Please stop trying to artificially inflate wages

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Truth is a $10/hr nanny is not a crime. Some people can live comfortable and happily on $10 an hour and be good at their job and be reliable and trustworthy. If they want to work for it and the family wants to pay it why can't you let everyone be happy. $10 or $12 or $14 an hour are not slave wages.

I think living on $10 an hour is much more challenging than you might think. I have a full-time job that pays $12.00/hour and do babysitting to make ends meet. I don't see how I could survive in the U.S. without assistance on $10/hour. That would be only $1600/month before taxes and insurance. Even if no one ever gets sick, the car never breaks down and the appliances keep running, that is a very, very difficult amount to live off of even if one has no debt.

At $12/hour, we use only grocery sacks instead of trashbags even in the kitchen because it saves us about $50.00-$75.00 per year. We absolutely cannot afford to snack between meals EVER; often I go without one meal a day to make things stretch farther for my child. Being invited to parties, showers and weddings is a burden because even the cost of a card is not in our budget. Some of you might say "So what; you have a roof over your head and a lot of people have a lot less." This is true, but after years of living like this, it does tend to wear on a person. Sometimes you want to be able to tell your child, yes you can go see that movie with your friends. Sometimes you want to be able to eat meat more than once a week. We make the best of it. The house might be set on 62 in the winter because that's what we can afford, but it's an excuse to cuddle up on the couch together reading books from the library. Walks to the park give us plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sometimes you just want to be able to have ice cream for dessert, though, and unfortunately, it's not in the budget. I don't know how I could do it on even less an hour. Hats off to those who think they can!

[Anonymous]

This part from the above post was not meant to be in the quote:

I think living on $10 an hour is much more challenging than you might think. I have a full-time job that pays $12.00/hour and do babysitting to make ends meet. I don't see how I could survive in the U.S. without assistance on $10/hour. That would be only $1600/month before taxes and insurance. Even if no one ever gets sick, the car never breaks down and the appliances keep running, that is a very, very difficult amount to live off of even if one has no debt.

At $12/hour, we use only grocery sacks instead of trashbags even in the kitchen because it saves us about $50.00-$75.00 per year. We absolutely cannot afford to snack between meals EVER; often I go without one meal a day to make things stretch farther for my child. Being invited to parties, showers and weddings is a burden because even the cost of a card is not in our budget. Some of you might say "So what; you have a roof over your head and a lot of people have a lot less." This is true, but after years of living like this, it does tend to wear on a person. Sometimes you want to be able to tell your child, yes you can go see that movie with your friends. Sometimes you want to be able to eat meat more than once a week. We make the best of it. The house might be set on 62 in the winter because that's what we can afford, but it's an excuse to cuddle up on the couch together reading books from the library. Walks to the park give us plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sometimes you just want to be able to have ice cream for dessert, though, and unfortunately, it's not in the budget. I don't know how I could do it on even less an hour. Hats off to those who think they can!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This part from the above post was not meant to be in the quote:

I think living on $10 an hour is much more challenging than you might think. I have a full-time job that pays $12.00/hour and do babysitting to make ends meet. I don't see how I could survive in the U.S. without assistance on $10/hour. That would be only $1600/month before taxes and insurance. Even if no one ever gets sick, the car never breaks down and the appliances keep running, that is a very, very difficult amount to live off of even if one has no debt.

At $12/hour, we use only grocery sacks instead of trashbags even in the kitchen because it saves us about $50.00-$75.00 per year. We absolutely cannot afford to snack between meals EVER; often I go without one meal a day to make things stretch farther for my child. Being invited to parties, showers and weddings is a burden because even the cost of a card is not in our budget. Some of you might say "So what; you have a roof over your head and a lot of people have a lot less." This is true, but after years of living like this, it does tend to wear on a person. Sometimes you want to be able to tell your child, yes you can go see that movie with your friends. Sometimes you want to be able to eat meat more than once a week. We make the best of it. The house might be set on 62 in the winter because that's what we can afford, but it's an excuse to cuddle up on the couch together reading books from the library. Walks to the park give us plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sometimes you just want to be able to have ice cream for dessert, though, and unfortunately, it's not in the budget. I don't know how I could do it on even less an hour. Hats off to those who think they can!

Thank you for posting!! You seem to be a very happy person.
I hope things improve for you but I love that you are ok with things (by ok I mean you are accepting of where you happen to be at the moment). I feel you are one who just smiles all day, that is rare!!!

[Anonymous]

Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

[Anonymous]

stop being ridiculous! if you cannot afford it just stay home and take care of your children! You cannot tell people how they can buy a Mercedes and not a Nissan because you cannot purchase it. It's a choice. You can have a nanny for $10 and you will have what you pay for!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will always be nanny jobs at all ends of the spectrum salary wise. Comparing nanny jobs to what the State pays through Medicare is just silly.

Just because you and your friends pay $10-$12/hr, doesn't mean that there aren't people paying $20-$22/hr. Everyone has different priorities and will pay more for different things (education, experience, etc.) If you are happy with the quality of care you are receiving at $10/hr, why are you worried about the people paying $18/hr?

I know my current family values education and wanted a nanny with a degree and extensive nanny experience. They also believe it's important for their nanny to be able to live comfortably on the salary they pay.

No ones saying those rates aren't out there. I'm sure theres some celebrity somewhere paying $100 an hour for their nanny, that has absolutely no bearing on this. Were talking average rates. When someone in DC posts on this forum asking for advice they should be told an average rate, such as $12 an hour. The posters on here are doing everyone a disservice by telling parents they must pay $20 an hour to be able to find someone, and then shaming people that can only afford $10/hr into believing having a nanny is a luxury for the 1% and they should just stuff their kids in daycare.

Truth is a $10/hr nanny is not a crime. Some people can live comfortable and happily on $10 an hour and be good at their job and be reliable and trustworthy. If they want to work for it and the family wants to pay it why can't you let everyone be happy. $10 or $12 or $14 an hour are not slave wages.

Again, I'll say if you are happy with your $10/hr nanny then why are you worried about what anyone else is paying? My advice to parents always to advertise whatever rate they think they want to pay and see what kind of candidates you attract. If you get several candidates that have the qualifications and experience you are looking for, then your rate is on track for your area and your job. On the other hand if you get candidates that you are not happy with then it might be time to take a look at your expectations and make sure your salary is in line. Nanny care is the most expensive form of childcare and it's not supposed to be for everyone.

Living on $10/hr in any major metro area in the United States is tough. Think about how much money after taxes that is for someone and how much rent, food, etc. is in those places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

OP here, I am a part time nanny. I make $25 an hour, but I have been doing this for 12 years. My point still stands that the starting salary shouldn't be $18-22 an hour. The average normal nanny salary starts at ~$12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

OP here, I am a part time nanny. I make $25 an hour, but I have been doing this for 12 years. My point still stands that the starting salary shouldn't be $18-22 an hour. The average normal nanny salary starts at ~$12.

Give me a break! You want us to believe that a nanny making $25/hr started this thread? We are not stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

OP here, I am a part time nanny. I make $25 an hour, but I have been doing this for 12 years. My point still stands that the starting salary shouldn't be $18-22 an hour. The average normal nanny salary starts at ~$12.

Every job is different. There are a hundred little things that can determine what rate a family needs to offer in order to attract good candidates for their position. You seem to be saying that no matter how much experience, education or special skills a nanny has we should start our jobs at $10-12/hr. That's just not how it works. I have a Master's Degree, excellent references and almost 15 years of experience. I'm not going to start any new position at $10-12/hr.

Now if your argument is that newer less experienced nannies should be making less than those who have more experience, education, skills, etc. then your argument has some credence.

[Anonymous]

Please stop trying to artificially lower wages. Assuming you can pay little and get the world is insulting. Supply and demand, friend. Sure some families are okay with less than great nannies- they shouldn't pay $20-22/hour for that. You want greatness? Quit acting like you can get it cheap while you make a lot of money to sit and read DCUM at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

OP here, I am a part time nanny. I make $25 an hour, but I have been doing this for 12 years. My point still stands that the starting salary shouldn't be $18-22 an hour. The average normal nanny salary starts at ~$12.

Most nannies on this forum seem to have years of experience and college degrees. I myself have over 15 years experience and a degree. Your post makes no sense. You can make 25 but we must all settle for 12.

[Anonymous]

OP you need to better understand government reimbursement before talking about it. There is a crital shortage of doctors in the Medicaid program because the government reimburses at 80% of COST when it bothers to reimburse at all. The government is a poor example of acceptable payment practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

OP here, I am a part time nanny. I make $25 an hour, but I have been doing this for 12 years. My point still stands that the starting salary shouldn't be $18-22 an hour. The average normal nanny salary starts at ~$12.

Most nannies on this forum seem to have years of experience and college degrees. I myself have over 15 years experience and a degree. Your post makes no sense. You can make 25 but we must all settle for 12.

LOL this made me a laugh. Most "nannies" on HERE do NOT have a college degree nor do they have any actual experience. Plus based on their postings and behavior they are highly immature so I wouldn't expect them to get hired easily or make good wages which is probably what contributes to most of the BS on this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do for a career? Are you a nanny? Do you employ a nanny? If so what rate do you pay or receive ? Just curious .

OP here, I am a part time nanny. I make $25 an hour, but I have been doing this for 12 years. My point still stands that the starting salary shouldn't be $18-22 an hour. The average normal nanny salary starts at ~$12.

Most nannies on this forum seem to have years of experience and college degrees. I myself have over 15 years experience and a degree. Your post makes no sense. You can make 25 but we must all settle for 12.

LOL this made me a laugh. Most "nannies" on HERE do NOT have a college degree nor do they have any actual experience. Plus based on their postings and behavior they are highly immature so I wouldn't expect them to get hired easily or make good wages which is probably what contributes to most of the BS on this board.

How do you know that?

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and just want to point out that for us, a lot of the decision to hire a nanny came from the fact that we needed only PT care and could not find a daycare nearby (we are in the DC area) which would allow us to enroll an infant PT. In other words, we would be paying for 60 hours a week of care and using 25-30.

This actually made sense financially when we had one kid. I think it averaged out to around $10-12 an hour. When we had a second, it made more sense to pay a nanny. We started out paying $17 an hour for 2 kids a few years ago.

The truth is that, yes, I think it would be very hard to live in the DC area on $15-18 an hour. I think it would be nearly impossible to live on $12 an hour without assistance. But that fact is not necessarily what drives how much employers can and will pay. Some families will not feel the need to hire someone with a college degree, etc, etc.