Babysitting for a friend

sophisoph

I have a one year old and do avon. My friend gave birth 6 weeks ago and needs to start working again asap as her benefits change due to her boyfriend moving in so she needs to make up the difference with part time work.

She has asked if i will babysit for a few hours (say 3 or 4) 3 days a week and she will pay me.

How much should she pay me??

Obviously we are friends and i know she is strapped for cash (as am i though to be honest) so i dont want to screw her over. what do you think is a fair fee?

Rienchen

Just a heads up..if you look after her little one at her house, it's babysitting...if you look after LO in your house you'd have to register as a childminder. There have been a few cases of people getting reported to OFSTED by neigbours/friends

sophisoph

Thanks for the heads up that shouldnt be a problem as she literally lives across the road so i can go to hers i suppose. bit of a silly rule though i think. I heard about the two women who did shifts and swapped children so the other could go to work etc. They were told they werent allowed to do it. I think its ludicrous to have rules against friends looking after friends children!

nikki2804

I know that when I babysat I was paid £6.50 p/h (£7.50 after 8pm) and I was told that it was poorly paid (was for two children)

A new baby will either need lots of attention or if your lucky it will just sleep all the time!

sophisoph

well i found out that it will be from half 10 till 5 3 days a week!!! longer than i thought. we both have no idea on what is a suitiable price lol

Dizzie77

Maybe have a look in local papers/newsagents and see what childminders are charging....and then you can do "mates rates" on that??
You have to make it worth your while, as well as helping your friend out.

beccas2006

Just to let you know that if you look after a child that is not yours in your house for a reward it is against the law!:mad: I would rather my child be in the care of a professional and she will gethelp form tax credits to pay for childcare with a registered person.

you can check on the ofsted site. by using a ofsted registered childminder you know that your child is in the best possible hands and is safe from harm, as they are all crb checked, first aid qualified and relevant qualifications.

angelsmomma

phia2000 wrote: »

I have a one year old and do avon. My friend gave birth 6 weeks ago and needs to start working again asap as her benefits change due to her boyfriend moving in so she needs to make up the difference with part time work.

She has asked if i will babysit for a few hours (say 3 or 4) 3 days a week and she will pay me.

How much should she pay me??

Obviously we are friends and i know she is strapped for cash (as am i though to be honest) so i dont want to screw her over. what do you think is a fair fee?

This is against the law, sorry to put a dampner on it. You really need to get advice from the childrens information service.
This is not babysitting it is childminding. The law is that anyone paid to look after a child for more than two hours should be registered. It means you can do it for free but not if you are paid.
Have you considered registering yourself?

LaLaLady

I looked in to childminders around me and they were charging around £4 an hour.

Is there any reason why your friend wont be able to claim working/child tax credits as if she can i'm sure she could get help with her childcare costs.

laurenjs88

Maybe as i am assuming you are on IS she could give you £20 a week for babysitting as you are allowed to earn this much and if you look after her baby instead of giving you money she could get you your weekly grocceries instead? saving you that amount as spare income in the household and your not getting paid by her she's "gifting"

If she works 16 hours a week or more she could get upto 80% of her childcare through tax credits but it depends on how much her partner earns.

pingua

Childminders round here start at about 4.00 an hour. They are registered ones though - insurance and all that.