Do any other nannies use salary discretion?

[Anonymous]

I work PT for a family in Potomac. They have the typical "Potomac" home and put off the "wealthy" vibe. They have 2 school aged kids and require no housekeeping. I told them my flat rate would be $100/day for 3 days per week. I have another PT family in a less wealthy area. They live in an apartment in a very urban area. I work 2 days/ week for them. They have 3 school aged kids. My flat rate is $75/day.

Is this unethical? Are nannies supposed to have one rate to charge and that is it?

[Anonymous]

Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

[Anonymous]

You charge what you want. Done.

[Anonymous]

I have different rates for all of my families, not a single one is the same.

[Anonymous]

It is none of their business. One of the moms I sit for is a single mom on a budget, and she can't afford much. I've sat for her since my freshman year of college and I still charge her the same $10/hour. She is the sweetest lady, amazing mom, and she makes me a home cooked meal each time I sit for her. Another family I sit for annoys me, their kids are misbehaved, and they talk to me like I'm an idiot. I charge them $18/hour, and only accept their jobs if I really truly have nothing else to do.

[Anonymous]

Every smart nanny does it. After all, the paycheck is only part of the compensation package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

Enterprising?

i just charge more because I feel that I am worth that price. I feel that I can command a certain price. I also know that if a family is living in sec 8 housing, they likely don't have as much disposable income as someone who lives in a 6000 sqft house in McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

Enterprising?

i just charge more because I feel that I am worth that price. I feel that I can command a certain price. I also know that if a family is living in sec 8 housing, they likely don't have as much disposable income as someone who lives in a 6000 sqft house in McLean.

So why would you take their job? I guess I'm not understanding.

The way it appears to me is that you can NOT actually command X price and you only luck out with the higher paying jobs occasionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

Enterprising?

i just charge more because I feel that I am worth that price. I feel that I can command a certain price. I also know that if a family is living in sec 8 housing, they likely don't have as much disposable income as someone who lives in a 6000 sqft house in McLean.

So why would you take their job? I guess I'm not understanding.

The way it appears to me is that you can NOT actually command X price and you only luck out with the higher paying jobs occasionally.

Let it go. She makes complete sense to me.

[Anonymous]

I do this too, OP.

There's one family in particular that I adore but I know they don't have a lot of discretionary money. I charge them significantly less than my typical babysitting rate because I enjoy seeing them and their kids.

I also charge MORE if the parents are a handful, because that's what it takes to make it worthwhile for me.

[Anonymous]

If the family has high-maintenance adults, I have to charge double.

[Anonymous]

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to how much you charge.

It can fluctuate based on what you feel is proper to charge and why.

I fluctuate my pay based on certain factors and sometimes do not charge the same rates for the same amount of children.

My families never ask me what other families pay me because honestly that would be none of their business and it would be professionally out of line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

Enterprising?

i just charge more because I feel that I am worth that price. I feel that I can command a certain price. I also know that if a family is living in sec 8 housing, they likely don't have as much disposable income as someone who lives in a 6000 sqft house in McLean.

Well PP thanks for sharing your story but OP described the size and location of the families' home. There are Plenty of wealthy apartment dwellers in this area so while it is possible she works for a section 8 recipient I chose not to assume facts that were not in her post. It's obvious she would charge less in that case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

Enterprising?

i just charge more because I feel that I am worth that price. I feel that I can command a certain price. I also know that if a family is living in sec 8 housing, they likely don't have as much disposable income as someone who lives in a 6000 sqft house in McLean.

Well PP thanks for sharing your story but OP described the size and location of the families' home. There are Plenty of wealthy apartment dwellers in this area so while it is possible she works for a section 8 recipient I chose not to assume facts that were not in her post. It's obvious she would charge less in that case.

The pp you are replying to is me!

Yes there are wealthy people in apartments but upon meeting the family I could tell that they were not among the wealthy.

-op

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, its none of their business what you charge your other family. Your reasons are more enterprising then logical but that does not make it their business.

Enterprising?

i just charge more because I feel that I am worth that price. I feel that I can command a certain price. I also know that if a family is living in sec 8 housing, they likely don't have as much disposable income as someone who lives in a 6000 sqft house in McLean.

So why would you take their job? I guess I'm not understanding.

The way it appears to me is that you can NOT actually command X price and you only luck out with the higher paying jobs occasionally.

Why take the job?

Hours, location, decent family. Reasons like that. I wouldn't take it if it put me under a certain income level. I try to work with the parents on price but I do have minimum requirements. So while I won't charge you the normal $20/hr, I can't go below $14.