What is a reasonable weekly amount for nanny to spend on entertaining two 4 y/os over the summer?

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old twins are at home with the nanny over the summer. She takes them to the pool for which she has to pay and they go several times a week, playground, museums etc. They sometimes go to restaurants if they are out over lunch time but she tries to get them home for lunch and a short nap. I've been giving her about $150 - $200 a week (sometimes she runs out and asks for more) and she also has a credit card for petrol and other essentials. The money is meant to cover expenses for all 3 of them.
Is this a reasonable amount? I ask because she sometimes runs out and I am wondering if I am underestimating the level of expenses she is likely to incur. When I take the kids out over the weekend we easily spend $100 a day so this is a possibility.

Any advice would vbe appreciated.

Thanis in advance.

[Anonymous]

I personally could not see spending that much on entertainment but if you want her to take the kids out every day I can see how it might happen, especially with more expensive outings like the museum. Can you look into getting a yearly pass or membership for the pool or museums? It would be worth it if they're going every week. It might be cheaper tp sign them up for a weekly swim class or some other activity rather than pay each time. Not to be suspicious but do you her receipts for everything not on the credit card?

[Anonymous]

That is a crazy amount. She needs to research all of the free things she can take advantage of. I have a pair of 5 year old twins and spend MAYBE $30 a week. There are way too many free, fun, and educational activities around to be spending that much weekly

[Anonymous]

are you getting receipts for what she spends money on?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I don't request receipts though I obviously get the CC statement but I trust her and I don't think there is anything untoward going on in that regard. My main concern was that I was niot giving her enough.

In view of thr responses I will help her to find some free/cheaper local activities for them so we can keep within the the current budget.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

are you in DC? that sounds like a lot of money b/c museums are mostly free here. Also, you referred to gas as "petrol." I've occasionally given my nanny extra money to cover gas (we pay her for driving our DC to soccer or music lessons), otherwise they do mostly free things (i.e, go to the mall to play at the foam playground, Smithsonian to see stuffed animals, story hour at the library).

[Anonymous]

I would ask for receipts. If she is feeding the kids and herself out every day, and one activity, she could be spending that much or on metro, but it seems very high. I would instead sign the kids up for some classes - karate, gymnastics, soccer, swim, music. There are many free and very low cost things.

[Anonymous]

My nanny spends about $40/week for 3 kids (7, 5 and 1.5 so one of them is probably free most of time). She does pack lunch on outings and pool membership is paid for us.

[Anonymous]

I don't see anything wrong with how much she's spending but I would absolutely insist on receipts for everything.

[Anonymous]

That seems very high. It may be normal for your area but in DC where so many fun activities are free or can be done inexpensively, it seems questionably high. Our nanny gets $50 a week, which does not include transportation costs but does include occasional groceries for us if we are low on any essentials. I'd insist on looking at all receipts to determine whether you actually think all her spending is reasonable and necessary before deciding how much to allocate weekly. Consider also prepaying for activities (swim lessons etc.) so you can budget for them up front.

[Anonymous]

Holy cow. My instinctive reaction before I read your whole message was $20, but I realized that was pretty low, so I went up to $50. Unless she's paying for expensive classes out-of-pocket, it's hard to imagine how someone could spend $200 a week out of pocket on 4-year-olds in DC.

[Anonymous]

That's a lot, IMO. Are any of those places where you can just buy memberships? Museums should be free or offer memberships that would probably be worth it if they go often; playground is free except for travel costs; library is free; classes you can usually sign up for full sessions of; etc. Can they pack lunch when they go out? That seems like it would make a lot more sense if it's restaurants that are eating up that money (and if they go out several times a week, I can see how that might happen).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses. I do live in DC (moved recently from UK hence the "petrol").
I suppose I don't know much about whats free/resonable around here either and so terribly busy settling down that I haven't given it much attention.

I appreciate the input. Where can I get information on this?
I will also look into a pool membership.

Thanks again

[Anonymous]

That seems like an awful lot of money. My twins are 3 and I would far rather spend that amount of money on a series of classes or something, than on random activities.

I think $50-100 week should be more than sufficient for fun activities. Spend the other money on a gymboree series or something.

And yes - get receipts.

[Anonymous]

Receipts. Unless she is taking the children to the Phillips Collection daily the amount you're giving seems excessive. Most museums are free in this area. How much is your pool's daily fee?