Is this enough spending money for our nanny?

[headfairy]

She's worked with us for a while, and I've never really felt sure if I was giving her too much or not enough. I usually leave her a purse with £10 in (that's £10 per day she works - three days a week). DD doesn't do any special activities (classes or the like) on the days she's with the nanny, and two of the three days she's at nursery from 12-3. The nanny doesn't need to buy food with that as it's all provided, as is her petrol money (not much, she's only just passed her test so doesn't go far, just the 1 mile to school if the weather's terrible). It's really just if she wants to get the bus in to town to go to the park, or to take them to soft play (at the leisure centre a ten minute walk away, it's £5 for them to get in).

Have I got it right or not?

I'm not saying any of the above is a bad thing by the way.... It's just different. She's happy to adopt our routine for our children, so it doesn't really affect me. Her dd's naps are usually taken in the pushchair while they're out and about.

It sounds like she thinks that any kitty money not spent is hers to keep. You need to explain that the kitty money is for outings/activities/snacks/lunches etc and that any left over needs to go back in the purse. It's certainly not unreasonable of you to ask for receipts.

At work I have a purse that my boss puts £20 into and a little book that I write in what I have spent. She tops it up when needed, which is about every 3 - 4 weeks - I work a 3 day week too.

£30 is really excessive for 3 days a week. She can't possibly be spending it on the children. Either through dishonesty or a misunderstanding she is keeping it for herself.

If you think it's just a misunderstanding then I would just say to her next week 'oh I've not topped up the purse this week because there should be some left over from last week' and leave it at that. I don't think you need to ask for receipts (I've never been to a playgroup that offered them!) but just ask what she's done with the kids that day.

Been a nanny for 20 years and I still leave receipts for my boss!
It may be embarrassing to ask her to start leaving receipts incase she thinks you're trying to see if she's stealing. Say you're doing a little project to see if you can start saving money on household spending and want to record everything over the course of a few months. Ask her to write down what she's spent and what it was on.