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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Quinteszilla · 28/03/2014 08:08

Oh, just saw that you are not getting a babysitter.

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 28/03/2014 08:19

Thank you select
Quint - no Munch ( thankfully), just a curry with lots of people I hardly know !! But you never know how these things can turn out :)

OP posts:

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 28/03/2014 08:20

Ironically I've just had a text from next door asking for a favour!!!

OP posts:

Janorisa · 28/03/2014 08:28

Just give up OP. Some people just love to have a dig....

thebody · 28/03/2014 08:35

what I want to know though is how come you are going out with a bunch of people you hardly know? who are they?

Fusedog · 28/03/2014 08:38

I usually pay for my babysitter no matter how long she is here 9 times out of 10 if it's less than half an hour she won't take any money but I always offer

Don't be tight word gets round and you may find that evening your last in a long while

Boggler · 28/03/2014 08:45

Just read the entire thread phew! I think the op is bu and obviously has issues with being on her own. But I like many others can't see what the fuss about a taxi is all about, so tell us op. Maybe then everyone will understand instead of telling you to get a grip. Also I don't understand why you'd need someone to walk you to your car, if you drove. Do you live in a dangerous city? Most towns/cities are busy and bustling at 11pm so why the need for an escort?

WottaTheOdds · 28/03/2014 08:49

Erm, what's a munch? I assumed it was something to eat but 'Green' said no, it's a curry. So, isn't a curry a munch (of sorts?)

WottaTheOdds · 28/03/2014 08:50

Ironically I've just had a text from next door asking for a favour!!!

Perhaps they are reading the thread and thought they would strike while the iron's hot!

LiberalLibertine · 28/03/2014 08:53

A munch is a meet up for bondage fans afaik.

qo · 28/03/2014 08:56

I personally have a problem getting taxi's too - I've had two bad experiences (not awful just a bit scary)

and also I have a huge social phobia around people I don't know well. The thought of having to get a taxi would probably put me off going on the night out in the first place!

WottaTheOdds · 28/03/2014 08:59

A munch is a meet up for bondage fans afaik

Thanks Libertine. You learn something new every day. (Yesterday it was the significance of pampas grass!!).

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 28/03/2014 09:24

To summarise.
I was asking IF I asked the babysitter (who I have used daytime on,y about twice before) to pop round for 15 mins and IF she said yes should I offer to pay and how much
I am going out with a group I don't really know but am starting to, I usually go out with close friends and we all taxi share.
For personal reasons I was worried about being in a position of being alone in a taxi or trying to find one. I mentioned this to DH as it was putting me off going and he suggested he collect me and we ask a neighbour to pop round while he did ( we have done this for neighbours before and they have for us). I will not be explaining these reasons.
I have decided that I can book a taxi from a firm we have used before and ring DH once I am in it. When I am leaving I will ask the group if anyone else wants to leave and taxi share but if not I will just get in the taxi on my own It's probably time I did this anyway in case I'm in a position where I need to.
There will be no bondage as far as I know

OP posts:

Littlegreyauditor · 28/03/2014 10:06

Seems that a lot of posters on this thread either didn't bother to read and comprehend what was written, or they lack the capacity to do so.

I'm sure they all feel so very brave and special that they can just jump into a taxi with no second thoughts and without being able to think of any reasons why a lone female may have become wary of getting a taxi at night.

Have a good evening OP, however it pans out.

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 28/03/2014 10:36

Cheers :)

OP posts:

Koothrapanties · 28/03/2014 10:42

I think it's the time you need them watched that makes the difference.

15 mins at 3pm, tiny favour no problem. 15mins at 11pm , much bigger favour, you should pay.

LiberalLibertine · 28/03/2014 10:47

Seems to be happening more and more on AIBU, the op asks, gets torn a new one told she IBU, then what ever the op says after that is disregarded in favour of posters trying to come up with the wittiest slating they can think of.

It's not nice to read.

Well done op,FWIW I think that's a good move :)

EeeIcouldCrushAGrape · 28/03/2014 10:54

If you're asking someone as a favour at that time of night, definitely pay her £5. Even if it is only for 15 minutes or whatever.
This coming from a self confessed tightwad as well.
You'd have saved on the taxi fare anyway.
OK, fair enough you don't want to wander around town looking for a taxi, but why on earth can't you book one in advance?
I've got the number of local ones in my phone just in case.
Ring up a few days before and get one booked for outside your venue.
Then just hop in and go home. No street wandering AT ALL.

Koothrapanties · 28/03/2014 10:56

Erm I should have rtft...

At least I didn't mention a taxi!

LiberalLibertine · 28/03/2014 11:01

koothra

Curlyweasel · 28/03/2014 11:04

Have just read whole thread to see why you're getting so het up.

That's about 20 minutes of my life I'd like back please.

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 28/03/2014 11:09

No argument from me Curly, thought I'd get a few " yes, pay her"
Didn't count on 8 pages of frothing over the fact I'm not comfortable in a taxi on my own, which doesn't actually affect anyone else really.
You'd think I was asking some of this lot to come and collect me!!

I suppose it's live by MN die by MN!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 28/03/2014 11:10

Koothra - you just did

OP posts:

YoureAShoe · 28/03/2014 11:26

I got to about page 5 and have up.
OP you aren't a drip or a fanny or any of that. It is totally reasonable to not want a taxi even if you don't have a bad experience. You didn't make this a big deal, the ridiculous people responding did.
Enjoy your night out.

YoureAShoe · 28/03/2014 11:28

*gave

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