TTC does not always equal a new baby.

I would take the health insurance contribution now. If you wait for a new baby raise, you will (a) definitely not get it for at least a year, and (b) possibly not get it at all.

Ask for $50 raise (it doesn't matter if it is for insurance or something else as you have the insurance regardless) and then another $50 when baby is born. If you push/ask for too much given you just started 4 months ago, you risk losing the job to a lower cost nanny.

Anonymous wrote:OP, maybe you should run the math a bit. A health insurance contribution isn't taxable to you or your employers in the way that salary is - so will $1,200 a year (the health insurance contribution) work out to more dollars in your pocket than a $1/hr raise that's taxable?

So that's one thing to think about. Also, a health insurance cont could start now - whereas a baby might not arrive for a year or more, so there's the money you could get now vs. the money that may (or may not) materialize in the future.

And there's the psychology of getting the health insurance $ now and then seeing what they can/will do when/if a baby arrives. If they love you and don't want to lose you, perhaps they'll be able to manage a raise at that point.

Thanks, yes I'm starting to run numbers and all that now. We only recently discussed all this and I figured that while I was looking in to it, I would come here and see what I could learn from others. You have some good points, some of which I've been considering. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Well... If I really wanted an apple, but I also really wanted a banana, and I only had enough money for one, would the shop owner need to give me one of those things for free?

Not very helpful, the family I work for and myself are both looking for a compromise. It's not exactly "one or the other" just a combination so that both parties are happy. While I want to make a decent living, I also would like to keep this job and they would like to keep me although they can't afford to pay a lot more then what they are. Since I've never been in this situation before, I'm trying to see what others would do or what ideas they could come up with.

OP, maybe you should run the math a bit. A health insurance contribution isn't taxable to you or your employers in the way that salary is - so will $1,200 a year (the health insurance contribution) work out to more dollars in your pocket than a $1/hr raise that's taxable?

So that's one thing to think about. Also, a health insurance cont could start now - whereas a baby might not arrive for a year or more, so there's the money you could get now vs. the money that may (or may not) materialize in the future.

And there's the psychology of getting the health insurance $ now and then seeing what they can/will do when/if a baby arrives. If they love you and don't want to lose you, perhaps they'll be able to manage a raise at that point.

Well... If I really wanted an apple, but I also really wanted a banana, and I only had enough money for one, would the shop owner need to give me one of those things for free?

Hello All!
I'll try to keep my situation brief: I currently work for a (wonderful!) family, caring for their 3 YO. I've been working with them for about 4 months and all has been going great. Recently we were discussing the possibility of them helping me out with my health insurance premium. They were pretty receptive to that but brought up some concerns as well. They are TTC and will hopefully become pregnant soon. If they do, they were of course planning on raising the rate with the additional child but are concerned that they won't afford to do both the raise and the health insurance contribution. I completely understand this, as they are supporting their growing family and that would essentially be 2 raises in just over a year's span. They do currently pay me a fair rate. I was thinking of asking for about $100 / month for my health insurance premium, about 50% of it.

My question is what would you do? Ask for a combination of the two now and then have no increase in rate when they have a second? Or just the health care? Ask for a lower contribution towards my premium and then still a raise for a second LO? Also, I've been reading that, on average, an additional child raise is about $1-$2 an hour or about 5%-10% of your salary. Does this seem about right? I've always began work with past families right after they had their 2nd or 3rd child so I've never increased the rate because of this.

Thanks!