Anonymous
Post 07/03/2014 06:56     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And no one HAS to live in Dupont.


This is what is pissing me off in this thread. Nannies whining "I DON'T EARN A LIVING WAGE. I WORK IN GEORGETOWN AND SHOULD BE PAID TO LIVE IN GEORGETOWN! I NEED $2800 A MONTH TO COVER RENT!!!!"

Nannies, go live in SE, pay $350 a month by splitting a 2BR and take the metro to anywhere in DC. It's not that hard.


SE? I'm sure if you ever even had to drive through SE, you'd have your music off, windows up, doors locked, and your head down. If you are okay with your nanny living in the slums, please exit the thread, because the grown ups are trying to have a conversation.

To the other posters suggesting silver spring, again, you are living in the past. Silver Spring may have been much cheaper than DC in the past. Where that $750/month Dupont studio is now $1800-$2300/month, a silver spring studio is $1600-$1800/month. I live in a semi-safe area of PG county, and my studio is $1275/month! I suppose I should split it with a stranger, ie. roommate?


I live in the Palisades in a 1BR that costs $1350. Its not updated but its nice, the building is nice, the neighborhood is great, and I'm right on MacArthur. I don't know where you are getting these crazy high inflated prices, but again a nanny should NOT be living in Georgetown/Palisades/NW/Etc, that is a LUXURY, you should be living downtown and splitting a place with a roommate. Teachers and young lawyers do this, why should a nanny not have too?
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2014 06:53     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can everyone just get off the high horse about housing? If you can't afford a 1-br, you get a studio, that's what people do. I lived in a studio apartment for 5 years after completing graduate school. That's for a professional job that required a master's degree.





What year did you graduate? Is it possible your experience no longer reflects the norm? I would be willing to live in a studio but nor for over a thousand dollars. I have heard that Hill interns are putting two sets of bunk beds in their studios to save money, though.


It was in 2001 and I paid $750 for a studio in Dupont. My salary at the time was the princely 32K.


Factor in inflation and appreciated values over the course of more than 10 years, you don't see how a nanny making little more than you made could be having a rough time? A quick search would allow you to see that studio apartments in DC are going for upwards of $1500/month+utilities. I'm a nanny with nearly a decade of experience, speak 3 languages, and a degree. I make around $40k. Like we said, you are incredibly out of touch.

If you're as qualified as you say you are, and you make only 40K, you've got no one but yourself to blame. What's your rate? Why not higher? Aren't nannies on this board swearing up and down that $25+/hr rates are very easy to find for one infant?


I have always said those nannies are troll(s) for one, and 2, I'm married so my rates don't need to be sky high. Stability is more important. And 3, I am also a business owner with a second income. My point was that many nannies make little more than PP made 10-15 years ago, and apartment costs, utility costs, and transportation costs are unrecognizeable from what she paid. She and many others are comparing apples to oranges.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2014 06:49     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And no one HAS to live in Dupont.


This is what is pissing me off in this thread. Nannies whining "I DON'T EARN A LIVING WAGE. I WORK IN GEORGETOWN AND SHOULD BE PAID TO LIVE IN GEORGETOWN! I NEED $2800 A MONTH TO COVER RENT!!!!"

Nannies, go live in SE, pay $350 a month by splitting a 2BR and take the metro to anywhere in DC. It's not that hard.


SE? I'm sure if you ever even had to drive through SE, you'd have your music off, windows up, doors locked, and your head down. If you are okay with your nanny living in the slums, please exit the thread, because the grown ups are trying to have a conversation.

To the other posters suggesting silver spring, again, you are living in the past. Silver Spring may have been much cheaper than DC in the past. Where that $750/month Dupont studio is now $1800-$2300/month, a silver spring studio is $1600-$1800/month. I live in a semi-safe area of PG county, and my studio is $1275/month! I suppose I should split it with a stranger, ie. roommate?
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2014 00:29     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:And no one HAS to live in Dupont.


This is what is pissing me off in this thread. Nannies whining "I DON'T EARN A LIVING WAGE. I WORK IN GEORGETOWN AND SHOULD BE PAID TO LIVE IN GEORGETOWN! I NEED $2800 A MONTH TO COVER RENT!!!!"

Nannies, go live in SE, pay $350 a month by splitting a 2BR and take the metro to anywhere in DC. It's not that hard.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 23:27     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So the pay should be dependent on how many children she has and whether she is single or not? Wouldn't that discriminate in terms of pay against single people solely on the basis of them being single? Or childless?

No. But as another poster has already said, any nanny you wish to employ on a full time basis, has a right to earn a "living" wage.


Living wage as defined by the government is below what the OP mentions (15/hr). If Maryland and DC got it wrong what is then living wage? A number please?


Well everyone in the main forum thinks you need at least $100k, so why don't we start there! But for real, I'm not sure if the living wage is recalculated each year or not, and I would be curious what factors they use to determine it. Maybe if we knew what those were, and what they value or undervalue certain things at, we could have a real discussion. For example some posters have tried to compare their experiences as grad students 15 years ago to making the same amount today. Obviously it isn't the same. Apartments, even studios are not $750/month in reality.


I don't think anyone here has said that nannies should only pay $750 a month in rent because that is what the poster paid fifteen years ago. The issue is whether a new, unproven, average-rate nanny is entitled to a wage that let's her keep a one-bedroom apartment in Dupont Circle plus a car rather than living in a modest walkup studio in Silver Spring and getting around by subway. It seems that a great many professionals on this board did pretty much that early on in their careers, because their skills and experience at the time were not valuable enough to support a one-bedroom plus car lifestyle.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 23:25     Subject: Where my pay goes

And no one HAS to live in Dupont.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 23:17     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can everyone just get off the high horse about housing? If you can't afford a 1-br, you get a studio, that's what people do. I lived in a studio apartment for 5 years after completing graduate school. That's for a professional job that required a master's degree.





What year did you graduate? Is it possible your experience no longer reflects the norm? I would be willing to live in a studio but nor for over a thousand dollars. I have heard that Hill interns are putting two sets of bunk beds in their studios to save money, though.

It was in 2001 and I paid $750 for a studio in Dupont. My salary at the time was the princely 32K.


Wait, you made more the the nanny, ten years ago - on top of rent being 200% cheaper. DuPont Circle studios are around $2500 per month now.


No, Dupont Studios are not $2500 now. A large (800-1000 SF) Dupont one bedroom goes for $2500 now.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 23:16     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can everyone just get off the high horse about housing? If you can't afford a 1-br, you get a studio, that's what people do. I lived in a studio apartment for 5 years after completing graduate school. That's for a professional job that required a master's degree.





What year did you graduate? Is it possible your experience no longer reflects the norm? I would be willing to live in a studio but nor for over a thousand dollars. I have heard that Hill interns are putting two sets of bunk beds in their studios to save money, though.


It was in 2001 and I paid $750 for a studio in Dupont. My salary at the time was the princely 32K.


Factor in inflation and appreciated values over the course of more than 10 years, you don't see how a nanny making little more than you made could be having a rough time? A quick search would allow you to see that studio apartments in DC are going for upwards of $1500/month+utilities. I'm a nanny with nearly a decade of experience, speak 3 languages, and a degree. I make around $40k. Like we said, you are incredibly out of touch.

If you're as qualified as you say you are, and you make only 40K, you've got no one but yourself to blame. What's your rate? Why not higher? Aren't nannies on this board swearing up and down that $25+/hr rates are very easy to find for one infant?
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 23:14     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The problem with your thinking is that just because you work hard does not mean you are entitled to all the nice things you described. If you want those things you should get a degree and earn more.

Would you stand up for the same idea if you replaced the word nanny with McDonalds worker?

Stop trying to change the wage for nannies, if you have a degree and don't like the pay in this field then go somewhere else. If you don't have a degree then you should be grateful for $15 an hour.

As a nanny here is where your money should go:
Rent: $500 ($1500 2 bedroom split 3 ways)
Transportation: get a bike
Health Insurance: not needed
Groceries: $200
Phone: $35 T-mobile, you don't need an iPhone, you are a nanny
That's $735. Since you earn well over $2000 a month you have plenty left for personal things or to put at least $500 a month away in savings to go to college.

Hope this helps you realize the error of your ways.


You're an idiot! How is health insurance " not needed". Garbage response from a trash person.


I don't want to put gas on the fire, because I think insurance is important, but I have been a nanny for over 10 years and have never had insurance. I didn't ever need it, if you are young and healthy you can get by without having insurance.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 22:30     Subject: Re:Where my pay goes

Nanny with low cost insurance, can you please share who you got the insurance through? I would like to find health care.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 22:28     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:The problem with your thinking is that just because you work hard does not mean you are entitled to all the nice things you described. If you want those things you should get a degree and earn more.

Would you stand up for the same idea if you replaced the word nanny with McDonalds worker?

Stop trying to change the wage for nannies, if you have a degree and don't like the pay in this field then go somewhere else. If you don't have a degree then you should be grateful for $15 an hour.

As a nanny here is where your money should go:
Rent: $500 ($1500 2 bedroom split 3 ways)
Transportation: get a bike
Health Insurance: not needed
Groceries: $200
Phone: $35 T-mobile, you don't need an iPhone, you are a nanny
That's $735. Since you earn well over $2000 a month you have plenty left for personal things or to put at least $500 a month away in savings to go to college.

Hope this helps you realize the error of your ways.


You're an idiot! How is health insurance " not needed". Garbage response from a trash person.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 22:14     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So the pay should be dependent on how many children she has and whether she is single or not? Wouldn't that discriminate in terms of pay against single people solely on the basis of them being single? Or childless?

No. But as another poster has already said, any nanny you wish to employ on a full time basis, has a right to earn a "living" wage.


Living wage as defined by the government is below what the OP mentions (15/hr). If Maryland and DC got it wrong what is then living wage? A number please?


I noticed that too. But at least one nanny making $14 is still receiving section 8 housing. Anyone know how the federal poverty number relates to the living wage?


If I could make $20 an hour and still be given Section 8 accommodations I wouldn't turn them down, I don't get off on paying more money for no reason.


Your MB is also unlikely to get off paying more money for no reason.

On the other hand, some parents are more than happy to pay top wages for the top-notch care their child gets during their absence.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 22:07     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So the pay should be dependent on how many children she has and whether she is single or not? Wouldn't that discriminate in terms of pay against single people solely on the basis of them being single? Or childless?

No. But as another poster has already said, any nanny you wish to employ on a full time basis, has a right to earn a "living" wage.


Living wage as defined by the government is below what the OP mentions (15/hr). If Maryland and DC got it wrong what is then living wage? A number please?


I noticed that too. But at least one nanny making $14 is still receiving section 8 housing. Anyone know how the federal poverty number relates to the living wage?


If I could make $20 an hour and still be given Section 8 accommodations I wouldn't turn them down, I don't get off on paying more money for no reason.


Your MB is also unlikely to get off paying more money for no reason.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 21:55     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Of course, let me double your pay just for the asking while there are dozens of others who would do your job for the current level of pay. Does not compute, sorry.


If you are someone's sole employer, and you employ them FT, I do not care if you are Walmart or Mrs. Jones, the salary you pay must be enough to support that person in a healthy way. That includes health insurance, decent groceries, and the ability to choose a living environment that is comfortable and safe.


Would you or OP care to quantify it?



I am guessing that it would be a sum of the average cost of the things OP outlined. I am not sure saving for emergencies would make the list. All the other categories seem reasonable. Some things that are important but not on her list would have to be added, such as utilities and personal care like laundry. To me a living wage is based on the average cost of living, not the cheapest and not the nicest.
Anonymous
Post 07/02/2014 21:45     Subject: Where my pay goes

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So the pay should be dependent on how many children she has and whether she is single or not? Wouldn't that discriminate in terms of pay against single people solely on the basis of them being single? Or childless?

No. But as another poster has already said, any nanny you wish to employ on a full time basis, has a right to earn a "living" wage.


Living wage as defined by the government is below what the OP mentions (15/hr). If Maryland and DC got it wrong what is then living wage? A number please?


I noticed that too. But at least one nanny making $14 is still receiving section 8 housing. Anyone know how the federal poverty number relates to the living wage?


If I could make $20 an hour and still be given Section 8 accommodations I wouldn't turn them down, I don't get off on paying more money for no reason.