11:38, that's kind of how I've rationalized it. My MIL (and my parents, etc) don't NEED anything and the gift is really more of a token. I assume my cleaning lady can use her $80 a lot more than my MIL can use an extra $50 or whatever budgeted towards her gift. I think the same things when I read about how much people gift to their children's teachers (like $100 to each of several teachers, etc). My kids are too young for that yet, but there is just no way I will have the budget to do that!

I'm guessing your cleaning lady doesn't have the same lifestyle as your MIL, though?

We are also doing one extra payment as bonus.

NP here. I am going to give our ladies one week's pay as a bonus, but sometimes I wonder-I don't budget that much for my parents or siblings for a gift. Doesn't that seem a little backwards? My cleaning lady is getting a more expensive Christmas gift than my mother in law?

Anonymous wrote:OP here - so the cosensus is that I should give her a bonus of $90 (equal to one cleaning) and also have her come the week I'm gone?

*sigh* I'm so broke. Any other opinions?

I don't think you have to do this. We don't pay service companies when we are out of town and this lady is probably glad to have you as a client.

FWIW: we gave our cleaning lady double one week as bonus.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - so the cosensus is that I should give her a bonus of $90 (equal to one cleaning) and also have her come the week I'm gone?

*sigh* I'm so broke. Any other opinions?

You could have her come that week you are gone and then give her a bonus in January. Better late than never.

OP here - so the cosensus is that I should give her a bonus of $90 (equal to one cleaning) and also have her come the week I'm gone?

*sigh* I'm so broke. Any other opinions?

I would have her come as well. I love coming home to a clean house! And yes, I typically give the price of one cleaning.

I would have her come anyway, and come home to a clean house. Yes, double the week's wages for a tip.

We pay $130 up from $110. I plan on giving $100. Normally I say double the pay, up to 100.

That's tricky about having her not come.

We had our housekeeper skip this week so that she will be able to come clean while we are out of town. Nothing better than coming home to a freshly cleaned house after a long road trip. Ours charges $100 per visit so we are giving her a $100 bonus. I hope that's ok because that's really all that we can afford after paying 4 daycare teachers and a regular babysitter their holiday gifts.

We pay our housecleaner $90 every other week.

Two questions -

1. How much should I give for a holiday gift?
2. We are going to be out of town over xmas week and I was going to ask the cleaner not to come - but then she loses wages, so I almost feel like whatever we give her in bonus is not going to make up for the lost wages. Should I just have her come that week anyhow? Should I pay her for that week AND give her a bonus?

What to do? If we had tons of cash, I would just give her a big bonus and tell her to take the week off. Wish we had tons of cash!