To ask how much you’d expect a babysitter to cost on NYE

[ThatMauveRaven]

20yo DD has been asked (last minute) to babysit her manager’s two young children tomorrow night. They’ve offered her £60 in cash to be there from 8pm-1am. The two kids will most likely be asleep in bed, so she won’t exactly have to do much work but I still think that this is quite stingey considering it’s New Years Eve!

Thoughts?

YABU - £60 is enough
YANBU - I’d expect to pay more

If he comes back and says he'll pay her £100 after all, I hope she makes him pay her up front because you can be sure that if she waits till they return to be paid, (a) they'll be later than 1am and (b) he'll give her the £85 (or even £60) and say he doesn't have any more cash on him. If she's bold she could say that's fine, pay me the £100 by bank transfer right now instead, but my own 20 yr old DD would never have the balls to do that.

£20 an hr for someone that holds no childcare qualifications, health and safety certificate. Are they even vetted? I’m guessing no.

Many childcare professionals don’t even get that much for crying out loud.

Yet trying to squeeze out more money hours before the couple are to go out NYE. Really underhand behaviour.

She should have said that’s strange you offered me £85 earlier?! 🤣

Are you the lady's boss?! 🤣

But this isn’t what happened. He asked super late and offered not enough money. She is allowed to say no thank you. She didn’t agree and then demand more money. It’s not part of her job and she doesn’t want to do it.

And others (including me) disagree. But ultimately it doesn't matter either way. What matters is if this young woman wants to do the job for this price. And she doesn't. And from the sounds of it, neither does anyone else!

The thing that I find the most insulting here is the meeting in the middle/bargaining at £85. OP's DD clearly said her rate is £100, and here's this bloke - who isn't in any position to negotiate whatsoever - trying to barter over fifteen measly quid. For no other reason than to say he got one over on her, I assume.

Fuck him. It'll be beautiful when his wife finds out their NYE plans have turned to shit because he was arguing the toss over £15 short of a quite reasonable £100.

Tbh I think it depends a lot on whether your dd is a professional nanny taking a booking or someone at a loose end who would like 60 cash in her hand. I am guessing she won't be declaring the fee from this babysitting gig nor will she gave insurance or a dbs cert. She either does or does not want to earn 60 cash for minding a couple of kids who are asleep or not.

’Underhand behaviour’ 🤣 DD isn’t a charity. If they wanted childcare on NYE then they should’ve a) planned things earlier and b) been prepared to a premium for it - they have more than enough money, he’s just being a cheapskate. In what world is getting drunk at a New Year’s party essential?

And yes, she is DBS vetted with first aid qualifications via work and uni.

Do you always treat people like they're worthless?

She obviously believes she is worth more. And so do the majority of people on this thread. Good for her.

My neighbour babysits for me. She has little experience with children, and no qualifications in childcare. She is worth her weight in gold to me, and as I appreciate her, I pay her well.

Valuing the people around you, including those who work for you, is a no-brainer. Is she has so little 'worth' as you claim, why did he ask her in the first place?

Bbq1 · Today 14:36
Her worth? She's an unqualified girl just out of her teens (with probably little experience with children) who had no other plans for NYE so I'd say £60 is a decent offer for her.

She isn’t a girl.

No it doesn't. What matters is if she wants to do the job for the fee offered. And she doesn't. She named her price and he refused. And now he has no babysitter. End of.

Wondered how long before that was said... Woman.

No. I'm not going out - fireworks upset my kids and I wouldn't want to subject a babysitter to the fallout. I can guarantee my kids will be awake crying at midnight.

But when I do py someone to babysit, I pay £15 an hour on a normal night at normal times (eg home by 11pm). I'd expect to pay more than this on NYE or if I wanted to stay out until 1am.

I see she's turned it down now which is fair enough but it's an odd old situation where a company of 80 young people are all really close so that she knows for sure no one has accepted and you have an insight into the temperament of her boss's children.

It would be outing if I fully explained the workplace but most of the 80 have worked with each other since they were 16 - they genuinely all do get on really well and it’s a tight knit team. It’s why DD is still there after 4 years, even with bad management! The manager lives on site so all staff know the kids quite well.

But she's not his 'friend' or his 'mate'. She's a working professional- he's her boss. So why should she offer mates' rates?

Also, just to add, one reason I pay my neighbour well and value her so much is because I KNOW her. I trust her. She is a good person. This is priceless. I'd much rather have her babysit than some stranger off the Internet, even if they are a professional nanny with childcare qualifications coming out of their ears.

And yes, childcare is mega expensive. I had two sons in nursery until recently and we were paying £160 a day for it. Soaring childcare costs are a known problem. Not the OP's daughter's fault or problem though!

At least £100 plus food/snacks minimum. £60 is tight IMO.

Clearly haven't read the thread.... 😂

She’s a 20yo healthcare student - DBS checked, works directly with kids (although not in childcare) and trained in paediatric first aid.

Surreygirl1987 I literally said that she either wants the cash or doesn't. I am not sure what you are disagreeing with tbh. I can only assume you are disagreeing with what I said about tax, insurance etc. I am not sure why. Do you disagree that most people earning a decent hourly wage are qualified, insured, pay tax and for working with children would normally have a disability?

Dbs

OP I think it’s great that you’re instilling such self belief in to your daughter that she knows she is worth more than a bargain offer. Hope you both have a lovely NYE.

I didn't say she was worthless, I absolutely didn't and I do value people. I was merely saying that £60 for a WOMAN doing nothing else isn't that bad. Time spent sitting on a. sofa, watching tv or whatever, when you would be doing the same at home is worth £60. Don't say i claimed somebody was worthless whem i definitely didn't. Obviously everyone on here thinks she should be getting £100 plus anyway so ut doesn't matter especially as said WOMAN isn't doing it now anyway.

I think at least £100 to ring in the new year in someone else’s home and with someone else’s family is fair.

I find that hard to believe. First you say she’s working then you say shes a healthcare student. I’m going to assume she works part time in a supermarket.

And 80 people were contacted and not one of them took up the offer? If my child were spending the night at home doing nothing, I’d tell him to take up the offer.

Are you the type of parent that would tell their child to sit at home and claim benefits rather than work a minimum wage job also?