Going rate for teen shoveling?

[Anonymous]

I find the kids do best if they just let the owner pay them whatever they think is fair. Usually people err on the generous side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the difference is that it is a state of emergency where I am, and not a typical occurrence to have snow so deep that power is going out, the grocery stores were running out of food, roads are not passable, etc so the right thing to do in an "out of the norm" and possible emergent situation is to help the elderly without expecting payment.

If it was typical lawn mowing, getting mail, or things that are frequent and expected I would agree that a discounted rate would be appropriate, but in the case of a freak snowstorm it feels a bit predatory and opportunistic,
and therefore inappropriate to have your 12 year old out hustling an 85 year old lady for money for a safety issue such as slip/falls and the necessity of being able to get out of the house safely or allows others in safely.

Just my two cents and I realize the OP was not specifically asking about this situation.
Fwiw we called all of our elderly/widowed neighbors when my DH and teenage son walked to the store last night to see if anyone needed anything, and wouldn't think of trying to make money off a grocery delivery service. We have called every day and made sure their walks are shoveled (granted they are not driveways).
I would be mortified if my sons asked for money rather than just cleaning them off for a nice surprise when they look out the windows

Elderly who can afford it taking advantage of a 12 year old? Entitled.

?
I'm not sure you read what I actually wrote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the difference is that it is a state of emergency where I am, and not a typical occurrence to have snow so deep that power is going out, the grocery stores were running out of food, roads are not passable, etc so the right thing to do in an "out of the norm" and possible emergent situation is to help the elderly without expecting payment.

If it was typical lawn mowing, getting mail, or things that are frequent and expected I would agree that a discounted rate would be appropriate, but in the case of a freak snowstorm it feels a bit predatory and opportunistic,
and therefore inappropriate to have your 12 year old out hustling an 85 year old lady for money for a safety issue such as slip/falls and the necessity of being able to get out of the house safely or allows others in safely.

Just my two cents and I realize the OP was not specifically asking about this situation.
Fwiw we called all of our elderly/widowed neighbors when my DH and teenage son walked to the store last night to see if anyone needed anything, and wouldn't think of trying to make money off a grocery delivery service. We have called every day and made sure their walks are shoveled (granted they are not driveways).
I would be mortified if my sons asked for money rather than just cleaning them off for a nice surprise when they look out the windows

OP here.

Not one person on this thread is remotely suggesting having our middle schoolers going out trying to take advantage of the frail and elderly to make a quick buck and it is insulting for all these other posters to suggest otherwise.

The neighbors approached my son, in advance, about hiring him to shovel their driveways for this snowstorm. He did not approach any of them and quite honestly, usually shovels for free for the older neighbors. They asked him for his rate. He said it wasn't necessary but they insisted (likely because they know how heavy three feet of snow is, and also because they like the idea of giving the neighbor kid his first "job."

He usually does the neighbor lady for free, including earlier this week and even last night. For this snow, she is insisting upon paying him which I believe is fair given the amount of work. If he doesn't come up with a number she will likely come up with a larger one than my son asks for. Before my son got big enough to shovel she used to pay her lawn service to shovel her out.

He or any other kid getting paid to shovel today is NOT taking advantage of anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the difference is that it is a state of emergency where I am, and not a typical occurrence to have snow so deep that power is going out, the grocery stores were running out of food, roads are not passable, etc so the right thing to do in an "out of the norm" and possible emergent situation is to help the elderly without expecting payment.

If it was typical lawn mowing, getting mail, or things that are frequent and expected I would agree that a discounted rate would be appropriate, but in the case of a freak snowstorm it feels a bit predatory and opportunistic,
and therefore inappropriate to have your 12 year old out hustling an 85 year old lady for money for a safety issue such as slip/falls and the necessity of being able to get out of the house safely or allows others in safely.

Just my two cents and I realize the OP was not specifically asking about this situation.
Fwiw we called all of our elderly/widowed neighbors when my DH and teenage son walked to the store last night to see if anyone needed anything, and wouldn't think of trying to make money off a grocery delivery service. We have called every day and made sure their walks are shoveled (granted they are not driveways).
I would be mortified if my sons asked for money rather than just cleaning them off for a nice surprise when they look out the windows

Your kids are outside shoveling out all of the elderly/widowed neighbors on your street, huh? What perchance are you doing today?

[Anonymous]

I don't think the age of the snow remover is relevant. I used a snowblower to clear my driveway and walk way and it took me about 90 minutes.

Just because neighbors ask, doesn't mean he has to do it. I would suggest at least $80. But I would not let him charge an elderly neighbor more than $20, and I would make up the rest.

[Anonymous]

My 16 year old is asking $80 per driveway, but we live in an area with very long and wide driveways. It all depends on size of area and amount of snow. He is using a snowblower, so he will make a killing this storm. I actually think $100 is not unreasonable...it would take hours to shovel the driveways around here.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Michigan and my mother would have torn my ass up if I charged a neighbor to shovel their driveway...especially an elderly neighbor.
You people are raising a**holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Michigan and my mother would have torn my ass up if I charged a neighbor to shovel their driveway...especially an elderly neighbor.
You people are raising a**holes.

We plan to charge our elderly wealthy neighbor. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Michigan and my mother would have torn my ass up if I charged a neighbor to shovel their driveway...especially an elderly neighbor.
You people are raising a**holes.

We plan to charge our elderly wealthy neighbor. Thank you very much.

Youre proving my point.

[Anonymous]

It will literally take hours to shovel someone out. Hours. $80-100 is very reasonable. Professionals with snow blowers will work less and charge much more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will literally take hours to shovel someone out. Hours. $80-100 is very reasonable. Professionals with snow blowers will work less and charge much more.

Exactly my point. Yes, if you live in Michigan in a poor area, I think it is reasonable to help neighbors in a neighborly way. But, I am sorry. My wealthy neighbor who drives a Mercedes is going to pay my kid if he spends five hours shoveling her out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will literally take hours to shovel someone out. Hours. $80-100 is very reasonable. Professionals with snow blowers will work less and charge much more.

Exactly my point. Yes, if you live in Michigan in a poor area, I think it is reasonable to help neighbors in a neighborly way. But, I am sorry. My wealthy neighbor who drives a Mercedes is going to pay my kid if he spends five hours shoveling her out.

PP here. PS She is the one that asked the day before if he would do it. We have a snowblower. They have a housekeeper who cleans twice a week. They can pay my kid $100 easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the difference is that it is a state of emergency where I am, and not a typical occurrence to have snow so deep that power is going out, the grocery stores were running out of food, roads are not passable, etc so the right thing to do in an "out of the norm" and possible emergent situation is to help the elderly without expecting payment.

If it was typical lawn mowing, getting mail, or things that are frequent and expected I would agree that a discounted rate would be appropriate, but in the case of a freak snowstorm it feels a bit predatory and opportunistic,
and therefore inappropriate to have your 12 year old out hustling an 85 year old lady for money for a safety issue such as slip/falls and the necessity of being able to get out of the house safely or allows others in safely.

Just my two cents and I realize the OP was not specifically asking about this situation.
Fwiw we called all of our elderly/widowed neighbors when my DH and teenage son walked to the store last night to see if anyone needed anything, and wouldn't think of trying to make money off a grocery delivery service. We have called every day and made sure their walks are shoveled (granted they are not driveways).
I would be mortified if my sons asked for money rather than just cleaning them off for a nice surprise when they look out the windows

Your kids are outside shoveling out all of the elderly/widowed neighbors on your street, huh? What perchance are you doing today?

While I am thrilled that you saw the opportunity and ran with it to use the word "perchance", I wish you had written what I wrote and not snowballed it into something it was not intended to be. (Yes I saw my chance and took it as well). I specifically said I realized this was not what OP was talking about (still she responded indignantly) and acknowledged that my street does not have driveway and my kids were just shoveling the walks.
I will not tell you what I was doing all night and into this morning because it will make you look like a real jerk

(Ok fine I will:was at the ER working. We were slammed and I got called in)

[Anonymous]

In 2010, all because I had a $20 shovel, I got a used iPod, a gift card, and some wine from multiple neighbors. I wasn't expecting a thing, nor did I ask. I simply tried to make small talk with people and this was the end result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will literally take hours to shovel someone out. Hours. $80-100 is very reasonable. Professionals with snow blowers will work less and charge much more.

Exactly my point. Yes, if you live in Michigan in a poor area, I think it is reasonable to help neighbors in a neighborly way. But, I am sorry. My wealthy neighbor who drives a Mercedes is going to pay my kid if he spends five hours shoveling her out.

PP here. PS She is the one that asked the day before if he would do it. We have a snowblower. They have a housekeeper who cleans twice a week. They can pay my kid $100 easily.

So having money makes it unreasonable to help people in a neighborly way?
You have an oppurtunity to teach your child a lesson here. The lesson yore teaching? You should only do things for people if they're willing to pay you for it.
Simple human decency is a commodity.