Need Help With Salary

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I want to be fair with my pricing, but I have no idea what to offer for a pay rate.

I have 7 month old twins and will be hiring my neighbor (who is retired) to help me two days a week for a few hours. I will be home during this time and can help some.

We live in the Bowie/Crofton area. How much per hour should I pay? Also, I'm not sure how many hours I'll need her so how do I determine if she is an empoyee or contractor (1099) or a babysister?

Thanks so much!!!

[Anonymous]

Under there circumstances, I'd really have her over for a visit to discuss different options. Ask her about an hourly rate. I would be prepared for something in the neighborhood of 15/hr. or so.
To be on the books, you might want to add on top of whatever rate you agree on. She might not be able to take on work (on the books) if it might reduce any social security or something like that. Not sure how that works.

I just want to congratulate you on your babies, and on connecting with your neighbor in this way. It's really best to hire a person you already know. I hope it works out well. I'd love to help a neighbor like you.
Also, even though you are friends, it's still important to have a letter of agreement with a schedule, pay rate, when you will pay (weekly), etc. It seems like it'll be more like a mother's helper position, so some things you will both learn as you go. Talk about as much as you can in advance, but agree to have a brief revisit (at the end of each week?), to discuss how things are working out.
Much luck to you.
"Parenting is the hardest,
but most important job there is."

[Anonymous]

*these circumstances

[Anonymous]

Thanks for taking the time to reply and for the advice. Looking forward to hearing from others.

[Anonymous]

$15-18 depending on her experience.

If you pay her over a certain amount in any given quarter (I believe $1800+) then you are required to treat her as an employee.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP.

I have 18 mth old twins and we just used a nanny from an agency for fill-in care (this is an agency that does primarily short term or part time staffing - for when kids are home sick, or a nanny's on vacation, or parents need a date night, etc...) The nannies set their own rates w/ this agency and we pay their rate, plus a fee to the agency for using the service.

The nanny we used charges $16/hour when we're not home, $15/hour when one of the parents is home.

Just thought that would be a helpful bit of info as you figure out what makes sense w/ the neighbor.

I agree w/ another poster's advice that you want to spell everything out as fully as possible in some sort of agreement. Things will go more smoothly if there are minimal opportunities for confusion or misunderstandings.

IMO, for this kind of arrangement for a just a few hours a week, when you're home and expecting to be involved, $15/hour might be the max. But it also depends on what "helping" includes. If doing laundry, some light cleaning, organizing the kid's clothes etc... is included then that merits a higher rate. If it's just sitting w/ the kids but you doing the majority of the work - then maybe $15 is more that I would pay. A lot depends on whether you're hiring more of a "mommy's helper" or a nanny. That merits careful thought before you start.

Good luck! And congrats on the twins! (And good for you for getting some help!!!)

[Anonymous]

You have been so helpful! I'm only expecting her to help with the children no housework. I asked her what she wanted to be paid and she said "I'm sure what ever you offer will be fair". She is coming over for a trial run and to discuss price so I really appreciate your input.

To the other twin mom-I thought I could be superwoman and do it all, but I so need a break. I really hope this works out and she can be a loving part of our family for a long time.

[Anonymous]

OP - 21:10 here (twin mom). Yes, you need to get over the superwoman thing quickly! You could do it all, but the price you'd pay over time isn't worth the bragging rights.

I'd suggest thinking big picture w/ the neighbor you'll be hiring - think about the maximum she might do for you and build it on that, not the minimum of just helping w/ the kids. I have learned (truth be told I'm still working on...) to ask for help, but I've also learned to fully accept it and not minimize the value to me. So think about whether having your neighbor help could include solo care for the kids for an hour or two on occasion, moving/folding a load of laundry on occasion, handling a meal or two alone on occasion. The value of an hour totally baby free is more significant sometimes than 3 hours of having someone else around to help out. You might find that being able to leave the house and go shopping (for anything, but especially clothes or shoes for you or a holiday/b'day gifts for someone, etc...) or for a pedicure or a lunch w/ a friend, or a matinee, etc... will be incredibly restorative to your sanity. Twins are wonderful but they are hard, hard, relentless work.

So it is well worth the money spent to have help like this, but it's also worth making sure you get the most value of it and I would really encourage you to think about getting the best support/break for you - not just the minimum of having someone else around (though that certainly has value too.)

I'm not saying you'd leave her w/ the kids routinely, but just knowing you could do that on occasion has value (and framing it that way for her at the beginning preserves the option for you).

Good luck!