Babysitting Cost ASAP PLEASE HELP

[krispar]

My hs youth pastor and wife are moving next week so we are taking them out to dinner to say our farewells. We're on a budget, but we're splurging a little because we may never see them again.
We asked a girl from church to babysit for them (she's done it before) and she agreed.
They have 3 girls, one is 5 one is 2 or 3 (oops, forgot) and one is still in diapers. We will be gone from 5-10.
How much do we pay this girl? I don't have kids, so I don't know!
She said she would take whatever, but I know from experience that 5 bucks and a pat on the back doesn't cut it. What's the running rate for this situation? Remembering we are on a budget...
Thank you sooo much!

 

[beccasmommy]

I would think that you would pay her at least minimum wage for your state.

 

[CarrieAg93]

We have 3 boys ages 7, 4, and 17 mos. A couple months ago we went out and paid $7 an hour. It also depends on what is expected. When our sitter came our kids had eaten and taken baths. Our baby is very easy to put to bed. If the sitter is going to be expected to do dinner and baths and/or if the baby is high maintance I'd pay more. As much as $10/hr.

 

[Beth1231]

$10/hr is standard in my area, but this is an expensive part of the state (within an hour of Philadelphia). If I was that girl, I would be alert to a few different things. One, this is a one-time deal. Two, you are blessing your friends as a going away present and I would keep that in mind. Three, young children go to bed early. With those things in mind, I would charge you $8/hr and that's being generous on my part. I did a ton of babysitting and nannying, so that's where the perspective comes from.

By the way, I think what you are doing for your friends is incredibly thoughtful and kind.

 

[beccasmommy]

yeah that is what i was talking about... here it is $8/hr

 

[krispar]

Thanks ladies. Hehe, minimum wage here is 5 something, but I think I'll write the check and send it home with them at the end of the night, going around 8 an hour for as long as we were out (we don't know exactly how long we'll be out).
I was totally lost on this one. This girl is a member of our church and leaped at the chance to watch these kids one last time, but I still wanted to treat her fairly. She said she'd take whatever we gave her, but I don't want to be like some people and give her next to nothing because she said that!
Thank you beth, we're going to miss them very much. Our youth pastor was the best man at our wedding because he was my husbands biggest mentor, and his wife has been a great friend to me (and their kids are SO DARNED CUTE!)

Thanks again all!

 

[Krystina661]

About $10 an hour seems right. I would say no less than 50 bucks for 3 kids, for 5 hours in the evening, when kids are more fussy, and I'm assuming they would have to be put to bed.

 

[Redstiletto]

I always tell my sisters to charge by how many kids and how old the kids are.

Because the older the kids the less you really have to do, and the time of when they are babysitting also plays a role.

If they are required to make dinner, clean up dinner, bath the kids and put them to bed, it is more than if they are just there while the kids are sleeping.

Same goes for during the day babysitting. Pretty much, if there is a meal involved, any cleaning involved and anything other than playing with the children and keeping them busy, then I tell them its ok to charge a little more.

Also if there is three kids one day and 6 the next (which has happened) then obviously they know to charge a little more because of the added responsibilities.

 

[krispar]

Well we gave her about 45, which is a lot in my opinion. I babysat a few times and got hardly anything. She was lucky we had 45 to give her!

 

[HeatherJay]

Well we gave her about 45, which is a lot in my opinion. I babysat a few times and got hardly anything. She was lucky we had 45 to give her!

And you were lucky and blessed that she was available to help you out.

I hope you had a good time.

 

[DonnaB]

Yep, I think it was fair.

I just had to add that when I was 13 I babysat six kids (ages 0-8) for...
*
*
*
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you're not gonna believe this
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*
*
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*A whopping $2 an hour!

Nowadays I would never put a 13 year old in charge of 6 kids under 8 for 8 hours at a time--much less for $2 an hour! I was responsible, though, and it was the right thing to do, the mom was on complete bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy (#6) and then they kept her in the hospital for a long time so she could recover. Plus, they owned a store, so there wasn't anyone else to help. Still...

 

[heron]

I just had to add that when I was 13 I babysat six kids (ages 0-8) for...
*
*
*
*
you're not gonna believe this
*
*
*
*
*A whopping $2 an hour!

25 cents before midnight, 50 cents after midnight, 50 cents per kid on New Year's.