Babysitting rates - New Year's Eve

downshifter

What would be a reasonable mark-up for babysitting for NYE? I wasn't really going to charge anything extra as after all I wouldn't be doing anything otherwise, but the people I'm sitting for insist it's fair.. Is double too much? What would you pay.

Thank you.

meritaten

Time and a half? but bear in mind that most services charge DOUBLE on NYE! but if you arent comfortable with that, then insist on time and a half or they can find another babysitter!
OR stick to your normal rates and tell them that normal rates have been calculated to include high days and holidays!

Red_Cat

I guess as long as you are suitably compensated, you could take the approach advised by Meritaten.

Nicki

You could do time and a half with double for every hour after midnight?

[Deleted User]

If I am babysitting for myself I ask for double. But I get £10 an hour if I am babysitting through the babysitting agency I work for.
P
X

downshifter

Palema wrote: »

If I am babysitting for myself I ask for double. But I get £10 an hour if I am babysitting through the babysitting agency I work for.
P
X

Oh wow, that's a lot! So how much do the parents pay the agency then I wonder?

Thanks everyone for the answers, maybe I'll suggest time and a half as a compromise.

BARGAINHUNTER!

Time and a half seems reasonable to me - babysitters are very hard to come by on NYE!!!

meritaten

£10 an hour! can i sign up? I babysit at least 40 hours a week!

Kittendreich

If I have read your post right you hadn't anticipated charging more and the people paying you are sitting for are insisting they pay more and you feel a bit unsure what is reasonable...

Why not just ask for your usual rates and leave it up to them what extra they want to pay...? You'll get a bonus you weren't accounting for and they will be happy with what they pay...

downshifter

Kittendreich wrote: »

If I have read your post right you hadn't anticipated charging more and the people paying you are sitting for are insisting they pay more and you feel a bit unsure what is reasonable...

Why not just ask for your usual rates and leave it up to them what extra they want to pay...? You'll get a bonus you weren't accounting for and they will be happy with what they pay...

thanks, yes you are right in your supposition, sorry if I wasn't clear. The people have left it up to me to give a price, but insist they pay more than normal rate (£7), however have now said that there may be a couple of other children, same age who don't know me so it might be trickier, as they may have friends staying. So poss 5 children, between 5 yrs and 16 months. That changes things a bit, am beginning to think double might be nearer the mark as it's now 2 families, so 2 lots of parents paying.

thanks for all the advice.

sazziecee

I would probably charge the same price as normal up to midnight (but now there are more kids, perhaps raise the £7 to £10) and then ask for double if they are out after midnight