Unsure of what to do?

[Staceisace]

I've just graduated from university and whilst there I did nanny work over the summer holidays and babysitting throughout the year in the evenings. I also did 'nanny' work during the day over half terms, when children were sick etc.

I'm currently looking for a full time job but I have four or five families who rely on me for babysitting in the evenings, usually at the weekends. I like all the families and DP and I are starting to save for a mortgage once we're both working so I could do with the extra cash too!

The problem is that there is one family I've been working for the longest who pay me less than the others by £2 an hour. They also live quite far away from me (further than walking distance) but don't always cover my costs of getting a taxi home late at night whilst other families do. This family used to live even further away and I would often agree to stay over night if they were going to be home late to save them the cost of a taxi. I got the train home the next day and only charged them for the number of hours they were out.

I know this family have started to use another babysitter sometimes as there were times during last year when I wasn't available (particularly during the day but that's because I was a full time student so my availability was limited at times). I believe she's much younger than me and I'd imagine that means they can pay her even less but the children told me she's 'not as good' (bless them!) and that she ignores them when she's there. I feel as though they only contact me now if the other babysitter isn't free.

My question after all of that is: can I ask for more money per hour to bring it in line with my other jobs given that she probably won't want to pay it? I'm kind of torn between cutting my ties with the family as I do really like them (Well, I like all the families I currently work for)

Any responses much appreciated!

I personally would ask them to match your current rate. Simply explain that this is what other families pay or ask them to cover your expenses.

When i babysit i current charge
£7 per hour before midnight - based on 3 or less children
£9 per hour after midnight - based on 3 or less children
if it is for more than 3 children i charge an extra £1 per hour per child

I also ask parents to cover my petrol costs if they live out of my 3miles radius which is currently £0.40 per mile

Hope this helps x

How long have you been working for them and when did you last put your prices up for them?

I'd tell them that you've held on as long as you can but given the way the cost of living and travel is going up, you think that IOU need to increase your rates to bring you in line with everyone else hyoid work for. Say they are your favourite family so you have waited much longer than you would have done otherwise but it has got to the point where it has got to the point you are barely breaking even if you need to get a taxi home if they are late.

Never easy but I bet they won't be surprised and will be ok about it. No way of knowing if they will carry on using you thouh, sorry.

Zipzap, I've worked for them for two and a half years but in different contexts - first as a babysitter but as practice for a holiday nanny job with them and then as daytime cover when their CM is on holiday in the summer or the kids are sick. The holiday job was paid as a lump sum, the days during the summer were paid with a daily rate (which I wasn't particularly happy about as it was a lot less than I was expecting but that was my own fault for not clarifying it with her first). For babysitting/not full days she's always paid me £6 per hour whilst other families pay me £8 (similar to what you ask CourtneyA) and pay for my taxi home (I usually walk to all the other families' homes) which is never too pricey as they don't live far away, it's just not safe to walk home in the dark.

I just think £6 isn't enough for me any more, especially since a taxi each way to and from her house costs that much so if she doesn't cover those costs, I basically lose two hours of pay. I know it's only an occasional babysitting job but I do feel that with that family in particular, I always try my best to be really flexible and accommodating. I've even done an overnight stay (pick kids up, home/dinner, bed, up in morning, to CM/nursery) but she did pay me reasonably for that and I'd happily do it again if she needed me to.

I should point out that part of the problem is that I usually get paid in cash by parents when they get home from their event/night out but this family pay me into my bank account because they've previously had to pay me weekly or whatever when I was working for them more often so they usually do the same with the babysitting. That's okay but it means she never says 'here's some money for the cab' or anything and she never tells me how much she's going to put in so sometimes if I've been there for 3 1/2 hours she'll put in 3 hours worth and other times 4. Because I set the rates over two years ago and I love the kids/family the money is rarely mentioned.

If any parents out there had their babysitter ask for more money (because that's what she's paid from all her other families) how would you react?

Well why don't you ask her for more Money she can only say no. Six pounds does not sound much.

I asked by text before they booked me to have time to think about it.

That's what I was wondering too - do I text her and say I'm putting my rates up or do I wait until she books me and then mention it? I've not heard from her in almost a month now but I've been busy/on holiday and I know I may not be needed for evening babysitting for a while due to personal circumstances within the family.

I think I would wait untill she asks you and then say yes I can do it but as from July I put my rate up to whatever us thisstill ok for you.? much easier in a text.