job offer !! , I need your advice!** UPDATE ** pg 3

[australorpchick]

Yes, go for it.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Most babysitting jobs are paid cash on hand--are they not? Whereas working for a company, you have deductions. Look into that.

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

Okay I looked online and this is what I found:

Nanny Salary

There are many variables that need to be considered when deciding a nanny's salary. Experience, Responsibilities, Number of children in the Family, Live in or Live out arrangements, area in which you live (cost of living for your nanny) and any benefits that you're offering your Nanny.

Experience is the most important aspect to consider. Bottom line, this is what you are paying for. The salary that you're considering should reflect the amount of experience the nanny has.

Your child(ren) are the #1 Responsibility of any Nanny you are considering to join your Family, but there may be other tasks that you may ask of the nanny. Grocery shopping, errands, laundry, housekeeping or cooking are just a few things it takes to run a household smoothly. The house and its everyday/week routines takes time, energy and organization and should be compensated. Also, does the nanny have experience in performing the tasks at hand and how well? That question can only be answered by talking to their references.

Number of children in the family also needs to be a factor. The Nanny's responsibility level is raised with the amount of children that she must look after and take care of.

Living arrangements for your nanny need to be addressed. Live out Nannies are generally paid more because you are not offering room, board, food and car as a benefit. Live in Nannies are paid less because you are offering them room/board and possibly a car.

Area in which you live plays a part. Just as in any other job the cost of living in the area reflects your salary.

Benefits that should be considered in the nanny's salary are health, vacation time, sick days, overtime, traveling and the use of a car.


Average National Nanny Salaries

Live in (average 45-50 hours - $400-$600 weekly)

Live out (average 45-50 hours - $500-$700 weekly)

Mother's helper (average - $8-13 per/hour)


*Overnight Care -- Anything over regular working hours can be paid in an hourly wage or can be done on a set wage basis (if it is longer than a couple of days

...really that much ?​

 

[Suellyn]

I'm going to play "devil's advocate" here, just for another perspective

.

If your ultimate goal is to work at the Library, what if Bea's daughter (and grandchildren) LOVE you?? Which they probably will... Will Bea be willing to pull you out of her daughter's employment, to give you a job at the Library?

Also, something that may be helpful is to browse thru your local Craigslist to see if you can find out the average "going rate" for Nannies/Babysitters in your area. You could also check with local daycare centers.

Salaries for childcare is SOOOOO tough... on one hand, you are doing the most important job in the world and should be paid a gazillion dollars, BUT, realistically, most working families can only affford to pay so much.... or our entire paycheck is going towards "someone else to raise our kids"!!! It's a really tough situation on both sides!!

That having been said, I think that $250/week (or even $300) is "low end" salary, BUT it is quite possibly all they can fairly afford to pay (?), and if it is a job you LIKE, with "benefits" like more time off, etc., then it may still be well worth it. !!

PS: For anyone with "sticker shock" at the cost of childcare, think of it this way.... $300/week means you are being paid LESS than $8/hr (!!!)... To watch not one, but TWO children all day. NOT much money to be earning, BUT a lot of money to be "paying out".... Like I said, kinda a "double edged sword"...

Good luck!! All in all it's YOUR quality of life that matters the most!!!

 

[HobokenChickenEmergency]

I agree with Suellyn. Also keep in mind that daycare centers usually require some sort of child development certification, even if the employee has 10 kids of her own. Silly, I know. Most licensed daycares also take state vouchers as payment too, so there's not really a comparison. They HAVE to charge more, for continuing education, fees, advertising, etc.

I might have missed it, but are you just watching the kids at her house? Or do you have to take them places (I would assume not, since they're little)? Is there light housekeeping involved? I mean, other than cleaning up after the kids themselves?

$200-$250 seems reasonable to me for babysitting the kids, cleaning up after them, etc. If there are other duties, the price goes up.

Hope this helps you decide!

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

Sue
I did post about Bea and the library position and she knows I will still want the position when it becomes available ( Bea does not do the hiring), and she said she would still recommend me for it. Her daughter knows this too. Mother is a school teacher and I am not for sure what dad does, all I know is she really wants her children to be at home, together, with a loving responsible care giver (we all want are children to be with someone we can trust when we are not with them).

Hoboken
yes I will be keeping the children at their home, and I can take them on outings (park ,zoo, doctor's visit, Grandma's house) if the parents would like me too. I have no problem with that ( yes I would expect to be compensated for my gas ). I would do some light house work such as cleaning the children's room, bed sheets, dishes, and children's laundry. I don't mind at all, but I will not for example take the trash to the curb and plant flowers etc.. I will also be cooking nutritious (hope I spelled that right) meals for the children. As for certification, I have been (not currently) certified in child CPR and I have worked at a day care in the past and received child development classes, worked in the church nursery, do VBS at church every year, been a sunday school teacher, and have done babysitting in the past in my own home. Not to mention I am mother myself. Shew just writing all that wears me out..anyhoo I do want to charge a reasonable rate to the parents, but I don't want to short change myself either.

 

[Suellyn]

Sounds like you have all bases covered.... so I think my advice is now: go for it

!! But I still think you need to look into fair salary request.....

Your qualifications sound great, and believe me, i had a HORRIBLE time finding someone around here who would even consider doing childcare in MY home, even with a very competitive salary offer!! They are fortunate to have found you, I know you are not "in it for the money", but don't sell yourself short, either!

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

Thanks Sue !

 

[JennsPeeps]

Another thought on the pay issue is whether the funds are taxed or not. That will make a difference in your take-home pay as well as your retirement (social security) contributions.

 

[CritterHill]

I have been looking into nannies for my 2 kids and around here, for a 9-5 nanny Monday through Friday, MINIMUM $500/week.

You are cheap at $250, want to come watch mine?