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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay for 15 minutes babysitting

237 replies

Hoppinggreen · 27/03/2014 11:58

I'm going out with some people I don't know well next weekend. Usually when I go out with my mates we all make sure everyone gets home ok/ taxi shares etc but I'm not sure I can ask these people I don't know well. I am getting a lift there with someone but she has said she's staying out very late and I don't want to. DH not keen on my wandering around town alone looking for a taxi so want to pick me up ( will be out of the house 15 mins tops). There is no question of leaving the sleeping DC's obvs.
My neighbours 16 year old babysits for us sometimes and I pay her £5 an hour. We know the family well and help each other out - they feed cats for us when we are away and I sometimes let their dog out etc.
I was thinking of asking the daughter to come and sit in the house while DH picks me up - should I offer to pay her? If so how much?
Before I get told to " woman up" and get a taxi I'm just not comfortable with it and neither is DH and he wants to pick me up, which I would prefer too.

OP posts:
fromparistoberlin73 · 27/03/2014 16:35

sorry OP, when you said you did not want a taxi I thought you meant a random mini cab ....if you hate taxis, you wont have a trusted local firm will you?

Papaluigi · 27/03/2014 16:45

Give her a tenner

Impatientismymiddlename · 27/03/2014 17:12

Mumsnet hq are not keen on removing threads just because the OP wants them removed. The usual case is that the thread will be removed if there is a good reason to remove it.

redcatblackcat · 27/03/2014 17:15

Book a bloody taxi!

formerbabe · 27/03/2014 17:18

Pay her a fiver but like another poster said, stay out a little longer with your dh.

Original poster
Hoppinggreen · 27/03/2014 17:19

So calling me a fanny not grounds then???

I'm ok with it now tbh, I'm just not going to respond to anyone suggesting I get a taxi- either they haven't read the thread properly or are a bit dumb.

OP posts:
MistressDeeCee · 27/03/2014 17:22

I can see why OP doesn't want to book a taxi. She has her reasons and thats fine.

Ita the mean-ness of not wanting to pay the sitter a fiver that made me raise my eyebrows. I mean whats the expectation; as its £5 per hour, divide that into 4? If you call someone out to work then you call them out to work. In fact I wouldnt even think of it like that, she's a teen would probably be grateful for £5..just give it to her and enjoy the night out. Its not enough money to be made a big deal out of. & at least it takes away the worry of DCs being alone even if for a short period of time. I can't fathom why the question was asked in the 1st place, tbh

WottaTheOdds · 27/03/2014 17:25

So calling me a fanny not grounds then???

Hardly...I read it almost as affectionate you know as it daft 'ap'orth or similar. Doesn't really count as a personal attack imho.

Fwiw I don't think you did yourself any favours with the title. My initial reaction was 'Say wot?????????????????...On what planet would that be reasonable'. But then I realised that you were asking in the spirit of genuine enquiry and were open to constructive suggestions, so I agree. all a bit of a storm in a teacup really aided and abetted by my adding my two penn'orth

ruddynorah · 27/03/2014 17:27

Your OP said you werent getting a taxi because your DH wasn't keen on you wandering round alone looking for one. The responses are addressing this as you seem unaware that you can just call a taxi company from where your night out is and theyll collect you there. Most even call or text to say they've arrived. Others have also said you could book a taxi in advance to collect you at 11.

LiberalLibertine · 27/03/2014 17:31

No op you can't get a thread pulled for being called a fanny Grin or a cunt, or anything else really, the posts will be removed at best.

If you've had enough advice, just hide the thread Wink

Marylou62 · 27/03/2014 17:34

OP I am not going to make any comment about your post except I'm with you...But why oh why have you even answered any of the negative comments. Don't even look. I posted something once and couldn't believe how the thread went. After a very short time I just didn't look again. Please, you will never get anywhere. Just leave them to it.

redcatblackcat · 27/03/2014 17:36

Why do you have to do what your DH says?

RedPencilPot · 27/03/2014 17:39

If I were you I think I would probably just stay inWink

MorrisZapp · 27/03/2014 17:45

Sorry it hasn't gone as hoped OP. your OP was reasonable but the title does look as if you wanted to not pay for babysitting.

MyNameIsKenAdams · 27/03/2014 17:51

OP the only reason people picked up on the taxi thing is because you said "wandering round alone looking for a taxi" which is a daft thing to complain about.

if you had said that you wouldnt be booking a taxi and had personal reasons for it, noone would have mentioned it.

IDugUpADiamond · 27/03/2014 17:58

I think that a favour between neighbours is different to 15 minutes from someone you have paid in the past. The relationship is just different. £5 would be the fair amount of money to offer, if she feels like doing you a favour then it's up to her to refuse it.

I am genuinely puzzled at some people here thinking that paying £5 an hour for a teenage babysitter is cheap. I feel it is a perfectly fair amount for an unqualified young person. Minimum wage is not much more than that.

chrome100 · 27/03/2014 18:07

I'd just "wander round and get a taxi" in town, what do you think is going to happen?

AcrossthePond55 · 27/03/2014 18:10

It's the 16 yr old's JOB, as it were. Would you go to your hairdresser to get your fringe trimmed & then not pay her because it only took 15 minutes instead of the hour or so to style your whole head of hair?

She is performing a service, she should be paid. She isn't an adult neighbor offering to feed your cat because they know you will mow their lawn in return when you each go on holiday. What have you done for HER that she should 'do you a favour'?

janey68 · 27/03/2014 18:24

I've only skimmed the thread so don't know whether this has been said... But £5 an hour is pretty stingy anyway IMO, and to expect some babysitting for nothing is downright cheek. Don't be so mean

Logg1e · 27/03/2014 18:25

Janey what are your thoughts on the OP booking a taxi?

Cringechilli · 27/03/2014 18:28

Can't your dh lift sleeping kids into car?

passthetequila · 27/03/2014 18:34

As the mother of a 15yo I'd just like to say that at 11pm she would either be in bed (school night) or in town with her mates (in which case perhaps you could share a taxi with her and save me picking her up). However I would happily pop in for 15 minutes (in my pj's) in return for a small bar of chocolate.

Ps hope you have a good night out!

JodieGarberJacob · 27/03/2014 18:43

As a babysitter I specify a minimum 2 hours otherwise it's a complete pain forfeiting a whole evening just to net a couple of pounds!

ChestyNut · 27/03/2014 18:44

Is IABU license to be rude?

Some of you clearly think it is Hmm

Pagwatch · 27/03/2014 18:48

Most of the babysitters I used had a minimum 2 hour thing.

I hope you resolve it op.
It's all gone a bit off piste.

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