15 year old babysitter?

Question

I'm 15 years old, i've been a mother's helper/babysitter since I was 11. I love babysitting and sometimes even stay late after the parents get home just to hang out with the kids. I love theses people (kids and parents) and I don't really charge but i usually get paid about $7 per hour. Is that okay? I don't want to come off as a spoiled brat and I don't want to scare them away to find another babysitter. Also, is it okay if I sometimes babysit for free (if the family is having financial problems)? I haven't yet but just in case the situation comes up, I would like to know. i live in Stoneham, Massachusetts by the way, but I babysit in surrounding towns.

Answer 1

7 dollars an hour is good money and don't offer to do it for free but don't sound as if your just doing it for the money.

Answer 2

your probably a fine babysitter.

i'n 14, almost 15, and i babysit.

7 dollars is a good price, and its really nice of you to babysit for free if the people are poor or something..

you sound like a good babysitter and its nice your not a brat or anything

Answer 3

You sound like a great kid. Good luck.

Answer 4

it is okay to babysit for free if they are having finacial problems... usually i charge 6 for 1 child and 8 for 2 or more... per hour... that isnt that much and isnt to little

Answer 5

its a cheap deal but if you need money take it!

Answer 6

i think that you should get paid 5 because i think if people babysit they should do it cause they want to, not for the $$, unless you really need it, ya know?

but thats just my opinion!

i hope you take my advice to mind!

I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK BABYSITTING!

HAVE FUN

:)

Answer 7

Wish you lived near me!  As a single mother with a small child I can attest to the fact that it is not only hard to find a reliable person to babysit for the occasional but much needed night out, it is also quite expensive.  It's wonderful that you are both affordable and empathetic to the circumstances of your "customers".  You, my dear, will be just fine in life if you remain just as you are.

Answer 8

that price sounds reasonable, seeing as its below minimum wage.(in Canada at least). And as for the free thing, make sure you aren't being taken advantage of - meaning only do it for free if you know the family well, if its not for too long, and they don't ask you often to do it for free. Sometimes its hard to determine when your being taken advantage of, but its always very nice of you to do a good deed once in a while. Good for you for having a big heart. ♥

Answer 9

That's good!! I work in a day care center from 6 am to 6 pm making $7.50 an hour. so your just making 50 cents less than me. They wont think your a spoiled brat. Things are chaning out there in the world with prices on everything going up and it's getting harder. Also I think it's okay for you to babysit for free if they're having money problems. But don't do it too often cause they might assume you love to do it for free and don't pay you at all and they might pass around a word that you babysit for free and before you know it you will be! Then it will be even harder to tell them you can't babysit for free anymore.

Answer 10

no 7 is perfect since ur just 15. its fine.

and thats really nice of you, i guess u really like kids thats cute

Answer 11

Yea thats not spoiled.  7$ an hour isn't that much.

Answer 12

I would say that's a good amount. When I babysat (before I had my babies)  I got $10 an hour, and I would listen to my mom complain about how kids make more money babysitting than they would at a regular job. I pay my babysitters $12 an hour...but that's because I know my 2 year old, and I feel like I should be paying more haha. I think it's perfectly fine if you babysit for free sometimes! I always felt like it was more about the children than they money, and I sometimes told the parents that they didn't have to pay me, because I enjoyed babysitting.

Answer 13

i think its very generous of you to offer to babysit for free if the family is having financial problems. good for you!  and 7$ an hour is definitely ok, especially if you are dealing with diapers, feedings, baths, bedtime, etc.

Answer 14

perfect amount.

Answer 15

That sounds like a good amount.  Usually babysitters make lower than the minimum wage.  Where I am the min wage is 8 bucks an hour but I see many postings for babysitters for 4 bucks an hour.  It's sad that people are so cheap when it comes to paying for their loved ones eh?  

If you love the people and the kids, then I see no problem with helping them out by babysitting for free.  It would be like a favor for a friend.

************

***Daycare***

Usually it's about 8 bucks a month per child

In a month with four weeks thats 200 per week

40 dollars a day

Kids generally stay 10 hours (time for mom to get to and from work to pick the kid up) so $4 an hour.

Take this however you want to.  I thought it might interest some people.

Answer 16

$7 an hour seems to be a good fee, especially if you love it so much! its definatly ok to babysit for free if the family is having troubles with money. sometimes I baby sit for free. [although i prefer getting paid] haha.

Answer 17

Dont ever babysit for free..period. Its a job, you are doing work, you dont work for free. I understand you have sympathy for their financial problems, but thats not your problem, you are providing a service, and if you werent there charging a measly $7 bucks an hour, theyd have to pay hundreds for daycare, or more than your charging for another babysitter. Dont be taken advantage of, charge for your service, they will find a way to pay.

Answer 18

Seven bucks is okay. Don't push the amount though, you might get fired for being spoiled. Ask for maybe ten bucks. It's and okay amount, better than 7.

Answer 19

$7.00 is a good price.

Answer 20

I think $7 it's not so much... I think $10, $20 and $30 is much good because a babysitter sometimes has got a lot of work with kids.