Anonymous wrote:We give the exact amount each week, but we do give a bonus at the end of the year, and it varies by AP. It has ranged from $100 to over $1000 for an extension AP who we liked a lot. They can put it toward their travel month or their education costs when they get home.

That's generous. Makes me think I need to do more. I give lots of small gifts and gift cards over the year. And I give $40-100 before any trips. I had not been giving a departure gift because of all the money given for the travel. Maybe I need to do more here. We have had some really good au pairs. Two have returned to visit and I always cover their phone expenses while here as well as compensate for any sitting they may do for us. Then I usually slip them $50.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My APs arrive in January and I give generous holiday gifts, so my departing gifts have been photo books of her year(s) with the DCs. I also give birthday gifts.

I also round up to $200 each week.

Some framed photos, finr, but books of photos?

I make and order them on my Mac, so an actual book with short captions for the pictures.

Anonymous wrote:My APs arrive in January and I give generous holiday gifts, so my departing gifts have been photo books of her year(s) with the DCs. I also give birthday gifts.

I also round up to $200 each week.

Some framed photos, finr, but books of photos?

My APs arrive in January and I give generous holiday gifts, so my departing gifts have been photo books of her year(s) with the DCs. I also give birthday gifts.

I also round up to $200 each week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of this either. We also round up to $200, but that doesn't make for much more ($60 over the year?). We are generous at her birthday and Christmas and give her little gift cards or something every so often. We take her on a trip or two and pay for everything. When ours have left, we've taken them to a nice family dinner and include a friend if there's one we've gotten to know, drive her to the airport and say goodbye.

Interesting, I never thought to round up. Its actually $221 extra for the year ($4.25 x 52 right?). Do a lot of people do this?

Actually, it's $4.25 x 51 weeks...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of this either. We also round up to $200, but that doesn't make for much more ($60 over the year?). We are generous at her birthday and Christmas and give her little gift cards or something every so often. We take her on a trip or two and pay for everything. When ours have left, we've taken them to a nice family dinner and include a friend if there's one we've gotten to know, drive her to the airport and say goodbye.

Interesting, I never thought to round up. Its actually $221 extra for the year ($4.25 x 52 right?). Do a lot of people do this?

Yeah you're right - sorry for the terrible math! I was counting the $4.25 as extra for the month instead of week. Now that I realize how much it is, I think I won't round up and use that money as other rewards. I'm sure out AP has no idea were giving her an extra $200+.

We give the exact amount each week, but we do give a bonus at the end of the year, and it varies by AP. It has ranged from $100 to over $1000 for an extension AP who we liked a lot. They can put it toward their travel month or their education costs when they get home.

Cash if you are happy with her - the amount varies dramatically. Tangible item if you aren't.

whaaaa?

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of this either. We also round up to $200, but that doesn't make for much more ($60 over the year?). We are generous at her birthday and Christmas and give her little gift cards or something every so often. We take her on a trip or two and pay for everything. When ours have left, we've taken them to a nice family dinner and include a friend if there's one we've gotten to know, drive her to the airport and say goodbye.

Interesting, I never thought to round up. Its actually $221 extra for the year ($4.25 x 52 right?). Do a lot of people do this?

I've never heard of this either. We also round up to $200, but that doesn't make for much more ($60 over the year?). We are generous at her birthday and Christmas and give her little gift cards or something every so often. We take her on a trip or two and pay for everything. When ours have left, we've taken them to a nice family dinner and include a friend if there's one we've gotten to know, drive her to the airport and say goodbye.

We have been very happy with ours but have given jewelry in the $100-$200 range as a goodbye gift.

Cash if you are happy with her - the amount varies dramatically. Tangible item if you aren't.

We usually have a goodby party for the AP or take her to a restaurant of her choice. We also round the weekly stipend to $200, which comes to a little over $200. No other monetary compensation given.

Anonymous wrote:Do you give cash? If so, how much?

What if you have been unhappy with your AP and are looking forward for her to leave? Would you give something?

I didn't know this was a thing. We have given all of our APs gifts on their birthdays, at holidays, and a parting gift (in addition to random "thank you" gift cards, etc.). Sometimes cash/AmEx gift card, and sometimes tangible items. But is it an expected thing to give a certain amount of money to the AP upon departure?

I probably would not give a departing AP with whom I was not happy an extravagant gift of cash or otherwise, though maybe something small just as a thank you for whatever she DID do for us. Unless it was a rematch. We have not given parting gifts to APs we sent into rematch.

Do you give cash? If so, how much?

What if you have been unhappy with your AP and are looking forward for her to leave? Would you give something?