

Anyone with a really good AP story?

OP posts:
PeskyPiskie · 21/11/2012 16:52

The expense of keeping the heating on was the worst for us. Our AP's all seemed to suffer from the cold so put the heating on all day (every day) from September (when they started) until they left in the following June. It was much more than I'd budgeted for. Also the last AP only ate expensive things, she was Swedish and didn't really like meat so wanted salmon for all meals, special milk and yogurts and breakfast cereals etc. We're currently trying out life without an AP, and although it is logistically more challenging I am much happier.

Metrobaby · 21/11/2012 16:43

I don't pay anything towards my AP's courses as I find some of them don't even want to take a language course.

Food bills are very variable. I've had APs who eat lots, and others where I actually have to ask them whether they are eating. You may need to be flexible with your budget for this.

Other costs are general wear and tear around the house - ie broken plates/cups etc, damaged carpets (one AP of mine used to dye her hair in her room).

Don't forget that your AP is entitled to holiday pay too - but not sick pay. I pay my AP a minimum of 28 days holidays per year and bank holidays.

I always collect and drop her off at the airports whenever they go home for holidays.

I tend to also buy my APs much more expensive birthday and xmas presents than my usual friends to show my appreciation.

However, by far the largest cost is if you have to dismiss them. If this happens, depending on the circumstances, you may have to stump up the cost of their air fair home, alternative accomodation, notice period pay and any accrued holiday.

Having an AP is certaintly not a cheap option.

fedupwithdeployment · 21/11/2012 11:12

I think what you are proposing is reasonable - with the exception of language lessons. Do you know the cost of these? We send AP to local college in London (S Thames) where the cost is approx £300 - and we pay half. We pay AP £80pw, but only actually pay him £70 - and keep back £10pw towards the lessons.

I think £75 is probably reasonable re food, but some APs eat a lot more than others!! Current AP majors on bread, bananas and nutella, which is ok and doesn't cost that much more.

I provide a PAYG but don't provide additional credit.

Will AP be at home during day? Will you need to put heating on during the day where ordinarily you wouldn't? That could hugely increase bills.

Occasionally we take him on a family outing...eg in half term he took boys to London and met me for lunch. Pay for his travel and museum and also lunch.

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