what house work are au pairs supposed to help with?

[lune77]

We are getting an aupair as I really need a hand with my two preschoolers... i mean i cant even take a bath if my husband's not there... now as i have to write a letter of invitation i have no clue which household chores she can help me with .. i would feel really embarrassed if i wrote ironing and then i am told that aupairs dont iron for you.....

NannyNanny, I think people here are counting the extra electricity used for lighting/washing/hot water etc, the cost of renting a furnished room bills inc in their area, car insurance. Food fads and forgetting to wrap the cheese

I can add to this a new cold water tank and immersion heater - dippy AP left immersion on for 2 days when the hot water comes on twice daily anyway and it burnt through the thermostat and melted a hole in my cold water tank. Also a new complete bathroom, including flooring, cupboards, floorboards, skirtings, bottom 6 inches of plaster, ceilings x from the rooms below (and whilst it was all ripped out we decided to put a new bath and loo in too the insurance did cover much of it, but the bathroom had only been done for 4 yrs) a different dippy AP.

I also used to have an AP that would put a couple of items in the w/machine and then tumble fry said 2 items.

The very fact that you are concerned about it means that you are a conscientious person who would not take advantage.

I can't believe some of these stories. I broke a bowl once. So I bought a new one.

Nannynanny - I'm sure you are more like my au pair who is very considerate compared to some stories I've heard (she's my first so I can't compare her with any others myself).
My au pair costs £365.50 per month in pocket money, £10 for mobile phone card, £150 for extra food, £25 for car insurance, £20 petrol, about £40 for meals out/treats. I'm not sure how much the electricity bill will increase but the oil (central heating) is going down the same speed as usual so I guess that not being switched 'on' when the rest of us are out...so somewhere in region of £650 per month.
But..she saves me £331 after school club, £130 dog walking, £114 car parking fees (because with AP in house dh can drive me to the station), and £107.50 for a cleaner, ie.£682 plus the occasional evening babysit .not to mention a hell of a lot of peace of mind eg. like this week dh has flown to Germanys and I have not had to take full days off work just to get the kids to school (or had to beg my boss to let me go to work late).
So however much you cost your host family it is possible that you are still a bargain!

my AP costs break down about £370 per month in pocket money. £80 in language school, £20 for mobile phone, £150 for food, £60 for petrol & train fares and about £70 for meals out with us, calls home, perscriptions, cosmetics etc. £30 gym we have noticed the heating oil is going down faster and the electricity bill has gone up - i don't use a hairdryer she does everyday, she also uses the tumble dryer a lot more, has lots more hot drinks and hot food during the day etc. she puts her washing on during the day, uses the internet ALL day, watches TV ALL day etc. we also pay extra for babysitting because we ask them to be around for half an hour at bathtime so one of the agreements is that they will do this instead of 2 nights but when we go out we pay them £4 per hour - cheaper than local sitters
however, i could not work if i did not have an AP and i do not want a nanny as we went down this route once before. If you get a good AP then they are worth their weight in gold - i think lots of famalies get an AP thinking they are a cheap childcare option - i do not think it is cheap just convinient to have your kids looked after in your own home and know that if there is an emergency you do not have to come home from work

englishspringer, why don't you want a nanny if i might ask?