We just found out that my MIL is willing to move in with us to care for our little one. Long story short, she lived with us before, but after a year, decided she was homesick for her native country, and she moved back. She has realized that she isn't all that happy there after all, and has been pining to move back here. We asked her if she would be willing to provide child care to our infant and she said she would love to do it. We don't want to take advantage of her, so we expect to provide the following to her:
A car (nothing fancy, but safe and in good running condition) and car insurance
A cell phone
Room & board in our home
Expenses reimbursed
Nominal pay
Here's the question: given that she will live with us rent free and have a car and cell phone provided to her and her groceries paid for, how much would be fair to pay her as compensation for her time?
How much do live-in non-family member nannies earn in similar situations?
Bear in mind that we all agree that part of the reason we are doing this is that we will save a bit of money and she will have the opportunity to move back to the US, to use her spare time to work on art (which she sells, and does well financially -- she is very talented), and spend time with her grandson and us. It's not about money for her, though she can't work for free, either.
We know about the potential pitfalls of having a grandparent living with us and are being open and frank with each other about our expectations, so we aren't really looking for advice about those issues -- just the $ issue.
Thanks Mamas!
I have a neighbor/friend who has a live in nanny for her 2yr old son. The nanny has a bedroom and gets food and room provided to her. On the weekends, she leaves the house to stay with a relative. She cooks, cleans, has been teaching the child spanish and she makes $200 or $250 per week. It works out good for them. Good luck!
In answer to part 2 of your question... live in nannies must be paid minimum wage for the time they are working. You are legally allowed to deduct 60% of their pay for their living arrangements. So take minimum wage times however many hours you are out of the house working and then times that times 40%. That would be the cash pay for the same situation for someone living in that is not family.
Unfortunately, my mother doesn't earn a penny from me beyond the things you mentioned. She does have the biggest room in the house, a cell phone, use of our car, and the food she needs. But, I just don't have anything left after bills to pay her for her help with my daycare. I try and be sensitive to her. I pay for all the channels for cable tv which I'd rather shut off it it weren't for her.
My mother gets a very small monthly check from Soc. Sec. that she would not live on unless she lived in a one room rat infested place or low income housing etc. She seems to be okay living here the way things are. But I know sometimes she feels overworked.
I suggest you do the best you can and make sure she knows that you are considering her welfare and yours and your families too. Make sure she has some kind of life insurance or at least a burial policy. If it's like our situation, my mother will be here the rest of her life. It'll be up to us to deal with whatever comes next, including nursing her through her final years when she gets sick.
Probably a good answer to this is to determine what it's worth to you and what is acceptable to her.
I was paying $250 a week for a daycare center M-F. Friends that have nannied in the past have made $500 + a week but that was for 2 children and they just had a salary, sick leave and vacation. Sounds like a great situation for the entire family. Good luck.
You really don't need to pay her much here b/c she will literally have no expenses. I would think that you could pay her either a daily or weekly rate like a babysitter and that you should be conservative in that respect, especially if she is living with you (at no cost) to pursue her art (which is a form of income). I would say no more than $150 a week considering the other fees you are covering.
I commend you for offering. That is something alot of people wouldnt even think to do.
As for the cost. When I had two in full time daycare it was $2400 a month(one newborn and one toddler = alot of money..going to work was not worth it for me). Since you are giving her all the daily amenities, I think it would be safe to say maybe a hundred bucks a week? It would be all cash in her pocket for the most part.
You are providing meals as well, I am assuming, so she wont have the as an expense, unless she dines out alone every once and a while. That will give her money to go see a movie or an art exhibit, something fun on the weekends.
If she is making money with her art. Let that be hers. Shouldnt be put into your equation. I dont put my moms pay into mine. she doesnt live with us but it is the same theory. Thats her ''hobby'' income on her own.
Oh just saw your line about live in non family nannies...They make ALOT. I had a GF that did that through college with a family. She got paid more then I was making working high up at Nordstroms. I had thought about leaving and taking on a full timer nanny job...I wasnt a kid person back then though. I was making almost $2700 back in those days. She, I want to say got $3000, plus living area, off from the rest of the house.
Again, good for you! it is easy to except free help. But to recognize that she should receive money for her time, is a nice thing!!
Au Pairs get what you're giving (room, board, transportation, etc.), a 4k "bounty" at the end of the year, and $125 a week. (aka an extra $75 per week that's kept aside for their completion bonus).
As a SAHM that also ($800 per month) happens to be what I have left over after paying mortgage & bills to run my household on (groceries, clothes, lightbulbs, paint, etc.). It's not a lot for our *area* (lunchmeat is $10 per lb, milk is $4 per 1/2 gallon at anywhere but a discount store/ coupons/ sales... $600 a month purely gets eaten up in groceries)... but it's enough to run a family of 3 on.
I wouldn't personally pay MORE than I could get the same kind of childcare... because it would lead to resentment on my part. But I wouldn't necessarily pay less, either.
Why should she get any money on top of all the necessities you are providing?
The cost has nothing to do with it. It you do a hand made card that let them know you care, that is worth more the the most expensive card you could purchase.
Blessings....
Have you asked her how much she thinks is fair? Let her set the price, and negotiate from there if needed.
