How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?

[Anonymous]

How to tactfully ask for a raise? Well honesty is the best policy. "I need more money."

Doing a good job, being friendly and chatty with the parents and having the kids like you is important. If the man is paying a little giggling and flirting goes a long way to soften the ole wallet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous and IMO the families are taking massive advantage unless you live in a a very LCOL area. She should charge $15 at a minimum and probably more like $18-$20.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How to tactfully ask for a raise? Well honesty is the best policy. "I need more money."

Doing a good job, being friendly and chatty with the parents and having the kids like you is important. If the man is paying a little giggling and flirting goes a long way to soften the ole wallet.

Gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shoot, 12 years ago I had an 8th grader in McLean ask for $20/hr to babysit.

That kid's mom probably got that rate off DCUM. I've seen many threads over the years with absolutely ridiculous prices for teen jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How to tactfully ask for a raise? Well honesty is the best policy. "I need more money."

Doing a good job, being friendly and chatty with the parents and having the kids like you is important. If the man is paying a little giggling and flirting goes a long way to soften the ole wallet.

Gross.

Guess that depends on how cute he is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all. Upon reading all the replies, I agree the approach of individually responding with her new rate when she's next contact by each client makes the most sense. FWIW, I believe the minimum wage was $10 or so in VA when she began, and part of selecting that rate was my feeling that a middle schooler new to babysitting probably shouldn't be making more than an adult in a minimum wage job, potentially supporting dependents. Of course, she probably should have updated the rates sooner, so we'll consider the input on how much her new rate should be!

Thanks for following up, OP. I also think ya'll have chosen the best tactic. Truthfully, she should consider going to $15/hr (+ extra per sibling), esp to new clients. We're MC in RVA and no one bats an eye at that price (and many, esp long time clients, even pay more...while longer, routine gigs negotiate a set fee).

+1. My sibling in Charlotte pays $20 for 3 kids to a teen that doesn’t drive. Good luck keeping a quality sitter around NoVa if you pay less than $15. Most families pay at least that a round up, because they want to maintain access to good teen sitters.

No need to overpay. Most teens will take a reasonable amount. And yes, anywhere between $12-$15 is reasonable. There isn’t some ultra high demand for 15-16 yr olds babysitters. Most people don’t use teen babysitters at all anymore. It’s occasional and pays better than them sitting at home on scrolling their phone.

$15 is not overpaying. A teen will only accept $12 until another family comes along willing to pay $15. My 17 year old no longer babysits because she can make $22-$24 working at a restaurant and the hours are more regular. So you have to take the 13-16 year old sitters before they move on.

I don’t think $15 is overpaying, but $20+ absolutely is

Please don't tell my daughter's clients that! $20 per hour is her starting rate. +$5 per hour per additional kid. She has all the work she cares to accept (in DC)