credit card for nanny or stick with the kitty?

[Page62]

Hi
I just employed a new nanny and i was just wondering if any of you who employ nannies just give a credit card to them rather than do the whole kitty/check receipts sort of thing?

i was thinking of getting a secondary credit card that she can use when they go out and then obviously i will just get it at the end of the month and pay for it. she can also do things on it like the grocery shop etc

is this risky?

thanks

Maybe a debit card that you put money into the account (This way you know how much your payin as opposed to a giant bill at the end of the month)

I've had it before and its worked great! Cash kitty not so much as there was never cash in it!

I gave my nanny a debit card, linked to my account. That way she could draw money at the cashpoint, or use in shops if need be.

She didn't go on shopping sprees, and was sensible. It was nice to know she would have money in case of crisis or whatever.

if you trust your nanny with your children, then you should trust her with your money

so not risky - obviously if she steals then she would be fired

i have always had credit cards in my jobs,makes life so much easier and unlike a cash kitty my mb/db can see excalty where/what ive spent

its much easier when filling up car - cost £80ish, any food shopping/dry cleaning/entrances to places/birthday pressies for partys been invited to/hair cuts/shoe shopping (kids not me lol)

obv my employers can see on statement what i have been using it for, but i just stick receipts in a jug - tho have to say jug never gets looked at

Blondes, my "jug" has over a year full of receipts in it .

I agree with getting a debit card rather than a credit card tho, and yes it's a million times better than a cash kitty, which I ended up asking numerous employers to top up with cash. Was meant to be done once a week, but, at one point it was out by over £300 as they never bothered to top up. .

Card is so much easier, I pay for music classes etc from it, and of course MB gets the statements every month from the bank so can keep a close eye (that's probably hy she never goes thru the receipt box)

• why

Will depend on what you nanny will be doing. At first a weekly kitty may be sufficient, with additional funds for major expenses.
Budgeting is a skill you may want to test out over the first few weeks - it depends really on if you want your nanny to stick to a budget, or if you will give them endless amounts (well within reason).
My activities/outings budget is £5 per day (does not include mileage)... Some days we overspend, others we underspend.

excalty magicoc - db gets statement every month and can see where the money is going - mine had 4yrs

i did empty in the end - well left them on the kitchen side for db to do with what he wanted

debit cards are good if the nanny needs to get cash out regualy,credit cards charge interest from the moment you take it out of hole in the wall

hope moving went well and will pop in to see you soon xxx

Hi ladies, something you may find interesting is a pre-payed card so the new nanny cannot overspend. You can get one from the Post Office, its a new[ish] deal they do, where you pay £10 to set up the account and then put as much money into it as you want and top-up when required all for free. Nanny can then use it like having a kitty, but a pre-paid kitty which she cannot overspend. It's worth looking into or thinking about, rather than risking a bill at the end of the month with credit cards, or hefty charges to your debit card. Good luck with your new nanny! xx

Bit like an oyster card then

good thing with credit cards is that if something goes wrong/need money asap then it's there

works car needed a new wingmirror and I could go to garage and pay for it (£250) and get it all sorted for mb/db

sorry, haven't popped back in here for a bit.
thanks very much for all the suggestions.
Can i ask something really stupid (slightly embarassed as she works in finance...) --
if i give my nanny a debit card linked to my account, if she needed to take out cash, will she be able to see my balance? or is there a way of issuing her a debit card on her own, with money i put in it?
i think i'm leaning toward a credit card linked to mine, it seems much more hassle free.....
[waves to blondes] move has gone well, thanks but still finding our feet (mostly me getting my head around the train timetable!). so far so good with new nanny - still a bit shy around us but we'd rather that way and then warms up rather than completely in our face then gets worse (hahahaha!)

yes she prob can see your balance as would be like a normal debit card

i would go towards the credit card option and maybe just leave her £20 cash a week/month and top up as and when she goes through it

i put everything on my credit card and really only use cash for car parks and odd £1 cuppa at tennis etc so very rarely actually ask mb/db for cash iyswim

We have this payment issue. It sooo irritating because the only activities I can prepay for are the ones DD does at school - everyone else wants cash or a cheque often on a weekly basis. I really can't think WHY but there we are. Maybe one of these pre-paid cards could work though, so DH and I aren't constantly running around getting cash out.

Do they give a statement too, like a credit card, these cards?

My/boss' card is linked to her account, but, it is refered to as "account No2" so what is in there is only kitty money and nothing else.

Statements relating to that account come thru the door addressed to

Boss of Magic
Account No2 Magic (my surname)

The card and the cheque book also have "account No2 Magic" on them with my authorised signature connected to both.