Babysitting - How Much $$ is Good?

<p>A neighbor asked me if I were available to babysit her 2yr old daughter sometime. She said she'll mainly need me during the nighttime (8:30pm) and possibly allnighters. </p>

<p>I researched and came up with:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=163206&page=1&pp=15%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=163206&page=1&pp=15&lt;/a>
but I'm still confused. lol</p>

<p>I have no experience whatsoever. She said she likes me because I seem nice (aka no drugs/alcohol/life lol) -_-</p>

<p>What's a good price? How much do you guys charge per hour?</p>

<p>Ha that's my post! </p>

<p>Well it depends on your neighborhood but, for normal nighttime babysitting in a middle class kinda neighborhood $6-$8 per hour is typical. </p>

<p>But don't name your price. Let her decide what to pay you first. Like if she hands you $12/hour go for it. But if she gives you $5/hour say that's too low and name your price.</p>

<p>I try to negotiate too basically.</p>

<p>What caro said makes sense because someone I sit for offered me 15 an hr and I sure wasnt turning that down! lol</p>

<p>I tried, but she insisted that I find a price and tell her. Oh dang. </p>

<p>I was thinking maybe 7 or 8/hr because Cali's minimum wage is $6.75?</p>

<p>How rich is the lady..</p>

<p>i've always just taken what i'm offered...roughly $8-10/hour.</p>

<p>She insisted you find a price ?!?! I would be kind of weary of her. The one thing I've found is not to get involved with weird families. Has she never had a babysitter before?</p>

<p>Hahahah oh boy, no I don't think she's a psychopath (I hope not anyway).</p>

<p>That was my first time even talking to her. I never normally associate with the neighbors. </p>

<p>I have no idea how rich she is lol. From the way she talked to me, it appeared she either had no previous babysitters, or she thinks they charge too much and wants me to go way lower? -_-</p>

<p>Hmm... I think I'll call her tomorrow and see if we can discuss this in person. I'll print out my resume and offer to hand her copies of my teacher recs to impress her with my professionalism =P</p>

<p>It's a babysitting job, not an Ibanking interview.</p>

<p>Just ask for 7.50 and be content. If you ask for more you're just pushing it. </p>

<p>Secondly, do you think you'll be sitting with the kid 20+ hours a week? In the end, those quarters won't matter because a) you dont need to spend that much, b) you dont have to pay 35% to taxes c) you wont work enough</p>

<p>so work for 7.50 and make a good friend and be a good babysitter.</p>

<p>When I visited Cali in November, I saw an ad at Carls Jr for 15.00 an hour. But of course, this was in L.A. In any respect, shoot high with regards to wage. I would ask for ten dollars an hour plus free supper. No need to spend your own money on food.</p>

<p>
[quote]
It's a babysitting job, not an Ibanking interview.</p>

<p>Just ask for 7.50 and be content. If you ask for more you're just pushing it. </p>

<p>Secondly, do you think you'll be sitting with the kid 20+ hours a week? In the end, those quarters won't matter because a) you dont need to spend that much, b) you dont have to pay 35% to taxes c) you wont work enough</p>

<p>so work for 7.50 and make a good friend and be a good babysitter.

[/quote]

$7.50/hr sounds very reasonable.</p>

<p>Ask for $20, and if she says no, then just smile and be like "you told me to name my price." Then she should give you her own number.</p>

<p>lol! Or she'll politely turn me away forever, and I'll feel apprehensive every time I walk out my door. </p>

<p>I think I'll name $8 (I don't like change in general...)?</p>

<p>I would shoot lower...no more than $7. If she thinks you're doing a good job she should pay you more.</p>

<p>Why would you offer low? You have no connection to this person other than the fact that she is your neighbor. You don't really care if she blows you off or whatever. If shes willing to pay more, take it. Don't depend on her to give you a better price.</p>

<p>If she turns you away forever, then she has no sense of humor and you wouldnt want to work for her anyway.</p>

<p>Am I the only one that thinks like Trump? Really, shoot as high as you can get. $10.00 is good, but what about your insurance. If said child gets hurt under your care, your liable to be sued and participate in an extensive law suit. I would also have her sign a waiver stating that you are not responsible for any personal injuries or illnesses. I am just trying to help you legally.</p>

<p>Repeat: $10.00 an hour plus free supper, also have her sign a waiver form.</p>

<p>Give me a break. $7.00 is way to low. As Trump says,"Think big, or get out."</p>

<p>Hahahah. Well if I get hungry, I can always just run home to get food. I mean, I live like... 2 doors down. </p>

<p>Yeah, the thing I'm most worried about is the liability issue. I handed in my resume, references, and a rough weekly schedule of when I'll be available. They'll call me lolol.</p>

<p>Gosh, the BabySitter's Club had things so easy...</p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice! I keep you all updated lol</p>

<p>i say 8 an hour is fairly reasonable.
and by 8:30 and up, the kid AND you probably had supper already...</p>

<p>Hahah agreed!</p>

<p>Aww the lady said she was only 27 months. I was hoping for like a 5yr old, so I can teach her to read, add, subtract and be a nerd! :P</p>

<p>if you think you live in a fairly well off neighborhood--ask for $9-10</p>

<p>middle class--$7-8</p>