Paying 13yo neighbor to water flowers for two weeks?

[Anonymous]

I'd do $20/week.

[Anonymous]

Be fair to the 13 year old. For $20 would you really show up....mine would not. They know the value of money and make more babysitting or petsiting. It is also valuing the kid and treating someone kindly...would you want that for your kid. I would.

[Anonymous]

It's hard to remember to do something every day at that age -- $5 per day would be worth it.

[Anonymous]

If it really only takes a few minutes, I'd give him $30 for the two weeks. My son is 12 and that is a lot of money to him. He would be thrilled to get $30 for something that takes so little time and energy.

[Anonymous]

Why does age matter? He is doing a JOB. I would pay based on minimum wage and minimum 30 min increments.

For safety sake I would have him move some stuff around, take trash cans back and forth, turn porch light on off, set up sprinkler and move around, etc.

Think of it as insurance.

Also politely ask him not mention to his friends what he is doing. He may innocently tell a friend, who innocently tells an not so innocent older sibling about a vacant house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does age matter? He is doing a JOB. I would pay based on minimum wage and minimum 30 min increments.

For safety sake I would have him move some stuff around, take trash cans back and forth, turn porch light on off, set up sprinkler and move around, etc.

Think of it as insurance.

Also politely ask him not mention to his friends what he is doing. He may innocently tell a friend, who innocently tells an not so innocent older sibling about a vacant house.

Age matters because those under 18 do not pay income taxes, and because other rules apply to younger employees. In Maryland, those under age 20 need only be paid 85% of minimum wage. I think this is perfectly just. Higher wages should be reserved for adults, who are required to pay taxes, and who also have more financial responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be fair to the 13 year old. For $20 would you really show up....mine would not. They know the value of money and make more babysitting or petsiting. It is also valuing the kid and treating someone kindly...would you want that for your kid. I would.

Wow. Mine would, because we raised them with the value of helping others out. Heck, they'd do it for free, because it's the right thing to do - money is nice, but they would not expect it.

I'd be so very disappointed in my kids (and myself, for raising them that way) if a neighbor asked them to water their flowers and they refused because the pay wasn't good enough.

[Anonymous]

If he spends 15 minutes there a day, minimum wage would be about $30 for the two weeks in Maryland (less if in VA, more in DC).

Math - 8.50 x .25 x 14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends how much you like the flowers.

I'd offer $7/day. Same hourly wage as a mother's helper. Yes, it's only a couple of minutes, but you are also paying for reliability

A mother's helper makes $210 an hour?

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old would be thrilled at $15-20 per week. I wouldn't pay less than $30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does age matter? He is doing a JOB. I would pay based on minimum wage and minimum 30 min increments.

For safety sake I would have him move some stuff around, take trash cans back and forth, turn porch light on off, set up sprinkler and move around, etc.

Think of it as insurance.

Also politely ask him not mention to his friends what he is doing. He may innocently tell a friend, who innocently tells an not so innocent older sibling about a vacant house.

Age matters because those under 18 do not pay income taxes, and because other rules apply to younger employees. In Maryland, those under age 20 need only be paid 85% of minimum wage. I think this is perfectly just. Higher wages should be reserved for adults, who are required to pay taxes, and who also have more financial responsibilities.

So when you move to Florida and take the exact same job, you are ok with making less because you don't have to pay state income tax.

[Anonymous]

$10 per day is a reasonable rate. That is what our neighbors pay my 13 year old DC when they go out of town. We thought it was too much but it sounds like a nice thing to do, especially if your flowers stay healthy in this extreme heat for two weeks then that means he did a good job.

[Anonymous]

Wow - I pay the preteens next door $15 a day to watch our pets which involves much more than watering plants once a day and they always seem eager to do it. It adds up if we are gone for awhile and they are happy when I drop off $50-60.

$5 bucks a day seems like plenty. Over 2 weeks that would add up to $70 which is good money for a 13 year old.

Also, I second what the poster above said, I expect my kids to be willing to help out our neighbors and to commit to a job they accept not just to be motivated if the pay out is high enough.

[Anonymous]

I'd pay $25 per week. $50 for not much work is great! (Hell, I'll do it!) Especially for kids, who often don't have ways of earning money. Watering is fun, too.

[Anonymous]

I don’t worry about who ‘should’ be paid what at which age. If you’re fortunate enough to have a good neighbor whose kids are willing & reliable - be generous!! Remember how good it felt when you were a kid (12-15)& an Aunt gave you $20 for some small job?? I felt proud & it inspired me to ask for other jobs to do. Tell the kid how much you appreciate the help & are happy with the work! And give him $50 or whatever you’d pay an adult.