I realize not that I charge too little

[Anonymous]

Earlier in the year I was caring for a 1.5 year old boy 30 hours week . The family (lets call them family a) is amazing in every way but I feel they might be paying me too little, $11.00 an hour. I recently moved here from Indiana and didn't check around before I told them my hourly rate. I thought $11 was pretty standard but now I am running into nannies who tell me I am crazy to charge this rate. I do have quite a bit of experience and so I think I could find other jobs paying on the upper end of the going rate $20/hour. This job ended a few months ago because the mom had a baby and is on maternity leave. They have asked me to come back to work for them in December when the mom goes back to work. They will need coverage 2 full days/week. I also wanted to mention this family does not pay taxes or medical benefits because I asked for them to do it this way. I would want to pay taxes though in the future if we decide to work together again. I still do childcare for them every weekend.


So anyway, I currently have a PT nanny position (family b) caring for 2 children and I am paid $20/hour. They also pay all of the nanny taxes. I have been with them for nearly 3 months and have definitely been very happy. They have expressed that they're very happy with me and would me to continue working for them until next fall and possibly longer. I really love both families so I am just not sure what to do!

My question is, how much more, if any, should a nanny be paid for caring for the 2nd child? I currently make $1200 month after taxes with my current job (family b ) If my rates stays the same then I would take home $792/month working for family A. I would basically need to ask family b to pay me the same rate they did in the spring but I would be working 18 hours instead of 27.

[Anonymous]

How do you afford to live on just 1200 a month? Honestly, I think you could find a full time position with two children at $18-20 per hour that also offer some benefits. Tell Family A, goodbye. They pay crap, let you go for maternity leave and will probably expect to pay you a $1 or 2 more the second child. Stick with family B and find a different second family if you need too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you afford to live on just 1200 a month? Honestly, I think you could find a full time position with two children at $18-20 per hour that also offer some benefits. Tell Family A, goodbye. They pay crap, let you go for maternity leave and will probably expect to pay you a $1 or 2 more the second child. Stick with family B and find a different second family if you need too

OP here. I am in grad school and they pay me by covering my education and giving me a salary to cover living expenses (through a teaching assistantship)

[Anonymous]

Considering you're a grad student, you'd think it would be easier to understand your post.

[Anonymous]

This is so inappropriate. I am an international student and English is not my native language.

[Anonymous]

I understood OP's post just fine. Maybe your reading comprehension skills just aren't up to par.

OP, I think you could find a better position, but if you really love the family that's understandable. I would definately ask for atleast $16 or $17 per hour once the new baby is born though.

[Anonymous]

It can't hurt to look. Keep in mind that paying $20 for part time is much different than paying $18-$20 for full time. Those jobs are HARD to find. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you afford to live on just 1200 a month? Honestly, I think you could find a full time position with two children at $18-20 per hour that also offer some benefits. Tell Family A, goodbye. They pay crap, let you go for maternity leave and will probably expect to pay you a $1 or 2 more the second child. Stick with family B and find a different second family if you need too

It's easy to live on that amount a month if your rent is cheap. I think some people don't realize how you can survive on very little if you don't go and waste money on useless things. I think everyone should be homeless/jobless for a month or 2 and learn how to appreciate what they have and see that $1200/month can be fine (depending on location). Look at anyone on disability/SSI. In my area (one of the highest cost of living areas in the country), you get a measly $960 or so per month, then get food stamps and health care (medi-cal). Your money all goes towards rent, your food is from the food stamps, and medi-cal pays for your health coverage. You don't have any other spending money, and you can only earn an additional $90 per month or something. So if ALL those people can live off of that, then someone who has $1200 where their rent might be $300-600 is doing fine.

[Anonymous]

If the $11 per hr employers are also covering your education then that is probably fair compensation. That has a monetary value to it you would otherwise have to pay out of pocket right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the $11 per hr employers are also covering your education then that is probably fair compensation. That has a monetary value to it you would otherwise have to pay out of pocket right?

university is convering her education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering you're a grad student, you'd think it would be easier to understand your post.

Her post was fine. Maybe you have problems reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you afford to live on just 1200 a month? Honestly, I think you could find a full time position with two children at $18-20 per hour that also offer some benefits. Tell Family A, goodbye. They pay crap, let you go for maternity leave and will probably expect to pay you a $1 or 2 more the second child. Stick with family B and find a different second family if you need too

It's easy to live on that amount a month if your rent is cheap. I think some people don't realize how you can survive on very little if you don't go and waste money on useless things. I think everyone should be homeless/jobless for a month or 2 and learn how to appreciate what they have and see that $1200/month can be fine (depending on location). Look at anyone on disability/SSI. In my area (one of the highest cost of living areas in the country), you get a measly $960 or so per month, then get food stamps and health care (medi-cal). Your money all goes towards rent, your food is from the food stamps, and medi-cal pays for your health coverage. You don't have any other spending money, and you can only earn an additional $90 per month or something. So if ALL those people can live off of that, then someone who has $1200 where their rent might be $300-600 is doing fine.

Those people have a very poor quality of life. What if the car breaks down, what if you want to do something fun like go see a movie or even travel? She doesn't deserve to live poorly.

OP, as much as you love family A, you need to move on. They probably can't afford to up your pay that much. Think about what's best for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you afford to live on just 1200 a month? Honestly, I think you could find a full time position with two children at $18-20 per hour that also offer some benefits. Tell Family A, goodbye. They pay crap, let you go for maternity leave and will probably expect to pay you a $1 or 2 more the second child. Stick with family B and find a different second family if you need too

It's easy to live on that amount a month if your rent is cheap. I think some people don't realize how you can survive on very little if you don't go and waste money on useless things. I think everyone should be homeless/jobless for a month or 2 and learn how to appreciate what they have and see that $1200/month can be fine (depending on location). Look at anyone on disability/SSI. In my area (one of the highest cost of living areas in the country), you get a measly $960 or so per month, then get food stamps and health care (medi-cal). Your money all goes towards rent, your food is from the food stamps, and medi-cal pays for your health coverage. You don't have any other spending money, and you can only earn an additional $90 per month or something. So if ALL those people can live off of that, then someone who has $1200 where their rent might be $300-600 is doing fine.

I'm the one that made that comment. I know exactly what it's like to be poor as I grew up in public housing, had food stamps etc in Boston. The only way 1200 a month is okay is if your food, transportation, health insurance and rent are taking care of. Have you actually ever been poor? I live way below my means and my bills still wouldn't be covered with that amount, unless I was getting food stamps and other subsidies. I also live right outside the city with two roommates in the cheapest apt for my area and my rent is $700. Cell phone bills are 80-100, food for a month is about 200 if I buy only basic items, then there is transportation $69 for a monthly t pass in Boston. With all that your left with maybe $100 extra for the month. If you have an emergency you're fucked. People who live off Medicare are suffering from struggling so much. A lot of them choose between there medication and food. You spending a month or two jobless is not the same living out your life poor. Food stamps won't cover much for a single person and Medicare doesn't cover the entire cost of prescription drugs. It is not doing fine, it's just barely meeting your basic needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you afford to live on just 1200 a month? Honestly, I think you could find a full time position with two children at $18-20 per hour that also offer some benefits. Tell Family A, goodbye. They pay crap, let you go for maternity leave and will probably expect to pay you a $1 or 2 more the second child. Stick with family B and find a different second family if you need too

It's easy to live on that amount a month if your rent is cheap. I think some people don't realize how you can survive on very little if you don't go and waste money on useless things. I think everyone should be homeless/jobless for a month or 2 and learn how to appreciate what they have and see that $1200/month can be fine (depending on location). Look at anyone on disability/SSI. In my area (one of the highest cost of living areas in the country), you get a measly $960 or so per month, then get food stamps and health care (medi-cal). Your money all goes towards rent, your food is from the food stamps, and medi-cal pays for your health coverage. You don't have any other spending money, and you can only earn an additional $90 per month or something. So if ALL those people can live off of that, then someone who has $1200 where their rent might be $300-600 is doing fine.

In CA where I reside, one only receives $877/mo. in SSI. That being said, being on SSI automatically disqualifies you from receiving any Food Stamps or other govt assistance except for Section 8. However, housing subsidies can take up to 15 years on waiting lists.

A one bedroom apt. in a decent and safe neighborhood in San Diego starts at$1100/mo. so anyone on SSI is screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

In CA where I reside, one only receives $877/mo. in SSI. That being said, being on SSI automatically disqualifies you from receiving any Food Stamps or other govt assistance except for Section 8. However, housing subsidies can take up to 15 years on waiting lists.

A one bedroom apt. in a decent and safe neighborhood in San Diego starts at$1100/mo. so anyone on SSI is screwed.

How is that possible? I thought eligibility for food stamps was based on income.