nannies please tell me your christmas expectations during a credit crunch....

credit crunch or not,I never received a bonus.I do always spend more money on the presents of the family than they do.:-(

agree a thank you makes the world of diffrence

and costs nothing!!

Hi, I can't recall getting a bonus, but one family i worked for wrote me a lovely card explaining how happy they were with me, the words she wrote meant so much to me, it doesn't cost anything to say thankyou but boy don't we all need to hear that word once in a while!!So if you can't afford a bonus then just write down how much she means to you!!

I used to be a nanny, and had a varity of diffrent presses, five driving lessons was a really nice one, and I had a cash bonous one year from one wealthy family which I didnt expect at all but they didnt really respect me that much and did take advantage, but what mearnt more of all the parents I worked for the ones that were not that well off gave me some lovely smellys, for xmas and always made me feel really appreciated for what I did, and that I was doing a really good job, and small perks through out the time I worked for them, which was four years, I have cards dated back 16 yrs ago saying what a wonderfull nanny I was, how important I was in their lives, which mearnt the world to me.
that family are still in my life as friends and although I never got the most expensive pressies from them I always felt that I was doing a good job and was appricated

I would never expect a bonus at Christmas (or birthdays) but it is always a nice surprise when it happens!!

I have to say that some of the richest people I worked for were the tightest people I worked for! And the families that struggled to pay me, were the most generous and appreciative of my work throughout the year.

I would like a gift that shows that they thought about me, rather than just giving me money (although I can always do with it!!) and something small from the children.

Woodstock - my charges are only young and no-one would want something that they made but for my employers, we went to a pottery painting place and put their hand prints onto glass baubles for the christmas tree in silver paint. So something that can be brought out every year. I would love something like this from my little men!

God, I have so many bits of pottery/plastic/wood/paper things that previous charges have made for me and all are out on show or used, except for all the pictures they have painted for me, I could decorate a house with all of those!!!

I think it depends how long you have been with the family.

I got a box of chocs and £100 from one family, a scarf and gloves (from Harrods) from another that I still wear.

I think there is something wrong about spending more on the nanny than on a relative though.

thanks - was feeling a bit of a selfish greedy cow

no housekeeper/butler but do have cleaner/ironer/gardener/man who cleans/hoovers/washes cars
but i dont go out with them, but very happy to have a glass of wine with my lovely bosses

No, you don't sound bad at all! My nanny has worked for rich people in the past and has enjoyed the trappings that came with it. Including a works night out with the butler and housekeeper .

It would be nice to be in that league!

i do tend to work for rich famillies - ie one if not both parents have good jobs in city, children often go to private schools etc

but thats as i work in an area that is close to london, has good train links - 22mins - and many of my employers have moved from london to my town when they have famillies

i prefer to work for a rich family that dont begrudge paying me, can afford to pay me ( have had friends been paid late/not for a week etc parents said they couldnt afford it)

and i find that mums who like to work, and want to work, rather than have to work, are better to work for

does that make me sound bad?

i have LOVED all of my jobs, stay for 4/5years in most and keep in contact with ALL of my famillies/charges - so my thorey works for me

A week's bonus? Fuck me! Just how rich are the people you work for? I've never had a week's bonus in any job I did! I thought I was generous with a £25 M&S voucher, a box of nice biscuits and little presents for children.

I always got a cash bonus at christmas too,sometimes £50 ,in my last job it was a weeks salary.
I would never "expect" it though and agree something made by the children is priceless.
Never underestimate how much saying thankyou every day means, i would have and did bend over backwards for my last employers .

i cant beleive i seem to be the only nanny who get a cash bonus

i think a nice gift is all thats needed maybe a nice hamper if she lives by herself/with oh. you could make it yourself by nice basket and fill with yummy treats.

I am sure she would rather her job than you trying to find the money for a bonus and in a months time not being able to afford her.

Over the years i have had wonderful gifts but never a money bonus and i would be so embarrassed to receive such a gift.

my fav gifts have been the ones that show me that my bosses know me, like one year my mb got a signed copy of a book i wanted.
then there was one that got me a beautiful make up set but she knew i did not wear it.
that sounds really ungrateful

I think a whole weeks bonus is a bit OTT. I have always been given a nice present and a card either drawn by the children or they've done a picture/colouring etc.

aww i think the stocking with little bits n bobs is a FAB idea!!

I would love that

TBH i would be if given a weeks bonus @ xmas !!

It just seems a tad OTT to me ?? but i spose those that can afford it, and the nannies that work for them its the "norm" ?

well I didn't get even a 'happy birthday' + my pre-xmas 'bonus' was being given my notice due to the credit crunch so if I'm honest, I'm not full of any festive joy right about now.
I'm still going to give them a scrap book of pictures of what myself+their DD have been upto though!

well I didn't get even a 'happy birthday' + my pre-xmas 'bonus' was being given my notice due to the credit crunch so if I'm honest, I'm not full of any festive joy right about now.
I'm still going to give them a scrap book of pictures of what myself+their DD have been upto though!

I would not expect a bonus this year. I know my employers can afford it but in all honesty if they couldnt I would like most of all a thank you. I know I am an employee but we all like to be told we are doing a good job every once in a while (the parents work ALL the time so I run the house). Other then that an extra couple of days holiday would be fabulous. If she is from another country e.g Australia or NZ then give her the national day off, buy some goodies from the Australia shop etc. The little things mean the most. Rather that then something huge and has no meaning.

You are slightly governed by what you did last Christmas, if she was working for you then.

If she wasn't, totally up to you to set the Christmas gift custom, so no need to give her a week's pay (it isn't standard practice imo). If you did give her a week's wages last Christmas, explain the situation this year, and do it before Christmas, and explain that you can't afford it this year, in case she's counting on the money.

If you can cover it yourselves, give her a voucher for 2-3 days' extra free holiday. Agree that the cards from children mean the most. A pile of small presents can be nice - can you and the children make her a stocking? You can fill it with cheaper stuff - smellies, lipbalm, a nice nail polish, socks, an orange in the toe

not at all Nick - thats being cheeky - would never ask for it - though i do ask for many things at intereviews,a bonus isnt one

they didnt know - guess they just do give bonus's - maybe they spoke to other friends with nannies

i dont expect it, till I have it - does that make sense?

if i left this job and didnt get one the 1st year with a new family, then fair enough

when i changed 3 years ago, i did wonder if i would get a bonus, but didnt expect it - as you never know, and some of my friends dont get them, as like some on here dont

but first christmas i was there, i got a lovely pressie made by children ( which mb obv made effort with, and i LOVE it) is on my book shelf, and also some lovely lush stuff from mb/db and they gave me an envelope stuffed with cash and said thank you very much for all your hard work this year

so as they did it that year, and last year, i kinda expect it this year - unless they said something

does that make sense?

Blonees, when you last changed family, how did the current family know that you would expect a bonus at Xmas? Is that something you talk about at interview?

without sounding petty/greedy etc

i have always been given a bonus - at every xmas for 17 years as a sole charge nanny

BUT also understand there is a CC.therefore, if I wasnt to get one (as normal)if my mb said they were streached i would underestand - but if they didnt say anything i would wonder if i had done something wrong - but not offended - as i have always had one

but it isnt all about the money - i also normally get a lively card and gift/sometimes home made from kids - which means alot

but guess if you are used to it (as the same if you worked in the city and got a nice bonus, you kinda get used to it) and if you didnt get one, and didnt get an explanation - you might wonder why

i dont normally get a bonus (definitely not a weeks wages!)

something handmade by the children would mean SO much more to me than anything money can buy.