Childminders did I just do the right thing re pay(vouchers)?

[MilaMae]

Hi one of my clients pay by vouchers a month in arrears. Recently £40 deficit has run up as the monthly voucher didn't quite cover it so I asked for it in addition to the voucher.

Client said over all I'll be fine as I don't do holidays will work out eventually.The thing is it will be a while until I build up enough to pay the deficit iykwim. Client is lovely, very honest and I know them well but I just said I'd prefer to settle the shortfall now so he gave me half.

What do you all do when hours are different every month and you're paid by voucher?

I bill monthly in advance and if the vouchers don't cover it then the parents have to pay it from their own pocket.

By billing in arrears, if a parent left without notice you could lose a lot of money.

The way I look at it is, if you get a taxi you can't chose to only pay the taxi driver half. You provide a service and you deserve to be paid.

I know we all have times where it is hard to make ends meet but the parents should be finding other area to trim back on - refusing to pay what you owe your childminder should not be an area you "trim back".

I would eat beans on toast for a month if I meant all my bills got paid.

Sorry if this sounds harsh it just gets my goat that parents think they can treat you like this.

I ask the parents to start saving them as soon as they meet me so they can stockpile a month or so and then I ask for 2 weeks in advance paid into my account. Never had a problem and it works well.
I would ask that they make it up themselves and then in the future a lesson learned to always start in advance, cash if necessary its not our problem that they haven't got enough in vouchers.