CM food charges

[fido]

Can I ask CM how much would you charge to feed a one year old breakfast and lunch?

Hi,

I include all meals in my hourly charge but have other CM friends who charge £1 for breakfast and £1.50 for lunch.

Hope that helps.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa, that is what I've been quoted also. Seems quite expensive to me, he only has one weetabix for breakfast, but maybe that is the going rate.

I include it in my daily rate as I want us all to eat the same together as I also mind my own 21 month old. I think my daily rate is far too cheap though! Want to put it up a bit, but I also have to deliver the bombshell of being pregnant. I aim to keep on one under 5 a day, but be off for a month around due date. Wise? hmm should maybe start a new thread...

I ask parents to supply all their own food as some will use shops own makes and others only want organic. So I find this the easiest.

I charge £1.50 for a hot dinner. I encourage parents to bring a lunch as, like mumlove - like to give all organic food, or one of my mindees has a french mum who sends food that she is familar with at home.

I used to charge separately for meals, but it was such a pain that I just upped my rate and said it includes meals.

I include lunch in my fees, but charge 50p for breakfast and £1.50 for supper.
I originally started charging extra to put people off as I didn't really want to get in to doing breakfast etc! Maybe thats why she's said £1 for breakfast?!
I now think £1.50 for a hot meal is fairly cheap as with freshly cooked food and drinks and pudding it all adds up!
HTH

Hi, I charge £3.00 per hour to include all food and drinks, I do sandwiches at lunchtime and a hot meal for dinner also snacks...

thebody, forgive me, but how on earth do you earn a living from that?? I honestly can't understand how childminders are able to charge such low rates - do you have anything left after all your expenses?? I'm in London and charge around £5 per hour and don't do meals, only snacks and drinks. Makes me feel like I should offer it as so many do, but would have to up my rate by at least £2 an hour which is ludicrous.

I charge £1 breakfast, £1.50 for lunch and £2 for tea, people do find it expensive apparently, but if they want to supply their own then they are free to do that, i think for a 1yo though i would look at doing a deal iykwim

hth

Thanks, interesting to hear your responses. I am currently providing his food, breakfast and lunch, and it certainly dosen't cost me £2.50 so think I'll carry on dong that.
Snooch, surely you mean an increase of £2 per day, not per hour! I'm in London and think £5 per hour is quite a lot.

God yes Fido, I meant per day! I'm in Southfields, close to Wimbledon and the going rate is £4.50 to £6 per hour...most of the childminders offer meals though. I wouldn't expect parents to pay more than £5 per hour but honestly couldn't afford to offer meals as well - can only mind one child at a time as I have (or will soon have - am on maternity leave at the moment) two children of my own under 5 and don't want to do before or after school care for over 5's....so won't be earning very much as it is.

i charge £25 a month, that covers all food, outings to soft play and stuff and i go on 1 big trip a month to the zoo, or sea life center or something. i charge less for part timers tho.

Snooch (you're my neighbour! wherabouts are you in Southfields?) I charge £5-£6 an hour, which includes all meals (3-4 kids each day). I am open 7am to 7pm so parents need me to provide all the food.

Crumbs! Up North it's between £3 and £4/hour

JenniPenni, I am on "The Grid" - Trentham Street. Love it here but sadly we may have to move at some point this year as our little flat is too small with the new baby on the way. Hoping something will come up within our budget (we rent) but if not will be moving to Surrey, probably Reigate (DH works in Kingswood, 10 minutes away from there). How on earth do you manage to cook with 4 kids running around?? I find it difficult enough with just DS hanging on my leg and moaning! But then again, at 39 weeks pregnant my patience is running rather thin....

Snooch I am by the common, in Inner Park Rd!

The trick is to ensure the kids arent running around when cooking! haha. They have their routine - tidy up time and then read stories whilst I cook. It's all open plan so works really well... we are all in sight of eachother all the time, so there's no need for them to be with me in the kitchen.

Read stories....? I wish....my three, all between 12 and 18 months when I was minding, couldn't look at books on their own for more than 30 seconds at a time Also, the kitchen and the play area are on opposite sides of the house! That's something we'll definitely be on the look out for when we move - open plan living!!

Yes, open plan is so child friendly and helps LOADS!!!

I'm in South East, charge £4ph and all snacks and meals are included in the price. I used to charge £1.50 for an evening meal but decided to stop charging and just put down as expenses on tax return.

I charge £1.25 for evening meal and breakfast - if they want it they have to provide it (I have a cupboard full of children's cereals and special bread etc!). Why don't you suggest you provide her with a box of weetabix at the start of the week?

forgot to say - I include lunch in my hourly rate

I charge £2 for lunch, £2.50 for dinner. £1.50 breakfast.
The charge isnt just for the food, its for preparing it planning what we will have and often offering a variation for that particular child due to likes/dislikes/diet whatever. Although children dont eat much and so it seems that a charge of £2.50 is expensive, i find that it does make a significant difference in the ammount we get through as a family if i am also feeding even one extra child of one year.
Also, i cook everything from scratch, and everything is cooked fresh, so I think it's reasonable to charge the above prices for it.