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Babysitting 4 children/$$

Posted: Oct 7, 2015

I have posted before about babysitting 4 children a few nights a week. Upon hire, I was told I would get paid $35 a night (5 hours). I have logged in 4 nights. I have only gotten paid $75 so far - and that was after I pretty much had to beg for it.

I really enjoy the kids, they are great and I have a lot of fun. How do I address this issue?

My daughter (21 YO) helped me type up a babysitting log in my Excel program, keeping track of dates, charges and pay. She thinks I should give them an invoice every Friday of running charges.

Is that too invasive? Any input appreciated! TX

BTW - I really dont get any cleaning done :) LOL

;

Yikes - See msg

[ In Reply To ..]
So, you make $7 an hour to watch 4 kids? Let's start there with what is wrong with this picture.

Exactly the going rate has been more than that - for years

[ In Reply To ..]
Should be more like 7 an hour per kid and your daughter is ABSOLUTELY right..Also, make up a written contract so when they don't pay, you can take them to court and sue them. If you allow people to walk all over you they absolutely will.

In the 1980s.... - Lisa

[ In Reply To ..]
Back when I babysat in the early 1980s, the going rate was $1.00 to $1.25 an hour. I haven't babysat for money since. I had no idea what to charge. Thanks for all of your input.

Meant to Mention - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
...grown ups get paid more than teenagers. I really have no clue what the going rate is, but $7 an hour for 4 kids is not something I would do.

Definitely give them an invoice. - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I would tell them ahead of time that your daughter helped you make the Excel program to keep track of the dates and hours you babysit and that you'll give them an invoice on Friday. I would allow for some negotiation about when you get paid in case they get paid on a certain day and need to pay you then, but I wouldn't continue to work for them if they didn't pay regularly on an agreed upon day. I used to babysit and had one family that was going through some kind of financial crisis and negotiated a lower pay for me, but they always paid me on the day they said they would. They had their gas shut off at one point, but they still paid me. My point is, they should not take advantage and not pay you what they agreed to. Their kids should be important enough to them that they are willing to pay a fair wage to the person who cares for them.

Unacceptable! - Grammy

[ In Reply To ..]
When my kids were little I always paid the babysitter first...ALWAYS! Why would I want to piss off the person who is taking care of my children? They are definitely taking advantage of you. Invoice them and tell them you cannot continue to watch the kids until they have you up to date on pay.

It is not invasive to present - an invoice

[ In Reply To ..]
It is businesslike. You agreed to a fee for your services, you have provided the services, and you are entitled to be paid the agreed-upon fee in a timely manner.

You might need to get a written contract setting out your fee, the duties expected, etc., and exactly when you will be paid.

If it were me, if I hadn't been paid within a week of providing the babysitting service, I would not babysit again until they were caught up, and I'd put that in the contract.

It looks like you are going to need to keep on top of these people to make sure you are paid. Do not let them guilt you into working for less than you know you are worth or for free. Make them stick to the agreement.

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