to think that £20 for 8 hours babysitting isn't great?

[Hennypenny95]

My daughter is almost 18 and has agreed to babysit tonight for someone on our street from 5pm until 1am and she's received twenty quid for the 8 hours. Is this a reasonable rate? We're in the Midlands? She should have agreed a rate beforehand, I know, but she didn't as she's squirmy talking about money to people. What's a reasonable rate for her to ask for in future? She's on over £6 per hour in her part-time pub job, washing up and collecting dishes.

I got £7.50 ph 20 years ago

@Maray1967

I pay £10 per hour, no less. That is a disgrace. Presumably she’s had to sort out a meal for the children and bedtimes if she’s been there from 5, not just be in the house while they’re asleep? I would go round there tomorrow and tell them you’re disgusted and that she won’t be sitting for them again - unless you think she might lose other jobs as a result. If so, just advise her not to bother with them again.

I’d be going round there tomorrow or even now and demanding more money. The cheap fuckers.

£50 at the very least and a taxi home!

@WheelieBinPrincess

No OP you know very well that’s not a reasonable rate.

Although at 14, I used to babysit 3 kids overnight every Saturday. They were a nightmare! For £10! I thought that was a good rate at the time because previous to that I got £6 a week for my paper round 😂

I do know. You're right - I was just checking. They're highly paid professionals too, so a bit unexpected. Yes, she's entertaining the child, so it's not even sit back and watch Netflix all night.

It's a total pisstake, OP - what tight-fisted arses! However, it's a good lesson for your DD to learn about standing up for herself and not shying away from talking about money.

Yes it’s taking the mickey. Lesson learned for your daughter. She probably had to feed the kids, and put them to bed! And how is she getting home at 1am?

@Peppercorn9

It's a total pisstake, OP - what tight-fisted arses! However, it's a good lesson for your DD to learn about standing up for herself and not shying away from talking about money.

She won't be sitting for them again, for certain.

I would expect to pay £9-£10 an hour

There will be a post on AIBU tomorrow from the disgruntled mother complaining about the babysitter demanding £10ph when they've had the privilege of being with their kids all night and been given 20 quid.

She should also warn other local babysitters she knows that they are stingy payers. I bet they won't be home on time either.

My 15 year old babysits and gets paid £5 or £6 an hour for evenings where the kids are mostly asleep. She also has a regular daytime childcare job, entertaining the kids after school and gets £7.50 an hour for that.

@UpToMyElbowsInDiapers

Yikes! I usually pay £110 for that amount of time!

Really! Back in the day babysitting was a bit of extra cash, not more than some adults earn at a full time job.

They're highly paid professionals too, so a bit unexpected.

Ugh. I'd almost sympathise if it'd been a very hard-up single parent who desperately needed to work a last-minute late shift or something and only had £20 to spare, but any high-earning person who'd pay someone £2.50ph to look after their children is an absolute piece of shit. I'd be casually mentioning it to all our other neighbours if I were you - shame the stingy bastards!

From ages of 16 to 21 i got £5 for the night from 7 till 12 sometimes 1 weekly, it was my friends mum i hated it towards end and my mum would guilt trip me and tell me she couldnt go out if i didnt do it!

I'd expect at least £70 for that. Especially past midnight. Especially as they haven't provided food. Totally taking the piss.

I used to get £5 for 3 to 4 hours over 35 years ago.

Next time anyone asks she needs to say her rate and not be beaten down if they moan.

That is absolutely taking the piss.
Did she only find this out when she went round to babysit? Obviously she will be saying hell no if they ever ask again but the lesson here is to not be scared to say no, that's taking the piss. I won't be staying.

Well, I suppose really the lesson is ensure you know what you're getting before you agree.

I think a fun evening of messy play and lots of sugar is in order tbh.

I got double that in 1993.

Agree they’re taking the piss. £7ph here minimum

Disgraceful - we have a 17 year old babysitter and pay her £20 for 3 hours babysitting, sometimes nearer 2 hours as we eat ridiculously quickly. £40 minimum. I think there is nothing to be lost by saying something.

We pay £10/hr with £20 being the minimum amount. Funnily enough we rarely have problems finding a babysitter. When I used to babysit I just didn’t go back to low payers. 5-8pm isn’t babysitting rates….that’s nanny rates. I’m
Presuming she fed them and did bedtime??

I'd be ringing them up at about 9-30 to say I'm puking my guts up and they need to come home

Tight fuckers

She learned a life lesson there. Set the terms of employment before you go and trust nobody.

I pay my niece £40 for an evening with good and £100 if ever overnight

Oh and tell her to have a bag of peanuts ready if they ask her to babysit again tonight
She can whip them out and say 'Oh look! You've already paid me!'