Am I being too cheap?
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Anonymous
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We have had full-time nannies and I feel we paid them very well (paid vacation, a Christmas bonus and about $17 per hour for three children).
We are now in a situation where our kids are all in school (so ages 5-9). We are now looking for afterschool care from 3-7 where the responsibilities are: - Kids laundry once a week - Make sure kids start their homework by 4 - Drive one child to soccer practice 2 miles away once a week (ends in a couple of weeks) - Make sure two older kids shower - Make sure kids are picking up after themselves I work from home but just need the extra help when I am on calls or have to run to meetings and am running late. What on earth should I be paying for this type of care? We are having a really hard time finding someone and I am not sure if its the hours or the pay. Thanks in advance!! |
Anonymous
| Where do you live? And for 3 kids I think $17/hr part time is low. |
Anonymous
| Yes, depends where you are, but for those part-time hours I would think you probably need to pay at least $20/hr to make it worthwhile for someone. |
Anonymous
| I have a similar position and the 3 kids are 4-11 years old. I don't do any laundry, but do prepare simple meals. I'm paid $25 hour an hour, but I've been with them several years. They recently hired another part time nanny for extra coverage and I think she makes $22 per hour. |
Anonymous
| OP here: we live in Chantilly. |
Anonymous
| MB here. I think $17 for three kids is low too. I think you should go up to $19 and be willing to be talked up to $20. |
Anonymous
| Those are rough hours for anyone who actually needs a full-time job/income. In DC, you can find college students who will do that, but out in Chantilly that might be harder. I'd think that $20/hour is going to be the minimum. |
Anonymous
Agreed. Its a combo between needing part time hours (which automatically means your hourly has to be a little higher) and you rate is on the low side. |
Anonymous
| Most nannies aren't going to accept a 20 hour position unless it's enough to supplement another part-time position. Can you afford to pay closer to $400-500 per week? |
Anonymous
| You need a mother helper not a nanny! |
Anonymous
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I'm in Ashburn. I pay $16/hr for my school aged children. Or a flat $400/wk. I pay for all 52 weeks and taken weeks off myself.
She works from noon-5pm. Kids are home at 3. From noon-3 she does housekeeping services such as: all grocery shopping, basic meal prep (chopping washing peeling), closet organization, errand running, sweeping, wiping, making of my bed, she makes sure house is stocked with TP, papertowels, plastic bags, plastic wrap...ect. she also packs lunches. She is an American citizen with a perfect driving record. She basically runs the logistics of the house. |
Anonymous
| Take out laundry - not reasonable to drive, homework, shower and clean up. Or, have them come a few hours early 1-2 hours early and kid stuff then. |
Anonymous
| I charge $20 for a 15-20hr/week job because I'm in the early stages of starting a small business and because I've known the family for four years. I'd charge $22 as a new hire. I have the flexibility to work strange hours and do not want a full time position thanks to my slowly growing business, but I think nannies in my position are rare. |
Anonymous
OP here -- I think you are right. $20 per hour and up seems crazy to me for older kids ... babies, yes. Toddlers, yes. But I am not sure I need a nanny for three older kids. Maybe a college student or a younger mother helper. |
Anonymous
Then get a high school student who would be thrilled to take $15/hour, but don't expect anything beyond playing and homework. |