My situation. WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I don't know how you could afford to live on that salary, especially with a child. Keep looking.


My current living expenses are barely a 1/2 of my taken home pay. All of the "extra" money with my current position goes toward activities/vacations/lessons for my son. We can live on much less. We just have a lot more fun in life with the type of salary I have now.

As you mentioned in your post, OP, you are not in DC and the salary you receive now is phenomenal. Part of your decision process needs to be considering your chances of finding another job with such a phenomenal salary for a single child. Frankly, even in DC, the rate you're making now would have been high and finding another position at the same rate would be difficult. However, if you think you can due to the market in your area, then sure, pass on this opportunity. If not, maybe adjust your lifestyle. If your expenses are so low vs. your take home, you could likely swing this new situation. Additionally, it is no small thing to have a job you love with wonderful working conditions and great families. That might be worth the differential in rate depending on your other options.

As for the PPs who apparently didn't read your post and are automatically telling you to reject because of the rate...take them with a grain of salt. They may think every nanny should make $20+/h for one child with no extra work, but the market says otherwise and listening to this bad advice could keep you out of a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know how you could afford to live on that salary, especially with a child. Keep looking.


My current living expenses are barely a 1/2 of my taken home pay. All of the "extra" money with my current position goes toward activities/vacations/lessons for my son. We can live on much less. We just have a lot more fun in life with the type of salary I have now.

As you mentioned in your post, OP, you are not in DC and the salary you receive now is phenomenal. Part of your decision process needs to be considering your chances of finding another job with such a phenomenal salary for a single child. Frankly, even in DC, the rate you're making now would have been high and finding another position at the same rate would be difficult. However, if you think you can due to the market in your area, then sure, pass on this opportunity. If not, maybe adjust your lifestyle. If your expenses are so low vs. your take home, you could likely swing this new situation. Additionally, it is no small thing to have a job you love with wonderful working conditions and great families. That might be worth the differential in rate depending on your other options.

As for the PPs who apparently didn't read your post and are automatically telling you to reject because of the rate...take them with a grain of salt. They may think every nanny should make $20+/h for one child with no extra work, but the market says otherwise and listening to this bad advice could keep you out of a job.

Thanks for such a great reply. In looking around on care, it seems that the general average is 500$ a week, with some positions going as high as 700, and those require the type of housework I'm doing now (general upkeep of the house, all weekend messes greeting me Mon morning.) I went on and sent an email that I'm still interested, even with the reduced salary. I'm going to keep looking, as anything can happen between now and August, but I feel like after really listing out the pros and con, the money isn't such of a con. Not when it's up against nice people, no housework and summers off with my son.

[Anonymous]

I think you will feel resentful.

When you have to start cutting back on the fun things you do with your child now, but you hear of/see your employers still doing fun things, buying new things, that you now can't afford.

[Anonymous]

How will you afford summers off with your son when you have a reduced income and aren't getting paid summers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How will you afford summers off with your son when you have a reduced income and aren't getting paid summers?

Very careful budgeting during the year so I will have savings to fall back on during summers.

[Anonymous]

I would consider it but keep looking. If they aren't paying summers, are they paying for all the days off for the teacher holidays. I understand the one mom's attitude as at that point, I'd just go to a day care, but I would be concerned at the level of negotiating. If each set of parents has two teachers, between the two of them depending on where they live, they have decent income. In some areas, child care is very low but I would be worried given some of the comments they made. I would take it if you had no other options but keep looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider it but keep looking. If they aren't paying summers, are they paying for all the days off for the teacher holidays. I understand the one mom's attitude as at that point, I'd just go to a day care, but I would be concerned at the level of negotiating. If each set of parents has two teachers, between the two of them depending on where they live, they have decent income. In some areas, child care is very low but I would be worried given some of the comments they made. I would take it if you had no other options but keep looking.

Each family has 1 teacher, 1 office worker. The area they live in is rather high COL, but that is their issue, not mine. I'm still interviewing, and still keeping my options open, but I am honestly interested in the job. They are paying all school holidays/vacation (approx 4 weeks of paid vacation for 44weeks of work).

I've liked reading everyone's opinion. At this point in my nanny career, when does NF personality trump pay (as long as I can pay my bills, of course)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider it but keep looking. If they aren't paying summers, are they paying for all the days off for the teacher holidays. I understand the one mom's attitude as at that point, I'd just go to a day care, but I would be concerned at the level of negotiating. If each set of parents has two teachers, between the two of them depending on where they live, they have decent income. In some areas, child care is very low but I would be worried given some of the comments they made. I would take it if you had no other options but keep looking.

Each family has 1 teacher, 1 office worker. The area they live in is rather high COL, but that is their issue, not mine. I'm still interviewing, and still keeping my options open, but I am honestly interested in the job. They are paying all school holidays/vacation (approx 4 weeks of paid vacation for 44weeks of work).

I've liked reading everyone's opinion. At this point in my nanny career, when does NF personality trump pay (as long as I can pay my bills, of course)

You'd don't have to trade one for the other. It is possible to have both.

[Anonymous]

Keep looking. Take a temp summer job if you need to and get both.

[Anonymous]

You haven't said how many hours a week you would be working but, assuming a 40 hour work week, at $250, each family isn't even paying you minimum wage. I mean, I think you should get at least whatever the minimum wage is in your area from each family. Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but it could be higher in your area.

I just don't know how they can think that $500/week is an acceptable living wage, especially since you won't be paid over the summer. Really, it sounds to me like these families cannot afford a nanny and need to just go the daycare route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You haven't said how many hours a week you would be working but, assuming a 40 hour work week, at $250, each family isn't even paying you minimum wage. I mean, I think you should get at least whatever the minimum wage is in your area from each family. Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but it could be higher in your area.

I just don't know how they can think that $500/week is an acceptable living wage, especially since you won't be paid over the summer. Really, it sounds to me like these families cannot afford a nanny and need to just go the daycare route.

47.5 hours a week. It works out to about 5$ an hour each family, straight time, or 10$ an hour together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You haven't said how many hours a week you would be working but, assuming a 40 hour work week, at $250, each family isn't even paying you minimum wage. I mean, I think you should get at least whatever the minimum wage is in your area from each family. Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but it could be higher in your area.

I just don't know how they can think that $500/week is an acceptable living wage, especially since you won't be paid over the summer. Really, it sounds to me like these families cannot afford a nanny and need to just go the daycare route.

47.5 hours a week. It works out to about 5$ an hour each family, straight time, or 10$ an hour together.

They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
Not only will you have very little time with your child but you'll barely be able to make ends meet.
There is no way on earth you can save money from that tiny salary to live through the summer on.
Sweet Jesus!

[Anonymous]

Op here, final update:
So I just heard back from Mom A, and she has decided 250$ a week for a nanny is more than they are willing to pay. They want to stay at 200$ or under per week.
I really don't think she's going to find someone to care for the babies in her home with that rate. And daycare is much more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, final update:
So I just heard back from Mom A, and she has decided 250$ a week for a nanny is more than they are willing to pay. They want to stay at 200$ or under per week.
I really don't think she's going to find someone to care for the babies in her home with that rate. And daycare is much more.

As we said OP, these people are not worth your time. They either can't or don't want to afford nanny care, but feel entitled to it. Someone should live on food stamps, so their snowflake can have individualized care.