So currently I have been watching 3 kids ages 2, 5, and 7 for a few months now. I have been watching the younger two full time and the oldest about 2 hours a day.
I was getting paid $1000 a month for that. Now that it is summer and I have to watch all three full time I still have to pick them up from there house 30 minutes away and I have to bring them back to my house.
I have to feed them all two meals plus snacks. I also have to pay for activities.
I also just found out she is claiming me on her taxes which means I need to pay taxes next year.
I feel like I'm getting screwed. I need help on how much I should ask to charge and how should I ask her? Please help!
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Comments (23)
You may need to consult with a tax lawyer. That is someone who does taxes and has an E.A. or Enrolled Agent after their name. The reason I say this, is if she claimed you last year and you didn't know, you may be caught and audited later, if the IRS ever investigates.
You also need to find out what the law is in regards to watching children. I know in California, if you do it at the person's house, you are a nanny/babysitter. If you do it at your house, you must be a licensed day care.
As for how much you should charge. I believe in a free and open market. Your time is only worth that which someone is paying to pay you for it. You could raise your fee, and she may decide you are not worth it, and let you go. Then you will need a new job. So make sure you proceed cautiously and make sure the person is willing to pay you more, before you risk your job and wind up with nothing.
I agree with the person above. Definately consult a tax lawyer for peace of mind. I think it's wrong to claim someone on your taxes without discussing it with them first.
As far as pay is concerned, I have 3 questions: 1. Are you finding you're not really profiting from the current amount you're being paid? If you find more than, I'd say, half is going towards feeding the kids, keeping them entertained, and transporting them to and from, maybe it isn't worth keeping the job. I'm sure you have bills to pay as well, and if you're struggling to make ends meet, maybe it's time to look for something else. 2. How good is the relationship between you and the parent? If you're getting along well, I'd think it would be fine to discuss a change. A change in pay may not get you anything except fired, but maybe you could ask her about watching the kids in their own home at least some the time or asking her to provide one of the meals. 3. What is the mother's situation? If she's a single mother, she may not be able to afford to pay you more, and $1000/mo for 3 kids seems fair. I may be wrong because I don't know what the cost of living is where you reside, but here in UT, that sounds pretty good.
I used to work in a daycare/pre school/kindergarten center. We provided breakfast, lunch and a snack. We provided all materials, transportation to and from school for the older kids, took the 5-12y/o kids on field trips, and fully funded all activities. We also charged parents a buttload, and when working full time, my take home was less than what you're making now.
I think you should do the math to figure out what your hourly wage comes out to and see if that's fair. I also agree with @ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake@xanga that you should consult a tax and or legal professional (or at the very least do some online research regarding childcare laws and regulations in your area!). I also agree that you should gauge your employer before asking for a raise; while she is clearly enjoying the services of a private nanny at a bargain rate (less than some daycares, if I understand correctly), this doesn't mean she is necessarily able to pay you significantly more--she might instead opt to let you go and put the kids in daycare.
@rachmorgan01 - If she's making $1000/mo but food, transportation, and activities are coming out of her pocket, I'm betting she's actually making way less take-home. $1000/mo for a 160-hour month (4 40-hr weeks) comes out to 6.25/hr. Slightly less than min wage, which I don't think applies to this arrangement but is still a good gauge of fairness, I think.
250 a week is awful for full time. are you obligated to pay for activities or is it something extra you do? do you mean YOU pay for the food? thats crazy. is she poor or does she just not value you? i have been a way underpaid babysitter for a low-income family when i was younger and didn't have much financial responsibility and i didnt mind, but if the parents can afford to pay you a liveable wage and choose not to, id move on.
that's insane. I was paid $700 a week to watch one 13 year old where they paid for activities and food and all I paid for was gas.
If you're working 40-hour work weeks, you are being significantly underpaid for 3 children. I babysat 2 children (age 4 and 2) for several months last year for a couple of friends while I was between "real" (much easier) jobs. I was $14/hour and that's on the low end.
There are two choices: working under the table (she doesn't report that she's paying wages to you, you don't report the income you earn), which is technically illegal but common among nannies. It does put you in a dangerous position if you either get hurt on the job or if you have a work related issue with your employer (like if they decide not to pay at some point).
Or, you can be official. If she is claiming you on their taxes and you are not working through a nanny service (the service would be your employer), then she is liable for a) at least minimum wage b) the employer contribution to your taxes c) worker's compensation and unemployment insurance. And you are liable for you federal taxes, including Medicaid and Social Security as well as any state/local taxes.
I have both been a nanny and been a bookkeeper who worked closely with a professional CPA. If you're uncomfortable lawyering up, you could probably do a consultation with a CPA about the tax issues for a more affordable hourly rate than a lawyer. It's what they do. They would also be familiar with the pros/cons of the options.
Also check out your state's Department of Labor site.
As an afterthought, there may be some risk of losing the job if you ask for what you're worth and to be properly treated. It sounds like they're trying to get their childcare as cheap as possible. Bear in mind that if you have a good background with children (good references from people you've babysat for, etc) that you can probably find another position. If you want to argue your case, remind them that even at twice what they're paying you now, it would still be A LOT, A LOT, A LOT cheaper than putting all three kids in daycare.
Where do you live? If you live in a high-cost area like California, you should be paid more. If you live in Mississippi, that's another story. I live in a low-cost area and the local general salary is about 20-30k. I pay the baby-sitter an average of 500 dollars a month or 6 thousand dollars a year for full-time care. She watches only one child. The day cares around my area cost a bit lower ~400 and the private "upscale" ones cost about 650.
If you are caring for three children full-time for 1k where I live, it would be a decent wage. However, the extra costs - gas, food, and activities - should be picked up by them. Tell them your situation and list to to them the extra costs (ex. gas, etc.) and the extra services (ex.picking them up and driving them back, tutoring, etc.). Give them options such as (1)Give you ~ $150 to 200 raise OR (2) They pack their own food, have the activities, and pay you ~50 to 60 bucks for gas OR (3) Whatever else is suitable to you.
I hope everything goes well for you.
P.S. If you are making at or below poverty level, your taxes would not be too high or even negilible. However, as other suggested, talk to a tax professional about your situation.
Oh, wow. I work for a family with four kids. I usually work three days a week, and I make give or take $1200 a month. And THEY are paying for meals and any activities.
i babysat for a friend her daughter was 1 1/2, it worked out to about 40 hours a week it was supposed to be long term, after a week i was done. I had just had my own baby and was healing. She offered 140 a week which my husband agreed to (i thought it was way too low) then asked if i was going to provide her breakfast, lunch, diapers ect. out of pocket and expected me to teach and potty train since she wouldnt have time, when i said no she cut it back to 100. I didnt know what she prefferred her kid to eat and didnt really feel like dealing with it since i was tired and hurting. After a couple days i couldnt pick her up to put her in her high chair or the potty because i hurt so bad and tore some stiches, then when she started yelling at the baby and shake the bassinet as soon as i got her to sleep and laid her down, and throwing things at her for my attention i had enough. $2.50 an hour was not even close to worth my time, much less personal injury, and risk to my own baby.
When I used to babysit, I only did it a few nights a week and got paid a decent wage - it was at their house, and they provided a meal for me and the two children (aged 3 and 5), and offered to drive me home if it was really late or if I couldn't get a lift from my parents. I think it depends on where you live, the average minimum wage etc.
Figure out how much you're earning an hour, and you can find out whether you're earning minimum wage or not. Then, you need to factor in expenses. If, after that, you're struggling to make minimum wage, that's not fair on you - the least they can do is offer to raise your salary so you can feed/amuse their children. However, be prepared for them to say "take it or leave it" - you've agreed to this salary all this time, and they have no obligation to keep you on if you demand a raise. Good luck!
omg you are giving your work for free please come and take care of my kids, are youv crazyyyyyyyyyyy my mother in law charges 1400 a month to take care only of a 2 yaers old they paid her in addition the gas she spend to go there and they give her the 3 meals she works 9 to 6, so for three kids i would charge at least 2000 not including any meals food and snackss im sorry for you some people are just terrible but dont worry you need just to talk about your salary o quit and find something better good look and never again let another person take advantage of you.
Two words: Slave labor. You're pretty much working for near to under minimum wage.The cost for gas, food & activities for three children can sky rocket quickly & it sounds like in the end all your paycheck of 1,000 dollars is going to THEIR children. Plus, the fact the mother is putting you on their taxes is messed up if they are continuing to pay you so lowly.
My advice would be: You have a sit down with the mother & explain that either she & her husband start giving you an allowance for their kids for food & activities plus a little extra for gas money alone, since you have to drive 30 minutes back & forth OR she needs to up your paycheck significantly. Or you could always threaten to have a lawyer look into this, since she's claiming you on her taxes; therefore she by law is required to give you a normal paycheck. I have never been a nanny so I can't say what you should up your price to be, I would read others comments for that but I can say that I use to work as a TA in a 1st grade classroom & right off the bat I was getting ten dollars an hour. Pulling in 600-700 dollars bi-weekly. For helping a teacher & another TA with the classroom I was getting rather good money. So to hear that you're a single nanny for THREE kids & have to pay for their food & activities & aren't reimbursed for your gas makes me question the honor that the mom & dad you're working for have.
@galliver@xanga - You're absolutely right about the rate being less than minimum wage. When I read the original post, i knew she was working full time. However, when I was writing my comment, I thought she was working part time for some reason. My fault for not going back and correcting myself.
@DarkMeru@xanga - I went through a similar situation with a friend last year. Her daughter was 6mo when I agreed to watch her full time for $380/mo. I thought the pay was insanely low, but she was one of my best friends and she was also struggling with finances at the time, so I took the job as a favor to her. I had the baby from 6am to 5pm mon-fri, and ended up only getting $200 the first month. Needless to say, I was really upset at receiving less than what was agreed upon, and knowing it averaged out to less than a dollar an hour had my blood boiling. I have 3 children of my own, and my friend's baby was very clingy (she'd cry if I even so much as attempted to put her down). I watched her for 2 more weeks before quitting, and unfortunately, our friendship has never been the same. She honestly felt she was being more than fair to me, and I felt I was being taken advantage of. I think parents should look into daycares before settling on a sitter/nanny to get an idea of what they should be paying someone to look after their children....
@rachmorgan01 - now that i think about it i had her about 10-11 hours every day she dropped her off at around 7 and her husband picked the baby up around 5 sometimes 6. She went home instead of getting the girl so she could clean and start dinner. All that for about 2 an hour and with my own newborn was just not even close to worth it. She told me that she planned on claiming child care on their taxes and to make sure i claimed it as income lol. My husband and her husband are best friends and was complaining that now her job basically pays for the daycare. Whats more confusing is that she has a degree yet works in a bank as a teller, and the husband has a well paying job and she doesnt even have to work if she didnt want to.
You should be charging $600-900 a WEEK since most daycares charge $300-400 per week per child. You're getting screwed because you're offering the children a higher quality of care than they would get in a daycare.
@DarkMeru@xanga - That is insane! She should have picked up her daughter instead of going straight home. It wasn't up to you to continue watching their child so mommy could start dinner! I hope the friendships are still okay between you all. Why doesn't she utilize her degree or quit working all together if it isn't worth paying for daycare? My friend is a single mom who lives with her mother. They both work full time at the same company, and somehow couldn't afford to pay me more.... Aside from the crazy low payment, the drop off and pick up times didn't make sense. My friend's mom would drop the baby off @ 6am, but didn't have to be to work until 8am. Even if traffic were bad (and here, it doesn't pick up until around 8am), their workplace was only 25min or so from my home. My friend would pick up her baby from me @ 5pm even though she was off work @ 4pm. Doesn't take an hour to get to my house.... I personally felt she was just afraid to be alone with the baby and would goof off after work instead of coming to get her daughter so they'd both arrive home in time to meet Grandma. Both women had unrealistic expectations for their daughter/granddaughter's care. I'm not a fan of letting a baby "cry it out," but I couldn't hold her every second of the day, and sometimes, she'd have to cry for a few minutes while I took care of my 3 kids. My friend wanted me to make her daughter my top and only priority, and felt this was reasonable because she was paying me. She also had absolutely no back up plan whatsoever. I was expected to take the baby if she was sick, if I was sick, and if anyone in my home was sick, and then they got mad at me when my youngest passed his cold onto the baby.... The last straw for me was when my friend asked me to watch her baby on a Saturday because both her and her mother had to work. They actually spent the day shopping (good ol' Facebook... Catches people every time).
@rachmorgan01 - I really dont know why she wouldnt pick up her baby. She works about 5 minutes from where i live and her husband works about 30 minutes away, then its another 20 minutes to their house depending on traffic. She picked her up one of the days and was excited to see her for about two minutes then just ignored her. When she left she sighed and kinda drug herself out the door like she really didnt feel like dealing with anything. Maybe she needed a break, but she only sees her daughet a max of 6-7 hours a day. On the other hand she acted like her child was gods gift to the world almost like i was so lucky and should be paying to get to spend time with her daughter... that how every mom feels about her own baby but not other peoples. The kid had no boundried either whenever she gets into something or does something she isnt supposed to she laughs because thats what her parents do they laugh and say no no no. She liked to terrorize my cat too she would yank on his tale and he would hiss and run away i had to snap at her everytime she approached Simba, her mom would just laugh about it. My other cat Milo was actually theirs untill they had the baby then he started peeing everywhere. Turned out they werent feeding him regularly and completely ingored cleaning his litter box. He has never had a single accident since we have had him which has been about 2 years now. He would hide under the couch all day untill they were gone, he doesnt have an issue with our baby and will go right up to her, only thing i can think is thier scent still scares him. When he would go up to the husband he would scare him or pick him up and sort of toss him or push him away. Poor thing had a very dull coat and shed like crazy when we got him now he is shiny with a regular shed. Sweet cat too simba only likes his head scratched and will lay next to you, but Milo will sleep with you and cuddle up on your lap and loves scratched everywhre accept his head. How they could be so mean to a little 7 pound love kitten who just wants love and is scared of thunder is also beyond me. Her kid is sick everytime i see them her nose is constantly running bright green and she has a very horse voice all the time, the few times we have hung out she lets her sick kid get right in my babies face almost like its intentional, she keeps doing it even after i say something until i take her. Needless to say i just sort of avoid her whenever i can now my husband convinced me to go over there a couple months ago she played with my baby for about half an hour then got mad when i asked her to not let her daughter get in mines face since she was sick, after that she went upstairs and left me to watch her kid until we left. Heh sorry kinda started venting i just dont get how she expects other people to worship the ground her baby walk on.
I was a nanny for a little over a year. I was making the same amount as you, I watched one child (an infant) and had longer hours (45). I cant imagine only charging 250 a week for three children...even just two children I would charge at least 300. People seem to forget that having a Nanny is a
luxuryand not the same as a home daycare where your children are herded around like cattle and receive minimal attention. Also most home daycare's charge per child in a family, so if it is a decent daycare it could be 400-500 per week for three kids.
You should be getting at least 10 dollars an hour for your services...but like someone else was saying, you will only be paid if the family thinks you're worth it. To me they seem totally cheap, they have been getting an amazing deal!
@DarkMeru@xanga - Venting is always good, so no worries! Sounds to me like this mama needs a bracing reality check! And that poor little kitty! Makes me so angry when people neglect or abuse their animals. As far as letting her child expose your baby to sickness... This is disgusting! She should really know better, or at least be mindful of your feelings. My friend was the same way when it came to her daughter. Both her and her mother were appalled when I said they needed to get a new sitter. They just couldn't believe how I didn't see it as a privilage to be taking care of her. Now, I loved that little girl and always did my best to take care of her, but my kids needed me, and I had to do what was best for my own family. Just last week, my friend advertised on Facebook that they are in the market for a new sitter. Her daughter is 15mo old, and they've gone through 6 sitters because they "can't seem to find someone who suits their needs." They are not realistic with their expectations and unfortunately, that poor little girl is suffering because of it. I can only imagine how hard it is for that child to be switching sitters every few months. I told her she has three choices: 1. Be more realistic with her expectations regarding her daughter's care and be willing to pay a sitter a fair amount. 2. Find a daycare so her child can have some consistency. 3. Quit her job. Needless to say, she's mad at me ha ha.
Wow some of these quotes on daycare makes me wonder where the heck you all are sending your kids. To Yale's pre-K?? WOW we pay $250 a month here for full time pre-K for my son. At a private christian school. I think it all depends on how much they make. And what kind of arrangement you have. If you feel you are entitled to a raise for watching the other child then ask them if they are willing to pay you more. I would not consider you a nanny though either. More of a babysitter. I think nanny's are more of a round the clock care/live in babysitter.