I think you could normally go either way on this (but its not like its going to break you) but I do think you set a precedent by paying her on the last snow day, and she likely expects that you will this time. Not paying her would be a really good way to piss her off and lose her. Is it worth it?

I completely agree with 15:29. It's up to you.

If i want to use someone reliably and not end up having to replace them then I would guarantee hours (i.e. pay her whenever she is free to work if it is the normal scheduled slot for her to come). If I don't really care if I need to shop for a new sitter then I don't.

That question is up to you OP. In my case, I guarantee my nanny's hours. I do not guarantee my date night sitter's hours since she works only occassionally for us and if she decided to stop doing so it would not be so hard to find a new date night sitter (for when my kids are awake for roughly 1 hour).

How reliable to you expect her to be? You should be just as reliable with payment. She sets these hours aside for you, she GUARANTEES this time to you. Why would you not do the same? This could make a world of difference to her financially. It just seems like the right thing to do.

You cancelled. You pay.

It's a measure of goodwill, not throwing away money. If I had been canceled on without being paid, I would be more likely to call out in the future.

If you canceled then you should pay

OP here, no contract just a verbal agreement. She is a part-time babysitter.

Set hours and guaranteed hours are two different things. Is there a contract? What does it say?

OP here, she does have set hours for the 9 hours a week.

I would not. You gave her as much notice as possible, she's quarter time, I assume she doesn't have guaranteed hours. I'm not cheap, but I don't waste money.

MB just pay her. cheap ass.

OP here,
She wasn't scheduled until 3:00pm the height of the storm, but yes I called her in the morning so she wouldn't have to worry.

Did you tell her not to come last night? If you cancelled on her, then you should pay her, but if she decided not to come, you don't need to pay her.

We have a babysitter each week who works 2 evenings for a total of 9 hours. Last snow day we paid her anyway. My husband says we are being to generous and should only pay when she is at work. What do you think, pay or not pay? She has another job, so we are not her only source of income if that matters.