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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

222 replies

Hennypenny95 · 17/12/2021 19:45

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.

OP posts:
Tee20x · 17/12/2021 20:48

That's absolutely crap.

BananaPant · 17/12/2021 20:50

Piss take .

Absolute piss take .

LynetteScavo · 17/12/2021 20:51

Why have they paid her at the beginning of the evening? Surely the babysitter gets paid when the parents come home. Isn't the £20 for a pizza delivery, and they'll pay her £60 when they get home? (I'm in the Midlands and that's how much DD would charge for baby sitting for those hours)

Orchid876 · 17/12/2021 20:52

I'd probably do as others have suggested, go round there so you're there when they get home, and demand that she's paid properly. At 18 she probably feels vulnerable and doesn't want to be confrontational. No reason why a bolshy 40-something (sorry, I'm projecting there) can't be though!

shreddies · 17/12/2021 20:53

That's disgusting behaviour

laura246810 · 17/12/2021 20:54

Depends on what she had to do - at 18 I babysat for similar hours (10pm to early hours) for £20 regularly.
The kids were in bed when I arrived and I just did A level revision, they were too old to need anything at night. Easiest money ive ever made.

Swanfairydust · 17/12/2021 20:55

I was thinking she’s just at home watching tv.

However remember she’s a teen and being kept up late.

Swanfairydust · 17/12/2021 20:56

Is anyone wants to pay me £10ph to look after your kids I will

Marble2021 · 17/12/2021 20:57

that is a terrible wage

jwpetal · 17/12/2021 20:59

Learning to talk about money and her value is so important. I hope she learns from this and owns her worth.

hiredandsqueak · 17/12/2021 20:59

Dd is 19 and I paid our babysitter £7ph fifteen years ago. You should go round and tell them they owe her at least £30.

gogohm · 17/12/2021 21:00

£5 an hour minimum but she should have agreed a rate

flowersforbrains · 17/12/2021 21:01

I used to earn around a tenner 35 years ago....

makingmiracles · 17/12/2021 21:01

£20 is clearly taking the piss, somewhere around £5-7 would be more reasonable for her age, depending on wether the kids are already in bed asleep or wether she’s expected to make them food, bath them etc

Lol at the posters saying £10+ that’s more than i earn in my day job and i am first aid trained, epilepsy trained, dbs checked and responsible for peoples wellbeing and have to administer medicines!! No way would i be paying a teenager £10+ to sit around watching tv whilst the kids are asleep!

theremustonlybeone · 17/12/2021 21:02

£20 pound? If my DD had been paid 20 for 8hrs I would have contacted the CF. My DD baby sat for a friend from 4-11 and got 100. My DD has recently turned 18

Just ensure your DD is clear of her rate going forward so this doesnt happen again

MissCruellaDeVil · 17/12/2021 21:04

That's awful, I pay babysitters £10 an hour! It's a responsible job so should be paid accordingly.

PugInTheHouse · 17/12/2021 21:04

£5 an hour is pretty normal where I am,don't know anyone who charges £10 who is under 18. For those hours though I would expect to add on extra though as it's pretty late. I haven't had anyone babysit who hasn't agreed the rate beforehand though.

Rexthesnail · 17/12/2021 21:04

Nope, about 15 yrs ago. I was devastated

Frazzled2207 · 17/12/2021 21:04

Totally taking the piss
£50 would be reasonable

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 17/12/2021 21:06

25 years ago I was paid £10 for 8-11.30. Few quid extra if they were later than that, but it was never past 1am. Lift there and back if it wasn't walking distance. the hourly rate was poor even then, but the kids were in bed, and I brought my A-level revision, so it was basically money for nothing.

PugInTheHouse · 17/12/2021 21:06

Actually I don't know anyone, even over 18 who would charge £10 ph for babysitting. That is more than most preschool/nursery workers get!

SilverRingahBells · 17/12/2021 21:07

It might be reasonable to compromise on minimum wage for a later night shift where the DC are in bed asleep and you're literally sitting on the sofa watching Netflix with half an ear open for emergencies. (Although even then 2.50 an hour is too low).

But if it's a 5 pm start you're doing a proper job of work entertaining, feeding and getting the kids into bed.

Beaconoflight · 17/12/2021 21:09

My daugter (17) is getting £80 for 8 hours next tuesday

Emerald5hamrock · 17/12/2021 21:11

They're stingy.

Minimum amount I'd expect to pay would be five euros per hour, ten if it is a single hour.

My niece is 16 so €5 is enough.

If she has the time she could advertise for babysitter roles in the area.

Pawprintpaper · 17/12/2021 21:11

I used to babysit for my cousins for a nominal amount like that (£10/ night in the noughties) but I liked my auntie’s house, the kids were good and I slept over so didn’t have to sit up all night. It seemed like a lot of money at 16, a bit of extra pocket money really.

Completely different if you are doing it for casual acquaintances/strangers. £7-8/hr I would think for a non qualified teen.