What Is a Fair Amount of Money to Ask for This Job?

If all you would be getting out of it is free childcare, I would not do it at all. You don't need free childcare. You stated that you wanted the summer for you and the kids to have fun together. Sticking them in daycare unnecessarily does not accomplish that goal. Right? Oh, don't become a slave to this instead of enjoying the summer with the kids! You can't get that time back. It doesn't sound like you need the job, but your kids sure do need you. I wouldn't give up the freedom for any amount of money. I'd tell them that you are so glad that they are pleased with your work, but you'll happily be back in the fall when school starts again.

If it would bring money in the door to help cover family expenses...I would do it...over the summer? I would say $15 per hour and do it part time...but that's me.

In order to make it worth my while - it would need to cover my expenses in order for me to do it - would the arrangement still apply for summer work as well or would you have to find alternative care for your children during the summer while you worked? So get the information you need - will they cover child care expenses or what? then go off that.

Hard to say. It would have to be enough to pay for childcare, which would be a lot, and still profit from it. I suggest you sit down and do the figures of what it would cost you to work. Gas, childcare, clothes, lunches every day, etc. Then add a profit and see what that gets you. You may find it's so ridiculously high that you might as well turn it down.

But just to throw a figure out there, I'd say $15/hour?

sounds like a 10 or 11 dollar an hour job...

It doesn't help us to not know what you would pay for childcare. If you want to do this, I would tell them that they have to provide free care for the kids AND pay you the $8 per hour. I wouldn't do it full time. That way you can have time together, and the kids can enjoy a regular schedule.

They may not be able to do this, but it would kind of be like having your cake and eating it too, if you do it part time.

Dawn

This sounds like a job that would pay from $10 - $12 an hour, where I live. Maybe the rate is as high as $15 in TX? The value of work (the amount that an employer can pay) does not change due to your personal situation and financial needs.

I would stop and reread what you wrote about you and your kids having a fun summer. Then I would read what you wrote about making enough for both of your kids to be in childcare. Hmmm. You would have to get up, get everyone breakfast and dressed, get the kids to childcare, work enough to pay for childcare, pick up the kids from childcare, come home, make dinner, try and spend some quality time with the kids without acting too tired to listen, put them to bed and repeat. Some of the extra would have to for eating out because you might not have anything at home for dinner or you might be too tired to make something. It just doesn't sound worth it to me.

Think about what your kids would like. I think they would go for the fun summer with you. So, in answer to your question, no amount of money would be enough to take away a fun summer from my kids.

Unless you NEED the money, I would spend the summer with your kids. Either that, or you could arrange a part time schedule with them that will fit your lifestyle.

I highly doubt that they will be able to pay you enough to make it worth your while, especially if you have to pay for 2 kids in daycare.

Its not rocket science, but it is skilled work. I would not do it just for free tuition.

You wanted to spend the summer with your kids, so you need to ask yourself just how important that is to you. Then, ask an amount that would make it worth your while. At least $12 an hour.

The minimum wage is high where I live, but in the rest of the US I'd guess that's a $12/hour job. Would $12/hour cover the cost of daycare for your children plus enough extra that it's worth your time?