Help with paying my baby sitter

Dstevens429 · May 2014

This weekend I have a wedding out of state. My amazing baby sitter agreed to come along over night so A can be watched. My question is: How much should I pay her? We are staying in the hotel and I got her a separate adjoining room. I plan on paying for her dinner and breakfast the next morning. A is going to be sleeping in our part of the room and when we return she will no longer be watching him. She does however have to drive 2 hours to get to the hotel. I normally pay her about 12 - 15 dollars an hour, which I feel is a pretty good amount, but I like her to be available when I need her lol. I asked her and she didn't really give me an answer. She kind of said, just pay me how you normally do. What would you do? How would you pay her?

TIA

TJ1979 · May 2014

Yikes, that's a tough one. What if you pay her 15/hr (the high end of your normal rate) for the actual hours she is watching A, plus whatever you would think gas would cost for the trip. Then consider covering the hotel and food costs as compensation for the inconvenience to her.
So for example, if she watches A from 6 till midnight, pay her 6 x 15 = 90 plus the cost of gas to get there.

That's awesome she agreed to do that! Have fun at the wedding.

ccam · May 2014

She's driving herself up there or riding with you?

I would just agree on a flat rate for the weekend and run it by her. $150?? That's hard, I'm not too sure. But I would think that would cover her gas, the time with your DS and a little extra. I'm just guessing though!

I'm interested in other people's answers because we'll be in a similar situation in October for my sister's wedding.

Dstevens429 · May 2014

@ccam She will be riding herself to the hotel. We offered to drive her but she has to pick up her son the next day so she felt it would be easier if she drove.

itsmevkb · May 2014

I'd probably pay her $150 rather than trying to figure out an hourly rate.

Dstevens429 · May 2014

$150 sounds reasonable. That should cover gas and baby sitting. Thanks gals

Dragonfly1226 · May 2014

If she said pay her like you normally do it sounds like she means her normal hourly rate. I would pay her for the hours she is responsible for LO and add in gas if she is driving herself.

luvboston · May 2014

150-170

I calculate that she is babysitting 6 hours and driving four, that's 10 hours=$150

If it was me I would pay her $170-180 depending on what kind of car she has.

Mrs.AmyDylan · May 2014

When I was sitting just out of college for 5yo, I would stay with him for a whole week or more. Our agreed upon rate was $75/week day and $125/weekend day. He was in school and I worked a normal job. I drove their car and they left me money for food, fun and gas.

More recently, I nannied for tthree teenagers and when I stayed overnight they paid me my hourly rate for every hour I was at their home. But I was up super late, then up early taking someone or another to a sports game.

If you want to keep this option open for the future, you might consider paying her the entire time she is "working for you", ie, away from her home. If she feels it wasn't worth her time and effort, she will say no in the future.

byrne15 · May 2014

I would pay for all the stuff you mentioned, plus the normal rate for the actual hours she is watching your LO. Also, I would probably throw in another $40 or so for gas money.

kelnyc · May 2014

I agree with the other ladies that you have to pay for more than just the hours she is working, because she is kind of stuck there either way. I like what @luvboston suggests and would probably bump it up to $175 to sweeten the deal.

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