Should I cancel this Babysitting Job?

Evannex

So a friend of my mom's is in need of a babysitter, as her old sitter is unable to continue watching them. She was a family friend and watched the kids for free.

I'm between jobs right now (I'm 23 by the way), and my mom's friend asked her if I'd be willing to watch her kids (a 5 year old boy and a 7 year old girl) 2-4 times a week when she works closing shift. Needing any kind of income of course I accepted, I like her kids, they are very well mannered.

So here's where the issue arrives: I've already told her yes, she ensured she'd pay me decently, and when summer hits she'll pay a bit more for days that I'd watch them longer. BUT apparently her idea of decent pay is $10/day. Yeah you heard me PER DAY! Considering she needs me to watch them from 2pm-10pm I feel like that is WAY too low to even be worth my time and effort! I mean that's like $1.25 an hour to watch TWO children! And I have to pick up one from the bus Stop down the road too.

I wouldn't be against less than min wage, because it's a less demanding job than most, but $1.25/hour just makes me not want to do it at all.

What should I do? That's all she "can" pay me, and I told her I'd watch them starting tomorrow. I don't want to be the babysitter that bails last minute, but at the same time, I don't want to work for nothing either...

BoraBora123

If you are doing it for an income I would suggest giving a figure that you would watch them for and then it's down to the other party as to agree or look elsewhere. I can't see them finding an alternative that will accept £10 for 8 hours work.

scaredofdebt

Depending on where you live the going rate for a child minder is around £4 per hour, PER CHILD. Some child minders would do a discount for two children but even so, what you are being offered is a joke, she won't be able to get anyone professional to do it for anywhere near that amount.

Are you in the US or does your keyboard not have a pound sign?

Enterprise_1701C

OK. to me it sounds like you are American, the dollar sign and the use of "mom".

This is a UK site, it is hard for us to give advice to Americans as we are mainly UK based.

Kayalana99

I would babysit for her for a week or two to help her find someone else, but just be really straight with her and say the amount is not worth it too you and you would accept XX amount or you will decline.

So basically don't leave her in the lurch right now, but do decline the offer overall.