I babysat these kids today for a total of 8.5 hours. Two hours this morning, and the rest were in the evening. When I first talked to the mother, she told me she could only afford $6.00 an hour (I usually charge $10.00). She then texted me saying she discussed it with her husband and they would like to pay me $8.00 an hour. First of all, the mom was an hour late this morning and almost TWO HOURS LATE tonight. After I left, I saw that she only paid me $50. That is LESS THAN $6.00 an hour let alone $8.00. I am really upset at both the rudeness of being late without so much as a text and being severely underpaid. I want my money because I earned it, but I also don't want to be rude. How do I approach this? Thanks!
Responses (2)
Welcome to the world of American custom and some bad news you can't do a damned thing, you got burnt on the deal. next time get the money up front. As with almost all services you pay before you get it and you need to do that next time you babysit after all it's not as if you can hold the kids hostage is it.
Same thing happened to both my daughteres when they needed the extra cash through college. I've come the the inescapable conclusion that most parents who use/need babysitters are sh*ts and need to be treated as such. Get the money up front and don't take any nonsense, and you never negotiate the price.
That was genuinely terrible advice. Thanks anyways.