I'm given a prepaid American Express card that auto loads $25/week (they will put on more if needed, which is rarely).

My share families split a gift card each month with my activity/craft allowance for the children. Yearly memberships to museums and classes are paid in advance by them. I am free to plan our days how I please and they trust that I will feed them healthy food when out.

After 4 months my boss gave me a credit card. I use it for any child related meals/errands/grocery store/etc... Sometimes I forget to leave the receipt but am never really asked to leave them either. The trust is mutual and I feel very lucky to not have to worry about anything we want to do. My boss even asked me to treat my husband and myself to a nice dinner when they were going out of town!! Love them...

We are in a share, and don't leave money (except for a small amount of emergency cash at the house, for use only in emergencies)--it's never even occurred to me to do so. However, we do pre-pay for any activities or classes planned. Expectation is that kids will only be doing those activities (they are all within walking distance) and will be home for lunch/nap--both families prepare lunch and snacks so there shouldn't be a need for treats. I would absolutely not expect our nanny to pay for something for the kids (nor would I expect her to pay for her own lunch or admission if they were somewhere that required this)--but I would also not expect her to plan an activity that required a meal out or admission somewhere new without letting us know. It may be different in a situation where the expectation is that the nanny will be planning activities more freely without consultation with the family, though (and I know it does work this way for some families). With a share and toddlers, we just find it much easier to have everyone just stick with the schedule (Mondays are storytime at the library, Tuesdays are the park, Thursdays are music class, etc.) Your new family may just be used to doing things this way.

The manny leaves me a list on Friday afternoons of where he's planning to take the kids the following week, along with the prices. I add to that the cost of errands we'll need him to run, round up to the nearest $20 and leave the cash in our Petty Cash envelope in the kitchen drawer. He puts change and receipts in each day as he spends. This way I can see exactly where the money is going.

I am surprised at PP above - I would feel awful about him paying for the zoo or an aquarium or something. That feels totally unprofessional.

Most families I've worked for won't give me money. I pay for everything out of my own pocket. I try to not spend a lot and do activities that are free. I also pack lots of snacks and water. We go to the park, splah parks, the library and on nature walks a lot.

PP here - to the extent the thing the toddler is asking for is frozen yogurt, you can make a fruit smoothie at home and freeze it into Popsicles for your charge. Good way to get the kids to leave the park!

We gave our nanny a debit card, but that was only after we had developed a good relationship with her and really gotten to know her. Before that, she took DC lots of places that were free and didn't require money and packed snacks and food from home. Even after, the debit card was really for special activities which she always ran by us first. What kinds of things does the toddler want or need that you don't have money for?

I've been with my current family for a year and a half now and we have a "fun money" envelope. DB puts $100.00 in it and once it's low, I'll tell him and he'll put another $100.00 in it. We use that money for trips to the zoo, going out to lunch, grabbing ice cream or for trips to the Dollar Tree for craft supplies, etc.

When she mentions it, say that is a great idea. I would be happy to take the kid if you leave money for him.

I'm curious - do the families you work for typically leave you money to do things with the kids? I'm coming out of a longterm nanny job I LOVED where I was left with a debit card to take the kids and do/buy whatever (within reason). My new family doesn't leave anything, and it's a little weird to be out with a toddler who wants something and not have any way to get it. MB is very specific about what the child eats so I'm sure she doesn't want her going out for lots of treats, but she mentioned sometimes she gets frozen yogurt after the park. Am I expected to pay?