how much to pay a babysitter

RenegadeT

RenegadeT

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Whats the going rate for paying the 14yr old girl up the street to watch our kids for a few hours? This will be an afternoon outing for us, no lunch or dinner feedings, we'll be home for both meals. We have 3 kids, twin 3.5 yr olds and the oldest is almost 5, all potty trained.
Wife says she will just ask the girl how much, but I learned watching the OJ trial you, shouldnt ask a question if you don't know the answer.
 
I guess it depends on the number of hours a bit.
Make sure not to pay below min wage and they will want to come back.
We generally only hire babysitters for a full evening, and typically pay $50 for that.
 
Minimum wage is $7.25, Three hours $21.75, Offer her $25.00 and when you come home everything is as close to how you left it, give her a $10 tip.
 
We only have one 4-year old, but we pay our 14-year old babysitter $7/hour. We asked her if that was enough and she said yes. That is what we have been paying her for a long time now, before the minimum wage went above that. We may have to give her a raise now!
 
That is tax free, so $7.25 taxed is the same as like $5 tax-free. :lol:

We normally pay like $8 an hour for the older girl who babysits our little boy, but for one of the younger girls who watches him she refuses to take more than $5 an hour.
 
We have 1 4.5 year old who is very well mannered, will pretty much put himself to bed.
We have a 14-y/o we've used a fe times, we pay about $7/hr... but never less than $20. Pretty much just rounded to whatever wad of cash we have in our pockets when we get home ;-)

May not be relevent here, but IMO the value of a babysitter goes up a LOT if you don't have to provide transportation. This girl is great, our son loves here... but it SUCKS to come home after a nice evening out and have to drive her ass home. Last time I almost just called a taxi for her, but I'm sure she wouldn't be real comfortable with that.

I think it's generally agreed that for > kids... or "known to be difficult" kids... the pay needs to be higher.
 
GubNi said:
Wow, I would think a 14yr old woulbe be excited to make $10 for 2 hours.
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The problem is, these days you can barely buy a meal at McDonalds for that much. Damn inflation.

I used to do it for 2.50/hr/kid.
 
I usually pay 10-12 but I have 2 mildly autistic kids so they seem to drive them up wall alil more. I'd say 8 or 9 an hour if the house is good when you get back. If $h!t is destroyed min wage and a boot to the teeny unemployment line! I'd ask her first or the parents though. I had one try to pop me for 20/hr after she sat. Nursing students think they are special :flipoff2:
 
I got paid 10 an hour plus lunch and like a 10 dollar tip a few weeks ago, and I was just watching after a couple of dogs....

Food for thought I suppose?
 
You cant get anything for $10 these days. If its a couple hrs, then I would say $20 w/ a fiver as a tip if she does a good job and doesnt eat all your food.

Of course, I dont have kids so what do i know
 
RenegadeT said:
Whats the going rate for paying the 14yr old girl up the street to watch our kids for a few hours?
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yodaman88 said:
well if she is giving you some special attention at the end of the night, you should pay a little more than 25 :)
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Lets give Tony a little more credit than that...
A few more years though and she'd be closer to that magical "1/2 your age + 7" rule...
 
FWIW...and some may be able to better advise on this.
Technically if you hire a babysitter, they become an employee and should be 1099'd at the end of the year. Pay less than min wage and they could make your life tough.

I think I remember some case in GA where a 17 year old basically got a free ride to UGA from a local doctor who cheapskated her sitting wage.
 
The fee for him not reporting her on taxes is a $50 fee in NC...so not much of a hassel. As for wage...when I babysat the neighbor kids in high school, I told them $5 a kid per hour.
 
SkyHiK5 said:
FWIW...and some may be able to better advise on this.
Technically if you hire a babysitter, they become an employee and should be 1099'd at the end of the year. Pay less than min wage and they could make your life tough.
I think I remember some case in GA where a 17 year old basically got a free ride to UGA from a local doctor who cheapskated her sitting wage.
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Serves him right for stiffing a 17 year old for less than minimum wage. You are trusting this person to take care of your child and you think that is on par with trusting them to take fries out of the fryer when the timer buzzes.

Said it earlier but I'll elaborate, for a 14 year old who has no bills, most likely (no gas, probably doesn't pay cell phone, etc.) $8-$10 is plenty enough. Lean towards $10 if it is 2 kids.
 
yodaman88 said:
well if she is giving you some special attention at the end of the night, you should pay a little more than 25 :)
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