Common Items Provided By Host Families vs. Perks

[Anonymous]

We pay $196 per week (our LCC suggested that 195.75 is petty so to round up to 196 or 200. We do 200 with occasional "thank you" or "bonus" cash). We pay for toilet paper and hand soap for her bathroom. We pay for the cell phone and all kid activities and a few extra grocery requests per week. We've had 9 great au pairs. No problems with this.

I'm trying to match now and I have had 2 candidates with APIA ask me how much we pay which I found odd. I've never had that question before. I wonder if this is going to become an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s only $200/week??

The official stipend amount is $195.75

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow so you pay her $50 extra/month and she ungrateful and wants more? I wouldn't be able to tolerate that, please rematch she is spoiled brat!

It’s 50 extra a week!

Sorry i meant a month, yeah your AP is crazy !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pay $196 per week (our LCC suggested that 195.75 is petty so to round up to 196 or 200. We do 200 with occasional "thank you" or "bonus" cash). We pay for toilet paper and hand soap for her bathroom. We pay for the cell phone and all kid activities and a few extra grocery requests per week. We've had 9 great au pairs. No problems with this.

I'm trying to match now and I have had 2 candidates with APIA ask me how much we pay which I found odd. I've never had that question before. I wonder if this is going to become an issue.

It’s probably the fault of families like mine, that struggled to match. The agencies told me to say upfront we pay more so I started to.

[Anonymous]

You are generous. We pay the standard stipend + gym membership, 1/2 of her gas (car is for her use and also to drive kids), phone, and groceries.

When we match we probe for comparison shopping and tend to weed out the ones who are trying to milk HFs dry with perks.

[Anonymous]

The best AP relationships I’ve had are with APs who were interested in developing a relationship with the family. Comparison shopping for host families will only lead to entitlement and dissatisfaction-- there are other HFs out there who are offering different perks, so the AP will always feel short-changed. My APs visit year after year, tearfully saying goodbye after each visit, and it’s not because of perks.

[Anonymous]

I would buy toilet paper, soap and other basics for her bathroom - you can get a kirkland brand big shampoo and conditioner pretty cheaply and if they want something more they can buy it.

[Anonymous]

We pay $250/wk and she has a separate credit card she uses for all child expenses. I allow her to also use that for all her personal gas. She has a dedicated car as well. We invite her out to dinner when we go (she usually doesnt go, she has a social life) and take her on our vacations of she wants (most of them prefer to only go 50% of the time if it is somewhere "cool") we also go skiing in Utah every winter, but DO NOT pay for lift tix or rentals, just flight and hotel. We also give her off when we are off, so all fed holidays. Vacation totals 2 weeks in summer, 10 days Christmas, and a week at spring break. Our current AP is back in Germany with her family this Christmas.

Indomt think our package is that amazing, but also not bare bones. We have known APs who have incredible set ups, including a nanny for the younger kid and a live in housekeeper/cook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pay $250/wk and she has a separate credit card she uses for all child expenses. I allow her to also use that for all her personal gas. She has a dedicated car as well. We invite her out to dinner when we go (she usually doesnt go, she has a social life) and take her on our vacations of she wants (most of them prefer to only go 50% of the time if it is somewhere "cool") we also go skiing in Utah every winter, but DO NOT pay for lift tix or rentals, just flight and hotel. We also give her off when we are off, so all fed holidays. Vacation totals 2 weeks in summer, 10 days Christmas, and a week at spring break. Our current AP is back in Germany with her family this Christmas.

Indomt think our package is that amazing, but also not bare bones. We have known APs who have incredible set ups, including a nanny for the younger kid and a live in housekeeper/cook.

You don't think $250/week plus gas, food and vacations ...PLUS 5 weeks paid vacation is amazing? Seriously, this program is out of control.

[Anonymous]

Some APs like to put ideas in their AP friends' heads--especially if they see that others have a better relationship with their HF than they do. That's when they start boasting about perks . The maturer ones will be able to see right through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some APs like to put ideas in their AP friends' heads--especially if they see that others have a better relationship with their HF than they do. That's when they start boasting about perks . The maturer ones will be able to see right through this.

Yeah, two of our APs friends have wanted to rematch after seeing our relationship with her. We pay the basic stipend. No ski trips. No 5 weeks vacation.

[Anonymous]

I offered nothing extra and got 3 great APs who extended. I am shocked when i read this stuff -- and realize just how utterly lucky I got. My greatest emphasis in the interview process is that my AP be basically a big loving sister to my baby/toddler daughter. They could speak their own language to her if they preferred.. No big emphasis on educational aspects or the like -- that's my job. Just love and safety. I got it. My APs loved my lack of demands, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We pay $250/wk and she has a separate credit card she uses for all child expenses. I allow her to also use that for all her personal gas. She has a dedicated car as well. We invite her out to dinner when we go (she usually doesnt go, she has a social life) and take her on our vacations of she wants (most of them prefer to only go 50% of the time if it is somewhere "cool") we also go skiing in Utah every winter, but DO NOT pay for lift tix or rentals, just flight and hotel. We also give her off when we are off, so all fed holidays. Vacation totals 2 weeks in summer, 10 days Christmas, and a week at spring break. Our current AP is back in Germany with her family this Christmas.

Indomt think our package is that amazing, but also not bare bones. We have known APs who have incredible set ups, including a nanny for the younger kid and a live in housekeeper/cook.

You don't think $250/week plus gas, food and vacations ...PLUS 5 weeks paid vacation is amazing? Seriously, this program is out of control.

Exactly! And this is the fault of the families that started to sweeten the pot by offering more than the statutory stipend. The other stuff (living quarters, car access, vacation time) can be variable without ruining it for all the HFs. But once they started bidding up the stipend, the whole program becomes a free for all.

[Anonymous]

When will the legal case be completed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will the legal case be completed?

I thought I read that it settled a few weeks ago.