How to ask host family for a raise?

[LoveFromLiz]

I'm an au pair, and I've been with this great family in the UK for just over 2 months now.
The only problem is they only pay me 50 pounds a week for 30-35 hours of work a week. (Only 60p and hour if I work only 30 hours)
This is enough to get me by for the week but there is no way I'm able to save money for university next year which is why I chose to become an au pair in the first place.
I understand I shouldn't be paid too much as the family pays for my utilities and food but I still need to buy lunch and tickets for public transport.
I've actually lost money since starting this job.
How can I ask for just a little bit more money without sounding rude? If I can't get a bit more money I'm going to have to find a new family, which I really don't want to do.

How much childcare do you do? How old are you? They are not paying you enough. Simply ask to talk to them and explain that you may need a reference as you are looking for other posts. Explain that it is regrettable because you love working with then and their children but need to earn a little more. If they want you they will bite and offer a rise.

And it works out at one pound and sixty pence per hour for 30hrs btw

Is that what you signed up for though? If they advertised that many hours for that wage, you should have checked before accepting whether it was viable financially.
I agree they aren't paying you enough though.

Why are you buying lunch? Food is included isn't it?

Seems rather low, would have expected it to be around the 100 pounds a week mark, though it does vary and host families do discuss what pocket money they will provide in exchange for childcare/housekeeping duties.

If it is resulting in you considering leaving, then tell them that. However they may well decide to let you leave, so do have a plan of where to go.

I think you do need to ask for a review - as Sleepyhoglet suggests.

www.aupair-world.co.uk/index.php/au_pair/pocketmoney

www.bapaa.org.uk/displaypage.asp?page=31

£70-85 appears to be the norm according to the links above.

However I really doubt that you will be able to save much for university next year - it isn't the right kind of job to do that. Didn't you check that out before signing up?

£50 is at the very low end

There's no point looking at it as an hourly rate as isn't how it is

An au pair is meant to be part of the family so gets food, accommodation etc

I have an au pair and am paying over double what you are getting for similar hours

Why are you buying lunch ? Can't you take food from their home? I would expect my au pair to eat whatever and have told them as such

What did they advertise the job at?

As others have said, hourly rate is irrelevant, however £50 is extremely low. TBH, I'd just find another family because they probably realise that they are ripping you off and will replace you as soon as you ask for a raise.

Though saving for uni is a bit ambitious, AP wages are more pocket money, they aren't supposed to be full wages.

Could you become a junior nanny instead? If you have childcare experience it should be a goer. you'd be looking at £250-300 npw live in in London.
I can't get my head around being an au pair tbh.

You really shouldn't be buying your own lunch, most London au pairs would also get transport costs covered. Your English seems very good and you could easily get another position that pays £100 for 30 hours. Its not a job as such though and you shouldn't really be expecting to save for university unless the family are open to you getting another job.

Why did you accept a position for such a low rate? Its fairly easy to see from au pair world what the going rate is.

If they are a great family then they should be open to you asking for more.