Money Moral Dilemma, should I pay for house/pet sitting?

Kittymumof4

We have a young family member and his girlfriend (not immediate family) coming to take care of the house, garden and pets while we are on holiday for 2 weeks later this month. 

They don't have their own home, they still live with parents. 

My son thinks we should pay them, I'm not sure. I planned for them to live rent free and leave food in the fridge and freezer for them to use freely, and was going to buy some alcoholic drinks that I know they like as a treat! They've told me that staying at ours doesn't increase travel costs to work and college for them or I would have covered that. Obviously I will leave enough of everything they need for the pets and essentials for the kitchen and bathroom etc. 

I did this in the past myself for a family friend, they didn't pay me, I was happy to have the house to myself for a couple of weeks for free! Maybe it's different now, I'm going back a fair few years!!! 

If I pay them I have no idea how much to offer. 

What should I do? 

tacpot12

I think paying them does give you a right to greater expectations, but if there isn't a concern about whether they will look after everything well enough, I might be inclined to just leave them some cash for a couple of take-away meals. 

sammyjammy

Agree with tacpot12, am sure there is no expectation from them, I'd leave an envelope with some cash in for incidentals or whatever they need.

kimwp

I think it depends how much you are expecting them to do. If looking after the house just means tidying up after themselves and looking after the pets means feeding them and keeping an eye on them, then a stocked fridge and a place to themselves sounds reasonable. But if they are having to stay in most evenings or do significant dog walking/grooming and spend hours in the garden, then I think leaving money for takeaways and financial compensation for the time (or equivalent restaurant vouchers or similar) they spend looking after your garden and animals would be nice.

Kittymumof4

Thanks all. It's just cleaning up after themselves and basically pet care, feeding, water, washing bowls etc. And watering the garden if needed.  I think I'll just leave some cash for takeaways then. 

MorphandMindy

Kittymumof4 said:

We have a young family member and his girlfriend (not immediate family) coming to take care of the house, garden and pets while we are on holiday for 2 weeks later this month. 

They don't have their own home, they still live with parents. 

My son thinks we should pay them, I'm not sure. I planned for them to live rent free and leave food in the fridge and freezer for them to use freely, and was going to buy some alcoholic drinks that I know they like as a treat! They've told me that staying at ours doesn't increase travel costs to work and college for them or I would have covered that. Obviously I will leave enough of everything they need for the pets and essentials for the kitchen and bathroom etc. 

I did this in the past myself for a family friend, they didn't pay me, I was happy to have the house to myself for a couple of weeks for free! Maybe it's different now, I'm going back a fair few years!!! 

If I pay them I have no idea how much to offer. 

What should I do? 

I had a friend doing the same with me. I paid him 200 along with full freezer fridge and the rest.  We put our 2dogs into kennels last year aswell had to get the dogs vaccinations up to date and then pay for their board. We also took the food for the dogs to the kennels. So call your local kennels and you will get shock. Then decide what their worth..

gocurlygirl

I looked after a dog when a friend of my son went on holiday. The people originally going to dog sit were unable to because of illness.
1/4 hours drive 4 times a day,1 1/2 - 2 hours caring,grooming,feeding walking etc.I am very fond of the dog.
I was not asked to water the garden etc but I did because of the hot weather..
They were a nice family,Devoted to their pet.I did it because otherwise they would have been unable to go on their planned holiday.However after 14 days I was glad when they got home.
£5 a day.Covered the petrol I suppose.

trickydicky14

gocurlygirl said:

I looked after a dog when a friend of my son went on holiday. The people originally going to dog sit were unable to because of illness.
1/4 hours drive 4 times a day,1 1/2 - 2 hours caring,grooming,feeding walking etc.I am very fond of the dog.
I was not asked to water the garden etc but I did because of the hot weather..
They were a nice family,Devoted to their pet.I did it because otherwise they would have been unable to go on their planned holiday.However after 14 days I was glad when they got home.
£5 a day.Covered the petrol I suppose.

I think they took you for a fool, £20 a day would be cheap. It's a bit like folks who get kids to groom and muck out horses just for the love of it.

[Deleted User]

trickydicky14 said:

gocurlygirl said:

I looked after a dog when a friend of my son went on holiday. The people originally going to dog sit were unable to because of illness.
1/4 hours drive 4 times a day,1 1/2 - 2 hours caring,grooming,feeding walking etc.I am very fond of the dog.
I was not asked to water the garden etc but I did because of the hot weather..
They were a nice family,Devoted to their pet.I did it because otherwise they would have been unable to go on their planned holiday.However after 14 days I was glad when they got home.
£5 a day.Covered the petrol I suppose.

I think they took you for a fool, £20 a day would be cheap. It's a bit like folks who get kids to groom and muck out horses just for the love of it.

Fair comment. My kid gets £10 per day for feeding next door's cat twice a day when they go abroad (which is frequently).
This is almost certainly a generous arrangement but £5 per day to care for a dog isn't at all reasonable, it's more than cheeky...

sheramber

Our local pet sitters charge £30 per night.

Glad

Are you comfortable enough to ask them what they expect? Have a conversation with them, they might be expecting payment, or they might say ‘don’t be daft, it will be a little holiday for us too’. At least there will be no awkwardness when they give you a bill on your return