Is £8 too much or reasonable???

[vix1]

Im going to start advertising as a Babysitter in and around the Newbury, Berkshire area, would you say that £8 an hour is reasonable or too much?
Im qualified, police checked, excellent references, and drive, if that helps!

Comments appreciated

I think that is quite a high price. Maybe if it was just for a couple of hours after school it would be ok, otherwise, surely not many people could afford that fee full time? I live in quite a wealthy area of London and am a childminder. As I am just starting out I'm only charging £5 per hour but even the experienced cms in this area only charge £6 per hour. Is there a local forum you could internet ask on? I guess it just depends on what everyone is charging so that you can be in line with that really (unless you find some rich parents )

Hope this helps

We pay a babysitter with the same qualifications as you £7 per hour, and that is in London.
Have you tried looking at babysitter agency websites ( Is Sitters still around?) to see what they charge.
Will you only want jobs for a minimum number of hours? I know that some agency babysitters will charge for a minimum of 4 hours, but our babysitter gets a lot more work by being happy to do 2 or 3 hours if it's local.

Far too much, i am in tilehurst and the going rate is 5.50 ph. i am very well trained, police checked and a Registered Childminder aswell.

Drop your rates or you will price yourself out of work.

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I have a full time job, so only doing evenings and weekends really

sitters website says £5.85 per hour for 4 hours min, plus £4 booking fee (so about 6.85 per hour for 4 hours).

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too much. I pay £6 an hour in sw london

I thought it was a bit much, but other Nannies are saying that is what they would charge. I think I may advertise at that rate, and see what happens, I will let u all know if you need to up your prices or if i need to lower mine!
I cant afford to go much lower cuz the reason I am doing it is to save up for a deposit on a house!
Thanks for advice though

In the South East a nanny I know charges £6 an hour. That is why we don't use babysitters - it costs more to pay them than to actaully go out!!

I know, I really dont know how people afford to do it!! But that is why im pricing quite high, people who can afford that wont worry too much, prob. cheep for them!!

I think it's too high. At least it is more than I would pay. But, there's no harm in advertising this rate, and if you get customers, then great. If you don't, then you can lower the offering until you find the amount that people are willing to pay.

£8 seems fine to me - you are looking after someone's child !!

it annoys me that childminders/babysitters are so badly paid, it is an important job. You get what you pay for. people are quick to moan when they get bad staff but aren't willing to pay for them.

far too much .. in London wouldn't pay more than £5 an hour .. hth

qualified, police checked, references, driver, you would pay the plumber or gardener more than the person looking after your child?

its a babysitter .. they sit in your house eating your food and drinking your coffee, watching your tv whilst the children sleep .. your damn right I would

you're

It would depend on the type of babysitting. If it was while the child was awake and needed entertaining or feeding etc then £8 is reasonable, if it was just to watch over them while they slept i would say nearer £6-6.50. My child is worth every penny i would pay. Having said that i am required to entertain and socially educate a 3 and a half year old as a childminder and only get £4ph!!!!

£4ph is awful !!

Is your day job child related?

also baby-sitting is optional - if the going rate is too high people won't use the service. they'll stya at home instead

I think it is up to the babysitter to decide whether or not £4/hour is worth her time and effort. If she thinks it's beneath her she/he can always turn the job down.

I, personally, have a budget limit of £6. Normally pay £5.