Nanny kitty

[tankie]

What do you give your nanny/what does she spend as a kitty?

Nannies, what do you spend in a week?

I'm starting a new job and am their first nanny - mb asked me how much I want for a kitty and I'm not sure what to suggest. It's three days a week with a toddler.

The easiest system we've found is to run for the first month or so keeping all receipts, and have frequent catch-ups to talk about what you've done.

Make sure you're clear on the family's preferences about what you do with the child: what activities, outings, travel, snacks while out, whether they'll have all food in the house or they'd like you to be able to pick up emergency milk, nappies, etc - families will vary a lot on that on what they like - some will encourage a very out-and-about schedule, some will want to keep it quiet, close to home and minimal spend.

It'll end up somewhere between £15 and £50(!) a week is my guess.

I did say to the mum I'm quite a sociable out-and-about nanny at the interview and she seemed happy about that - I like to cook though so would expect to eat at home the vast majority of the time.

I was thinking a couple of toddler groups a week at £1.50, £3 a week for either swimming or softplay, £5 a week bus fares, £4 for miscellaeneous extras - so £15 for three days?

I care for two under5s, find £5 per day to be about right in terms of spending on activites/groups/outings.

I would go with Bink - keep really careful receipts/ records for a month and then cross check. MB and you might have very different ideas on how much coffee etc you would drink at her expense in your sociable out-and-about nanny role. If you're both clear it's a trial then you can adjust expectations without too much stress.

When the DCs were small, I paid for classes etc termly in advance and kept the kitty low. Just a matter of personal preference.

I wouldn't expect to pay for coffee from a nanny kitty

I was thinking of suggesting a music class one day a week that could be paid in advance - I prefer drop ins really though as you don't feel obligated to go if your charge is a bit under the weather, or there's something else special on that day.

Keeping track for a month and then checking seems the best way to go.

i have a credit card and put ALL exspenses on it to do with children and anything I spend when with then,ie drinks/lunch out/entrances to farm

I find having a credit card handy as I dont have to keep asking for money, obv ALL purchases are on statement so mb/db know where money goes

its handy when doing sains and putting petrol in their car which can cost £80+ and if i pick up dry cleaning etc for mb , then just put that on as well

i always mention a credit card at the interview, and one family was reluctant, and you could see they were worried i might steal money if i knew their pin code

erm i have your children, assume children more important than money??

it depends on how much i spend, sometimes few pounds, other weeks £20+ depending on activites etc

i also have a cash kitty for car parks etc, and just ask for top ups as and when i need it

i use my own money and get it paid back...

i spend anything between £0 and £10 in a term time week... (can occasionaky be more)

holidays vary depending on what we do...

last week, a 3 year old and a 5 year old i spent £3 for the entire week (my low record by far!)
today i spent £25 at the zoo on a special day out.

summer hols we have a special day out most weeks

and yes all of my cups of tea / lunches / ice cream / entry costs / car park etc are paid for by my bosses etc

and 40p per mile on petrol.... term time 200 miles a week, school holiday between 25 miles and 250 miles depending on who we see / where we go etc

Have money in a wee pot on the side thats topped up. I spend what I need and I write it down in the back of the childrens diaries which is really for my own use as sometimes I muddle up my money and their money and it just keeps it right. I always take my card out with me and if I need extra then I would just use mine and ask for it back.

I have a full time nanny. She gets £70 per month plus a bus pass which takes her anywhere in greater London. I have no idea if she buys her own coffee with that money. Anything I sign the kids up for and tell them to go to, I pay for separately (camp, tennis, dance class, swimming, etc.).

I get £20 a week for two under 3's, and its really not enough! I think £25-30 would be more than enough, mainly because my employer regularly asks me to pick up milk/bread/fruit/etc and on top of things like £5.50 weekly session at the ymca, and about £8 for the two playgroups we attend, im often left with little to nothing for spontaneous soft play outings etc, and i sometimes end up spending my money (and dont always get reimbursed - i hate asking for money owed so just cross my fingers they remember, which they USUALLY do). I dont buy coffee etc out of their kitty money, more than anything because there isnt enough of it. However my employer seems to be quite stressed and has a lot going on at the mo and im not keen to ask for a raise in the money in current financial circumstances! SO i would say maybe ask for SLIGHTLY more than you feel you need to give you a bit of flexibility but not TOO much more!

if you are regually picking up food shopping then you need to ask for more kitty money or ask for a credit card to pay for food, and then use cash kitty for your things with children

All irrelevant now as the mb has just emailed me to say she's changed her mind about giving me the job a week before I'm due to start!!!!

Seems to have happened to a few nannies recently

I think its shocking people do that so sorry hope u find something else

Oh no. Sorry.

Probably has more to do with the credit crunch than your abilities.

God don't you hate that, all going to have to turn up with contracts or letters and get them to sign them or pay a deposit and until you get it job not confirmed. As a maternity nanny thats what i'm doing.
Good luck

"All irrelevant now as the mb has just emailed me to say she's changed her mind about giving me the job a week before I'm due to start!!!!

Seems to have happened to a few nannies recently"

oh no tankie - what were her reasons?

what are you going to do?

A local childminder has a space available, and is obviously a lot cheaper!

It's getting to the point where I'm looking at live-in positions and only coming home at the weekends - DP isn't overly keen though!

It might be a blessing in disguise though I guess, there are more jobs about now than there were in December.

where are you tankie?

what a pain about the cm - surely the mum should have decided if she wanted a nanny or cm BEFORE offering you the job

tbh you are prob best out from there, if thats how she treats people,basically without a thought for them

would you really live in?