Babysitting $5/hr?

seems hight for this area..daycare costs are about 150 to 160 dollars a week for 5 x 8 or more hour days....i would say your doing ok..

It really varies and depends where you live I think. Do you know anyone else who babysits? I wouldn't really base it off daycare rates since they have more kids and can therefore charge less per child. In Boston for example I worked as a nanny and usually got $15-20/hr. but that would be astronomical in other towns. It also depends on your experience... if you don't have experience with infants I doubt they'd want to pay you more than someone who does.

I have never babysat a baby before this little girl. A friend of mine said she thinks I'm crazy for doing it for so little and she would only babysite a baby with dipers for no less than $8/hr. I didn't really think $5 was that bad untill other of my friends started telling me that is even less than minimal wadge here and I should ask for more. I don't know... The baby is a really good baby and has never given me any problems, she hardly ever cries. Just thought I'de ask here to see what others have to say.

My teenage daughter gets $10-12 an hour when she babysits.

i wouldnt take any less than $50 per hour. with a flat fee rate of $500. meaning just for coming over i $500, and if i go over 10 hours then $50/hr.

kinda like a repair man.

humm... maybe repair work is what I should be doing instead[]

ac repair is the real racket. we bought a new house a couple of years ago, and it is written into their contract that they cover the ac unit for X yrs. but that doesnt include putting freon (or whatever the new stuff is called) in. however, if your ac unit is running low on freon in the first year or two it is most likely because they didnt get a good charge to begin with. so our ac ran low on freon because it was most likely their fault and they charged us to come put more freon in. ever heard the saying "getting f****d from both ends"? that is what it is like dealing with ac repair.

now they want us to get a service contract. this means we pay them $X each year, and they come out twice per year to "check out" our ac unit. but if any repairs are needed that is extra. well duh! i can figure out if it is working or not without some "expert" coming to check it out!

I think that it's reasonable.. but it does probably depend where you are.

My sister pays $5/hr for her 11 month old (I babysit when I can, for free of course)

Think about it this way... if a single mother earns $9/hr doing a labor job and pays even $5 for babysitting.. she gets $4/hr = $160/week = $640/month = $7,680/year.
(Ouch)

Of course, I'm not including any social assistance or other help.. but it does put things in perspective

It may help to think about it from the parents point of view before you consider asking for more money []

Well, the parents are very well off, the dad is a college proffesor and the mom works in the college library. They have a two story 5 room house, they drive a huge SUV and a mini and only feed the child organic and only uses cloth dipers that are home delerved. The baby is on a very strict schedule and is also learning German, Spanish, Sign Language and English. They are very nice people so I would not want to create any problems with them and they alwasy aske me to come back or if I could babysit even more hours.

I babysit at their house, so I'm somwhat of a nannny during the day. Sometimes I even babysite while the dad is home, he works in his office and I take care of the baby. It's worked out fine so far and it was just recently that I asked myself if I'm getting paied a fare amount. Well, with no previous experance I kinda think I am but I just want to make sure.
[]

Sometimes you just take what you can get. Do they let you eat everything and anything while you are there?  Are they close to your place?  Do they tip you sometimes?
 
Although it's not a lot of money, it's probably more take-home than you would working minimun wage and paying taxes.  And when I used to babysit they would feed me (and very well!) so that was worth some extra money.  And I got to hang out in a really cool home.  Sure the boys weren't in diapers, but they were rough little creatures!  I got between $7-$10/hr depending on the length of time, but it was two boys.  So if it were 2-3 hours I might get $20, and more for longer, but they were a really cool family and I enjoyed being with the kids.
 
It might be hard to ask for more money.....  how long have you worked for them?  If it's been under, say, 6 months, I might not ask for anything since you just haven't been there long enough.  But if it's longer than that, then maybe start talking about how expensive college is and how you aren't sure you can watch the little girl for much longer since you might need a "real" job or something..... I work much better on subtlties at first until I sound out the situation.
 
Good luck if you do ask for more

I kinda don't think you can compare it to the occasional baby-sitter rates.  I think those should be higher b/c there's not a set number of times that person will be called to babysit for you.  In other words, just IMO, I think b/c it's regular work, on an on-going basis, then the charge should be less than someone you *might* call once a month.     Somewhat on the theory more frequency gets a discount.  But, that's just my opinion.
 
So, yes it is less than hourly minimum wages, BUT, you don't get all that money - the gov't gets part in social security taxes, and - if you make enough for the year - then they also get federal taxes.  So, you can't really compare that.    Also, you aren't going home in desperate need of a shower b/c you stink of hamburger grease.  Working for fast food isn't fun.  It's smelly, and you end of with "supervisors" who are two years older than you and think they've gotta prove something and get on people's cases b/c their so high strung.  (wow, I didn't know I still had those memories).
 
There is a nanny site that list what the official 'nanny' minimum wages are-you are a babysitter, that is *technically* different ; ).  But, it's not tremendously higher than what you are getting, and you aren't paying taxes on it.
 
I wouldn't go by what your friends say - they will usually have a tendency to think it should be more. 
 
But, I'll tell you now that I don't have current experience to tell you what the going rate is in my area.  So, my advice is from someone who isn't "in the field", so it can't carry any weight other than just being my opinion. 
 
Xebby, this is a personal question, and if you don't want to answer it, then don't.  But, shouldn't you be in school on Monday's. You said you were there during the day.  I'm assuming you aren't in college, so that's why I asking.   And, if you are old enough to go to college, but aren't going,  then I'm  thinking  that should be the real discussion here  [].   I know this is nosey, but I'm concerned about why you aren't in school on Mondays.  

It's so true, I do need a "real job" I've been doing so many odd jobs just to get threw college this semester that come Jan. I might just take whatever job will pay the rent and gas.

What I make on Monday babysitting is what I use to feed myself (and Gizmo) for the week, if it's only $20 that limits my spending. On the $40 weeks I'm a little more at ease at what I buy at the store but still have my limits. My job at the ranch is what I use for rent, any extra money I make there or anywere else goes into saving and I tell myself I can not touch it unless I have to (thats how i'm saving for my beardie and to pay Gizzy's vet bills). I am just so thankful I have such a supportive family and boyfriend.

Xebby, this is a personal question, and if you don't want to answer it, then don't.  But, shouldn't you be in school on Monday's. You said you were there during the day.  I'm assuming you aren't in college, so that's why I asking.   And, if you are old enough to go to college, but aren't going,  then I'm  thinking  that should be the real discussion here  .   I know this is nosey, but I'm concerned about why you aren't in school on Mondays.

I'm 24[] This is my 6th year of college.

I'm full time but I only go to classes on Tues and Thurs from 1:30 pm till 9:00 at night. I live 70 miles away from my college and tues, wed and thurs, I live with my parents and the rest of the week I live at my home. I changed my major just 2 classes from graduation and now I have about 1 1/2 years left to get my degree. Thats why I'm doing odd jobs whenever I can. By the time I graduate I'll have a double major in Geology and Animal Scicence, it's just taking a long time to get there.

Wow,  Xebby,
 
what a workload!  Well, no wonder you're asking.  It's crunch time.  I pictured you about 17 with the question --- however, I have noticed in many of your posts how knowledgeable you were, so from previous posts, I thought you were older.....so I just couldn't get the two to mesh together.    Now it does!
 
You buy food for $20 a week?  Can you come teach me how????
 
The traveling and study and odd jobs,  that must be really tough on you.  I guess you switched your major to animal sciences?  Since you have a background in geology, might there be a company who is doing environmental analysis and such who might need part-time work?  One or two days a week?  Is there any way you can use this study to your advantage in looking for something that might pay more?   Or, same goes with being an assistent at a vet's?  But, I don't know how much they would pay, and you would have to factor in taxes, any additional clothing, additional driving, and where you would be staying.  So, that's a lot of if's.  My guess is that a firm doing geology work/study/evaluation might pay better with the amount of background you have than a vet's office would.  Could you ask around at college, local chamber of commerce, etc. about places that might hire part time?
 
I wish I could give you an easy answer.  But, girl, hang in there.  It's hard doing what you are doing, but it's so important.  That is something very BIG to be proud of!!  Seriously, anytime you get tired and frustrated, just say to yourself,  "I'm so proud of myself for hanging in here and finishing college".!!!!!!  (sometimes we do need to pat ourselves on our back for our accomplishments.  That's ok to do.  It's not the same as "getting a big head").    And, I know many others are proud of you, too!