Live-in Nanny Advice

[Anonymous]

Hello every one, here my story.

I was searching for a live in job on care.com and came across this wonderful family. They need help in the early a.m. with getting kids to school then managing after school activities through dinner, occasional evening activities, some weekend hours but not usually a lot. Two teenage girls, ages 13 and 15. Ability to cook (or learn to) a bonus. Would like someone interested in fitness.
Typically more than 4 weeks vacation.
We definitely need live-in.
Will provide car.
Excellent living quarters (private nanny bedroom and bath), very nice house in suburban location 25 minutes from downtown Baltimore.
Exercise equipment and pool.
Must be non-smoker and swim well.

I've had a phone interview which lead to 2 face to face meeting to discuss the job. I didn't know the going rate on a live in nanny, but what I did know is that they were willing to pay between $10-$20/hr of service. They've discussed having Au Pairs for many years and also discussed their dissatisfaction with the Au Pairs attitudes towards the family. After explaining the job to me and filling me in on the duties I then proceeded to tell them about all the things I will be giving up if I took the job like;
My daytime job working at a High school-
Coaching JV Girls Basketball
Coaching Varsity Volleyball
These 3 jobs bring in a nice amount of money for me
Not to mention my car insurance I’ll continue to pay while living there
Leaving my sister to pay for our apartment we got together. (I mentioned to them that I’d still be helping her pay rent and things)
Also health insurance, and any other debt I need to take care of.
Well at the end of all of this they offered me $1,100 a month to be a full-time live in nanny for their family, and my question to you is, is this a rip-off? Or valid pay?

I don't want to seem ungrateful but $275 is less then what I make at my current job, and they've expressed that I want me and willing to pay a good amount to secure my services but after hearing $1,100/month really threw me for a loop.

Can you guys give me some advice please??

[Anonymous]

Well one of the perks of being a live in nanny is that you wouldn't have to pay rent, utilities (and in some cases board) which saves someone a huge chunk of money each month and also why the dollar amount per month tends to be less than a live out nanny's salary. But, it seems like you will still be paying rent for an apt you won't be using. I wouldn't really expect them to compensate me more given that scenario.

Maybe you could discuss them paying for some of your health insurance? Or even car payment if you will be driving their girls around?

[Anonymous]

How much is it per hr? Don't take less then 10 per hr

[Anonymous]

You'd have to be an idiot to accept that offer. Minimum $600 a month

[Anonymous]

Well au pairs cost between $400-500/week for up to 45 hours of care (including stipend, agency fee, education fee, car insurance, food, etc.). So it is a little funny that they expect you to do the same job essentially, for half the amount an au pair cost them.

But it's not really any of their concern all of the things you're giving up or that you'd still have to pay your sister's apartment. They're not obliged to offer you more than market pay because of your own personal circumstances.

I'd say stop listing all the things you'd be "giving up." It's not relevant to them and it makes you sound unprofessional. Instead, figure out what would make this job worthwhile to you. You say you want a live-in job particularly, so you must be seeing some personal benefit to you. Typically, a benefit would be no rent, utilities, or commute expenses. But if you're still paying for rent for your sister's apartment, that's not a benefit to you. What is it about a live-in job that you like? What amount would make it worth it to you?

[Anonymous]

Also, by full-time do you mean 40 set hours each week? Or are they expecting flexibility? They need to pay more for flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want a live in job if you're still going to be paying rent on another apt? For the most part, you're going to find that a live in job pays less than a live out job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'd have to be an idiot to accept that offer. Minimum $600 a month

They offered $1100 a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'd have to be an idiot to accept that offer. Minimum $600 a month

They offered $1100 a month.

I meant a week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much is it per hr? Don't take less then 10 per hr

it seems that they will be paying me minimum wage, in which i make more at my current job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well au pairs cost between $400-500/week for up to 45 hours of care (including stipend, agency fee, education fee, car insurance, food, etc.). So it is a little funny that they expect you to do the same job essentially, for half the amount an au pair cost them.

But it's not really any of their concern all of the things you're giving up or that you'd still have to pay your sister's apartment. They're not obliged to offer you more than market pay because of your own personal circumstances.

I'd say stop listing all the things you'd be "giving up." It's not relevant to them and it makes you sound unprofessional. Instead, figure out what would make this job worthwhile to you. You say you want a live-in job particularly, so you must be seeing some personal benefit to you. Typically, a benefit would be no rent, utilities, or commute expenses. But if you're still paying for rent for your sister's apartment, that's not a benefit to you. What is it about a live-in job that you like? What amount would make it worth it to you?

funny that you say that, because they claim they only pay their current au pair $220/wk and this includes college classes and air fare.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP's -- it isn't the employers responsibility to compensate for what you'd be giving up. You should be looking at live out positions. If you're paying for an apartment you might as well live there, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well au pairs cost between $400-500/week for up to 45 hours of care (including stipend, agency fee, education fee, car insurance, food, etc.). So it is a little funny that they expect you to do the same job essentially, for half the amount an au pair cost them.

But it's not really any of their concern all of the things you're giving up or that you'd still have to pay your sister's apartment. They're not obliged to offer you more than market pay because of your own personal circumstances.

I'd say stop listing all the things you'd be "giving up." It's not relevant to them and it makes you sound unprofessional. Instead, figure out what would make this job worthwhile to you. You say you want a live-in job particularly, so you must be seeing some personal benefit to you. Typically, a benefit would be no rent, utilities, or commute expenses. But if you're still paying for rent for your sister's apartment, that's not a benefit to you. What is it about a live-in job that you like? What amount would make it worth it to you?

funny that you say that, because they claim they only pay their current au pair $220/wk and this includes college classes and air fare.

They also had to pay the agency for the au pair. If they use a nanny they save that cost so the money should go to the nanny for a living wage.

[Anonymous]

Stay at your current job OP! That is such a low rate. And what will you do if the family decides they don't like you, or can't afford you anymore, you will have no job and no place to live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well au pairs cost between $400-500/week for up to 45 hours of care (including stipend, agency fee, education fee, car insurance, food, etc.). So it is a little funny that they expect you to do the same job essentially, for half the amount an au pair cost them.

But it's not really any of their concern all of the things you're giving up or that you'd still have to pay your sister's apartment. They're not obliged to offer you more than market pay because of your own personal circumstances.

I'd say stop listing all the things you'd be "giving up." It's not relevant to them and it makes you sound unprofessional. Instead, figure out what would make this job worthwhile to you. You say you want a live-in job particularly, so you must be seeing some personal benefit to you. Typically, a benefit would be no rent, utilities, or commute expenses. But if you're still paying for rent for your sister's apartment, that's not a benefit to you. What is it about a live-in job that you like? What amount would make it worth it to you?

funny that you say that, because they claim they only pay their current au pair $220/wk and this includes college classes and air fare.

They pay the aupair agency $7500 - 8K a year too. They are conveniently not telling you that. 220 a week is 11440 a year plus 7500 = $18940 divided by 12 = $1578 monthly