not sure what to do...

blimey! I always make sure i have a few quid in my pocket for change to give them back!!

If they only have £30 and im owed £24 for example and neither of us has change, i just say "take it off next time"

I'd never just assume I could keep the money! Sometimes parents DO have the change pr exact money before they go out, but an unexpected cab ride home or extra drink, and that change has gone.

Think it's unbelievably rude to just keep the money!

i never count it in front of them as its just rude, so unless they say "i have no change" i count it when ive left then text them to say they've overpaid me and i'll give them their change either next time i babysit or when i see them next.

cant believe some people would just keep it without mentioning it or purposely not take change! want more money? let the parents know your putting your rates up, dont just keep their flipping money!!

I give the parents the option of paying me in correct change or giving me a cheque. I say this up front so they can have the correct change ready if they want it. I don't always take my purse babysitting with me and there's no guarantee I'd have the right change anyway. Incidentally I round the nearest half hour and have a cancellation fee which I tell them up front as well.

I did have one family who regularly overpaid me though and however much I protested they didn't have/pretended they didn't have smaller notes. It made me feel a bit awkward...

I don't check the money and don't offer change - if they asked for change and I happened to have the right amount on me I would give it to them of course. I think it is definitely the parent's responsibility to have the right money on them.

true enough about a wad of cash folded - you dont check (maybe we should)normally i pocket it and just say thank you

i dont have a problem charging someone for cancelling me - why should i miss out as they decide not to go out?

The familys know what I charge and what I expect if they cancel - guess if they dont like it/the terms then they wouldnt use me iyswim

Blondeshavemorefun - i wasn't meaning that people shouldn't charge for cancellation i mean i don't. But only cause if i find it awkward looking at how much people give me, i would find it even more so charging them, so i don't.

Minismama - if a parent hands you a folded up amount of cash, to me it would be really awkward to unfold in front of them and count it so i just take it and go, only once have ever been asked for change, every other parent i have babysat for has not

I am also surprised that some people think it's ok not to offer change, so to practically take (not ask for) more than they said they would charge in the first place, but on the other hand say they are being underpaid if it is the other way around!
I used to be a nanny years ago and never assumed I would get a tip but I always got it, possibly because I offered change.
And now when I pay my babysitter I always round it up to more than it should be or give her a tip. And she always wants to give me change and that is one of the reasons I will always give her a tip, she does not assume it is what will happen.
It works both ways. If you think you are getting underpaid up your hourly rate.

When I babysat I just used to get given money and would walk home, however that was with my bosses at the time and my nan who gave me extraordinary amounts! But for other people I wouldn't think to ask them if they want change, but then I don't have a base rate as I barely babysit anymore! I'd make a point of saying "correct change only please" though I think, as I rarely take my purse on babysitting jobs with me!

cookielove - i charge 4hrs rate if cancelled within 24hrs

i tell parents this at the beginning and no one has ever said no

i get asked to bs a lot and would be very annoyed if got cancelled a few hours before hand, esp if i had turned down other work

This thread has been interesting, i had never thought of giving/taking change. When im giving my money i just say thanks and put it in my pocket i dont even look at the amount until i get home. :/ all the people i had babysat for tho know me personally so maybe its a bit different if you are booked through an agency i suppose you need to be more professional about it.

Years ago when i was 16 but was studying childcare i used to get paid £2.50 an hour by one family that i babysat for, and they used to count out the pennies practically to the minute, and no they werent short of money.

Better a look than the thought you are rude or greedy

I never offer change lol ... but if they asked for it of course I'd give them it!

It's never arisen though

I think the parents should have the right amount really if they are bothered about getting change but its very cheeky not to offer change,great if they say no keep it but not to offer at all is not on.

well on the point of charging for cancellation, i do not i have had parents cancel within hours of time of arrival but have never even thought of charging them, to me that sounds ridculous, (mainly because do you just drive over and collect the money) however if other people do, do that well good for them.

easy solution

charge £10ph as I do and then no need for fiddly change - all ends in £10's

unless you get £50 note for 4hrs work

tbh I think the parents should have the right money - they know that their bs charges say £7.50 an hour, so if out for 5hrs, they know they need to pay £37.50 so have the right money

I very rarely have cash or change - clinkly or rustly

Im guessing that those posting on here are nannies who do extra babysitting rather than teenagers earning pocket money ??

Not that it makes a difference but it wouldn't suprise me thats all.

One of the reasons why I would never employ a nanny but my children went to day nursery. The girls who looked after them were more than happy to babysit and would never have displayed an attitude like this even though in a day nursery they were paid about half what the average nanny takes home !

Agree with one day, its very rude to not give change and i wouldn't use someone again who was like that.What about those who have to really save up for a night out? you could totally blow their budget by not giving change.You would not be happy if you were owed £25 and parent said "i have no change so will just give you £20" you are keeping money that is not yours! At least give people the option of change.

i used to always take change when i babysat

I offered it but no one ever accepted.

bloodyhell the arrogance on this thread is amazing.

Do you lot go to Marks and Spencer and not expect change when you do your shopping ?

If you had a man round to mend your washing machine and you paid him in cash would you not expect change if you didnt have the right money ??

I wouldn't use any of you to babysit again to be honest. If I choose to pay over the odds then thats fine but where you have quoted me an hourly rate and presumably would charge me for a cancellation I would expect you to be professional enough to offer me change to the correct amount.

And whats more I wouldn't want you looking after my children with that lack of understanding or disregard for basic manners TBH.

Sorry to be so blunt.

I think you should get change ready and offer it, if they say it's ok, then thank them.
I can't believe the person who refuses change!
I certainly wouldn't use you again!
JMI!

I do a minimum £30 charge, but if I didn't I would just say 'i'm sorry I didn't bring my purse I haven't got any change' but its a bit cheeky. I babysat last night and was booked for 7.30 till midnight but the speeches over ran so I sat waiting in the hotel till 8pm and then they were late back, they came back legless and said it was 4 hours I said no it was 5 actually so got £60 as it was £12 an hour and they gave me a £10 tip so was pleased at that.

I don't offer change back but I do say something along the lines of is this ok? They always say yes its fine. I tend to find the parents that are generous always round up and never ask for change and the ones who pay to the minute always have the correct change anyway so never really a problem!!

Bink you might not go near your babysitter again if she refused you change but from the other side of the coin you might find the babysitter wouldn't go near you again if you asked for change on a couple of pounds! Certainly if I have 2 families ask me for the same night then I will always go with the generous family so the tight family may well find themselves without a trusted babysitter!!

See what i don't like is when they round your time down, say you work four a half hours and they pay you for four, thats not fair!

Or you have to deal with a sleepover which they suprise on you when you walk in, also not playing by the rules,

Or you have to deal with a dog being sick all night and you clean it up all night any you get nothing extra, even though they knew the dog was ill.

I mean really this babysitting marlarky isn't always such an easy job, as some of these parents think

i was once asked for 5p change ...

they paid me to the nearest minute

Completely agree with Bink!