OP its hard to give you advice without knowing what other options you can find. Money is important but if you're a live in there are other factors to consider.

*Loving the kids is nice but its probably safe to say that you'll love the kids at another family.
*Living conditions and location. I would prefer better living conditions and a good location over more money, less privacy and nowhere to go.
*Family fit. Is the board part of he equation equal in both options? Is the food better in one place than another? Other perks. etc

Anonymous wrote:Money is more important.

Op here: thanks so much to the above poster and to other posters for their viewpoints. You gave me some additional things to think about and some perspective

Money is more important. Look for a new job. They want the convience of you but can't/won't pay for what you need to survive.

Ok well you didn't actually answer my question, which makes me think you are expected to reserve time for them without getting paid for it. In which case, again, they are taking advantage. They may be wonderful in all other ways and I understand if you love them you wouldn't want to hear that, but IF that is happening, then in that aspect of the relationship yes they are taking advantage. If that is not happening, then you would be able to accept another part-time job, no? Then you wouldn't be in this dilemma? If they can't offer more money that is understandable, but they need to either offer reliable hours or allow another share situation. Otherwise, if you stay for lower pay and no way to have a second job, then that's your choice but it seems pretty obviously to be a rotten deal. Just my opinion.

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to talk to your employers and tell them you need another family for the share, or a higher rate so that you have enough to meet your needs. You shouldn't have to settle for not enough income, and it sounds like maybe they need you to reserve time for them, but don't pay forint unless they use it--is that the case? If so, they are taking advantage and causing you to lose the opportunity to make a livable wage, and that is not ok.

They aren't taking advantage of me. So quick to jump to this conclusion. we have talked about how the share has fallen through (which was set up by them - it was all finalized when I accepted the job) and they have stated their position - what they can offer. They have also said that they understand if I need to find a different job. This was me trying to sort out weather I wanted to trade in the known - lovely family, great job less pay in exchange for the unknown - interviews, new family maybe better pay? Thanks for looking out for me though

I think you need to talk to your employers and tell them you need another family for the share, or a higher rate so that you have enough to meet your needs. You shouldn't have to settle for not enough income, and it sounds like maybe they need you to reserve time for them, but don't pay forint unless they use it--is that the case? If so, they are taking advantage and causing you to lose the opportunity to make a livable wage, and that is not ok.

Thanks for the suggestions. However, none of these are really feasible for me. On the days I work, I don't finish until 7.30 (plus I babysit twice a week), and while I could do some of these options short term, I don't want the next 18months of my life to be part time hours, iffy income and rushing from one job to the next. Which maybe answers my own question


Also while MB's work days are usually set, her work has busy period through out the year, where I would/could do more hours, but then I would be unavailable for doing any other kind of care.

you could think outside the box - i'd be happy to pay something monthly as a "Retainer" of sorts for the ability to do drop in care (at a rate in addition to the retainer) just for peace of mind that it's there. Perhaps other moms might too?

As a mother who is always one sick day away from a childcare emergency I would love to have an experienced nanny who has some free time with whom I could build a relationship for the kids. It's hard to have trusted backups when the hours can be intermittent or unpredictable. So if you had several families where you had that kind of relationship maybe you could piece together enough of that kind of work to still be saving as you wish. Where are you based?

While I agree that this type of service/work is an unmet need, pragmatically it isn't very feasible for one person to bank on for regular supplemental income. You may have a few days a year when need this type of back up which isn't enough for the OP to cover the open hours on a regular basis. If she has enough families to call more often then she'll run into the problem of multiple families asking for her service on the same day.

I agree w/ the PP about the benefits of staying w/ the live-in position and maybe trying to pick up fill in hours. As a mother who is always one sick day away from a childcare emergency I would love to have an experienced nanny who has some free time with whom I could build a relationship for the kids. It's hard to have trusted backups when the hours can be intermittent or unpredictable. So if you had several families where you had that kind of relationship maybe you could piece together enough of that kind of work to still be saving as you wish. Where are you based?

If you have student loans I'm assuming that you finished your degree. Is there any chance that you can take on tutoring during your extra hours? This would pay more per hour than babysitting as you are not competing with the neighborhood teens. It also looks good on your resume and will make you more attractive to future employers.

If you are young you may want to pick up a second job that will put around more young people like waitressing etc.

As a live in you actually benefit disproportionately more from fewer hours as your family is paying the same full cost of your room and board. If you can fill your open hours with "live out" type jobs/work that pays live out wages you would do better financially in the end.

I am a nanny who works in a nannyshare. However one of the kids has not adjusted well to the share and her family has decided to pull out of the share. The other family (I am a live in nanny with them) wants to keep me. They have offered me several options - but basically it will come down to me having more free time and being paid less. Do I stay in the job? Or do I look for another job?

Full time pay is important to me for the following reasons: Student loan, I'd like to own a house one day and I am saving to travel.

I also really like the family. The parents are fair and lovely. The kids are fairly easy going and I know them.

Thoughts? Suggestions? recommendations?