How much would you pay?

[Lightbulbs]

More what is reasonable rather than AIBU....

I have a DD that is 19 months and I'm due my 2nd DD in July. As it's the summer holidays, I'm thinking about asking my younger sister (15) to help me with the toddler. How much do you think is reasonable to pay her per day?

It won't be sole charge
She lives in Wales so will live with us Mon to Fri
We are based in London
She'll have her own room
We'll pay for her trains home
Will be for 5 weeks max/ only a summer holiday job

It really depends what you are expecting her to do and for how many hours a day

Will she want to do it?
What can you afford?

Help feeding her ( I will prepare the food), generally running around after her, keeping her entertained while I'm breastfeeding and such. We'll go on outings most days to the local park.... she can either watch the newborn or push on the swings....

I wouldn't expect her to cook, clean or do anything else. She would literally be an extra pair of hands whilst I recover and get used to having 2.

The toddler gets up at 7am and goes to bed at 7pm. I wouldn't expect her to do anything after 7pm.

Minimum wage is £4.35ph, day 7 hours a day so that’s about £150pw, maybe minus a bit for board and lodging.

15 years old can only work a maximum of 8 hours a day and no more than 35 hours a week.

Depends, if it ended up being the odd day I'd probably do £20 a day. Otherwise would probably do £50 a week.

Does she actually want to?! I know I wouldn’t have wanted to at that age. I wanted to hang out with my friends.

Why do you think you’re going to need help. Loads of people have 2 without.

It sounds like a great idea. Yes, plenty of people manage with two kids without any help but I’m sure all of those people would have jumped at the chance of help.

I would offer at least minimum wage and make sure you give her plenty of time off to have fun in London and make it clear that she can turn it down.

It could work but only if you and your sister get on extremely well and she is fond of your toddler and good with children (my teen DD wouldn't have a clue how to entertain a toddler!). Otherwise there is a risk you'll just annoy each other!

If she's willing then I think approx £25/day would be reasonable assuming you pay all expenses while she is with you and don't expect her to be at your beck and call constantly from 7 til 7

I could see my 15 year old's enthusiasm wear thin pretty quickly - they'd last a week maybe 2! I'd reset expectations and take one week at a time. And be clearer about number of hours worked. I'd pay her a £5/hour.

I can’t imagine any 15 year old wanting to do that for more than a week of their summer, especially being so far away they can’t even see their friends in the evening.

My 15 year old sister would not want to do that! She’s a lovely auntie and ds loves her but there’s absolutely no way she’d ever agree to that. Are you sure your sister wants to do it? I’d probably give her €50 a day if she’s expected to get up at 7am and not finish til 7pm.
She should be well compensated for having her entire summer break taken up like that.

Otherwise would probably do £50 a week

That’s £10 per day for 12 hours days! You’re suggesting a wage of 83p per hour. Even with bed and board that’s outrageously low.

For a 15 yo who has to be on hand 12 hours a day and is getting bed and board I don’t think you should offer less than £125 per week. That’s still only about £2 per hour. I don’t think you can go lower than that.

She's your sister? Why would you pay her?

I would say £20 per day min. And not for weeks on end. Maybe Mon-Fri every other week? I had a niece and nephew of similar ages when I was 15 and utterly adored them and my sister but after a weekend with them I was desperate to get away. I wasn’t being paid though

She's your sister? Why would you pay her?

Sister not slave, why wouldn’t you pay her?

Would her mum be happy with this? I have a 15 year old and wouldn’t encourage this. He has GCSES on the horizon and fun to be had, catching up with friends and playing his Xbox.

I would cut it down to 4 days a week and give her 25 a day. That way she has £100 and a three-day weekend every week to enjoy her summer too.

Incidentally, which is about what I worked in the summer between 15 and 16, except of course my shifts always feel over the weekend!

fell*

She’s your sister? Why would you pay her?
Are you serious? She’s her sister not her slave. Why on earth wouldn’t she pay her?

If she wants to do it I would think £50 a week plus bed, food, fares and treats is ok, perhaps towards the end she could have a friend down to stay (not paid at that point obviously as a bit of a bonus as I'm sure two girls from Wales would not otherwise get a couple of days in London.

She's your sister? Why would you pay her?

This isn't babysitting for a few hours while parents go to cinema. It's 12h days. 300h of work. Yes, she should get paid.

As per everyone else, does she even want to do this?id say £25 a day and 4 days a week so she can have a proper weekend at home. And for not more than 4 weeks.

I would cut it down to 4 days a week and give her 25 a day. That way she has £100 and a three-day weekend every week to enjoy her summer too.

I agree with this. Also my daughter would have definitely done this at 15. The extra money would've been very welcome and weekends are still free to see friends etc.

£15 a day

I'd say £20