How much should I offer?

[TheVeryHungryPreggo]

I'm new to the whole nanny thing, but we are moving away from our lovely nursery (I'm broken-hearted!) to somewhere with a longer commute, so won't be able to do nursery drop off and still make it to work by 9am.

I work 3 days a week and would need childcare for a baby and 3 year old from 8-6pm (older child likely to go to preschool for a couple of mornings). So 3 x 10 hour days.

Additional babysitting one evening a week or maybe a half day during the week once in a while on my days off so I can run some errands/get a haircut!

We will have a granny annex with its own ensuite and kitchen/sitting room, so the nanny could live in and she would be expected to have breakfast or evening meals separately to the family.

It's South East, not exactly London, more Kent but inside the M25.

Some parts of Kent, like Sevenoaks, can be rather costly areas and other parts like Maidstone are lower, so location will play a big part.

How much experience an applicant has will also vary what salary they expect. Someone from a nursery background in their first nanny job may accept £8 gross where as someone with many years experience may be wanting £12 gross or more.

Have you calculated what you can afford to pay? Offer below what you can afford so you have room for a pay increase later on.

If you offer it as a live in position you could probably get away with around £300 net per week on the understanding that nanny could supplement her income by taking other jobs on the other two days.

More Bromley than Sevenoaks!

Do you think £300 net per week is about right for three full days and one evening's babysitting then, if accommodation and bills (and breakfasts/lunches/snacks but not evening meals) are included?

I could start at that and raise to £350pw after a year or two if things carry on well.

It just seems so expensive when we have a lovely nursery here that would cost about £1000pm for two children for three days, with DS getting the 15 hours now. And I do worry about socialising him when we haven't moved yet and I don't even know what provision there is for activities in the area.

I earn £14,500 a year because I work part time. I thought this was best of all worlds, as it covered nursery, let me keep my hand in but still allowed me time with DCs, but now I'm thinking I might need to jack it in.

What about a childminder? Most will start at 7:30 some earlier and you may be able to use your 15 hours. I think hourly rate in Bromley is around £6-£6.50/hr per child but no additional costs and if you find one near the school your eldest will go to they can continue (with a big drop in your bill!)

Au pair and nursery?

It all depends on age and experience of the nanny. I'm live in, have loads of experience and earn a live out wage.

A younger nanny or a nursery worker looking for her first nanny job can be £7:50-£9 gross per hour, although nannies usually work for a weekly wage rather than hourly.

If you took on a younger nanny for £8:50 and hour, that would work out at £255 for 3 days plus employers NI. That would work out at £13,143 per annum. But you should be entitled to tax credits (or whatever they are calling them now!) although I have no idea how much you might be entitled to.

Remember to figure in the hidden costs of a nanny!

If you can offer accommodation and it's only a 3 day position, I actually think 300GBP net a week is actually a lot and I don't see why you shouldn't be able to find someone.

I'm in Bromley. We pay £11 gross per hour for 10.5 hours a day, three times a week.

That is a live out salary.