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Money Moral Dilemma: Should our son pay us for the fuel we use babysitting our grandchildren?
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BUT do not wait until they ask you to babysit. Be upfront and tell them now, before any arrangements are made.
When we were young my father told us we could use his car and as long as he could afford it we didn't need to pay for the fuel.
If, and when, he couldnl't afford it he would tell us and we would have to pay for it.
While he never did ask for payment we never took it for granted and were fully prepared .
That sounds like the OP is 'really strapped'
Also older people with their pensions are generally less affected by the cost of living as are younger people with mortgages etc
Not necessarily. Someone with £1 more income than the limit for PC gets no help. They do not get any of the cost of living payments. All they would get is the extra winter fuel payment which may help towards their heating bills.
They have to eat the same as their children and have less income coming in.
The younger couple need to take the cost of a babysitter into their budget for going out.
I did not use my parents for babysitting through choice.
Have the children at my house half or all of the time
or
Look after them less often
or
Agree on a set amount towards petrol
Considering childcare savings, should not be a problem paying for fuel.
If you do not ask, you do not get.