Should I babysit or get a real job?

Question

I'm 17. My cousin's wife wants me to babysit her kids ( one is 1, and the other is 4) during the week and she pays $20 a day. Should I do that, or get a job somewhere else? I just think babysitting would be easier, because I really don't have to go anywhere-- or would it be harder?

Answer 1

Tough question.  How long is "a day".  If it's 8 hours, $20 ain't much.  That's a big job.  $30-$40 for all day is more appropriate.  You're17, not 12.

A real job means you'll probably earn minimum wage as you have no marketable skill set and once taxes are taken out, you'll make about $5-$6 hour.  But, you'll have to get to and from work, you'll have a boss and be told what to do and then expected to do it.  You'll also gain some valuable responsibility and real work experience.  Sounds like you'll make more too for a full days work.  $20/day to babysit two young kids is being cheap.

That's my take.  Good luck kid.

Answer 2

Baby sitting is a real job, but the question you need to ask yourself is do you want to make more then 20 bucks a day..  

Answer 3

Babysitting is not easy, and $20 a day isn't very much money. If you worked at another job for $8.00 an hour, you would only need to work less than 4 hours a day to make the same money.

It might be different if you need to buy a car to get to a job, or if the jobs around you pay less than your time is worth. Also, 17 is a little bit old for babysitting... it'll be a matter of months before you will be trying to go to school or get a place of your own, so you should start making as much money as you can.

Get a running start.  

Answer 4

I think babysitting would be the way to go because you for sure have a job and don't have to go look for one, and also, you don't have to pay taxes for baby sitting.  $100 is how much they charge for daycare around here per week.  Sounds like a good plan.

Answer 5

Do the babysitting!  Kids are so much fun and it'll be a good opportunity to get used to kids in general.  You don't want to get into the whole work place atmosphere yet if you don't really have to!

Answer 6

if ur good at taking care of kids go for it