Sitting for a neighbor
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Anonymous
| I have been a nanny for 10 years and have fairly high rates for the area I live. I live in a very small neighborhood where everyone makes an effort to be friendly. It's also a fairly nice neighborhood. My neighbor asked me to watch one or two of his kids a couple weeks ago but I was unavailable that day. I know they don't have a ton of money and would likely be shocked by my rates. I really like the family, especially the kids! I also love the closeness of this neighborhood and want to be neighborly. My thought is to lower my rate to $15/hr for them, but my guess is that they will still be surprised by that. What would you do? Like I said, I want to be neighborly, but this is my profession. It feels similar to asking a SAHM in the neighborhood to watch your kids. Any thoughts? |
Anonymous
| Well babysitting rates are much different than nanny rates. It doesn't seem like you have much interest in this job so I wouldn't even talk rates but let them know while you appreciate their consideration, that you are only interested in nanny jobs. As amazing as your neighbor's may be, they are looking for something different than what you are. |
Anonymous
| So when the neighbors start talking and Suzy finds out that you are only charging Kim and Mike $12/hr for their two kids, when you have been charging her $25/hr for her one--what are you going to tell Suzy? |
Anonymous
It's not difference to pay nanny&Babysitter,the job is is the same,why we have to gain less,no way Rose. |
Anonymous
 The job is not the same, paying someone to occasionally watch your kids when available as apposed to paying someone to be available and work around your schedule and take an active roll in raising your kids usually with specific qualifications should be different I would think. I have no desire to further ague this subject, so if you cant see that then I'm sorry. It really doesn't matter anyway, as I'm not looking to hire you and this woman clearly isn't interested in the job or a major pay cut and seems to only be considering the job to be nice.
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Anonymous
| OP here. I was not the one who doesn't understand the difference in babysitting and nannying. I still start at a higher rate to babysit, $17-20. I don't pick up many babysitting jobs because I'd rather be home tending to my own life on the weekends. I want to be kind and helpful to the neighbor; at the same time my time is valuable to me and I don't have unlimited free time to help others. So I don't want to sell myself short but I also don't want to be rude or dismissive. I guess writing this all out helps me. When and if said neighbors approach me again I will offer to help at a rate of $15/hr. Does that sound reasonable to "offer" that? |
Anonymous
| Personally, I'd rather take it as a once a month charity than lower my established rates. |
Anonymous
|
I have comparatively high rates as well and the only family I make an exception to is to one of my oldest nanny family (we remained friends) - I still babysit for them for the same rate I did 7+ years ago. But I sit for them maybe once every 6-8 weeks, so it doesn't massively matter to me: I adore the children and love catching up with the parents.
I wouldn't get a more or less regular gig with a low rate, not when I would be sacrificing my free time and not really getting much out of it anyway. |
Anonymous
| Can you tell them you aren't available but refer them to a good babysitter who charges less, or advise them how to find one/help them interview, etc? |
Anonymous
| Do it as a favor for a friend. |
Anonymous
| If anyone asks if I babysit outside of my nanny job I simply say no...most people totally understand. I'm 32 and have a husband, house,dogs, etc...when I was younger I would pick up babysitting jobs occasionally. I would def mention your rate ahead of time or recommend someone you might know who has a lower rate (high schooler in neighborhood etc)... |
Anonymous
|
Were they asking you to babysit because they know that's what you do, and they wanted a babysitter, or were they asking you to babysit because they had some emergency or legitimate scheduling difficulty where they needed help to meet their childcare obligations?
If it's the first, I'd tell them your actual rate and explain that you don't do much evening sitting unless it's worth your while, because your time is more valuable. If it's the second, then I think helping out a neighbor is a good thing, as long as you make it clear that's what you're doing so that you're not suddenly their cheap babysitter for life. |
Anonymous
It was a bit of both. They know my schedule and asked for my number a while ago. Then they recently wanted help when they had a doctor visit about an hour away for one of their children. This would have taken the majority of the day. So not a date night, I think the grandparents cover that, but not a last minute emergency either. I had other obligations when they needed me but I foresee them asking again. I'll probably offer to help at $15/hr. It is lower than normal, but I can imagine that they would feel like they are doing me a favor my paying me $50 for an entire day. So I want to be clear with them that I am lowering my rate for them for the occasional need that may arise, but that it still needs to worth taking me away from my other obligations. |
Anonymous
| Do you like your neighbor? Are you actually ftiends? If so watch their kids if you have time. If you are not friends chage your normal rate. |