How do you tell friends that you need more money for watching their kids?

Question

My husband and I are watching two year old twins of friends, for a 50 hour week we are getting $50. We want and need more money...but they claim they have non to give, yet we see them spending money on other things. How do you ask for more without sounding greedy?

we have had the boys for almost a year so they are part of the family here, They do have a daughter that would be willing to watch them and we fear loosing them all together... but as you said "Spicer", we are biteing the hand that feeds us so to speak ty.

Answer 1

I understand your situation completely!! I had a home daycare for just about one year and it seemed like all my friends came out of the wood work to bring their children to me. I, like you, charged very little. I thought, why not we are friends and it is better than nothing. I was WRONG!! So, I made the decision to raise their rates. Since, I was licensed, I typed a from explaining my reasoning. This way I could keep it on file. Here were a few of my reasons:

It cost a minimum of 2.50 per child per meal. That means your 50.00 a week feeds them....that's it.

Replacing toys, buying supplies for crafts and cleaning, any kind of entertainment for these children is now coming out of your pocket, because you already spent the money on food for them.

I would just tell them, I am sorry, but it cost me more to watch your children than to not. Tell them that the decision is firm, you are sorry if this hurts your friendship, but I has to be done. Let them know that if they do not respect your decision, than not to bring the kids back.

In a nutshell, that is what I had to do. with the cost of taking them somewhere else, the adjustment time the kids would need at a new place, they will come around. Hope this helps! Good Luck!!

Answer 2

Call around to some other day cares and find out what they are charging. You are going to be the cheapest by at least $50 a week, is my guess. Have this info ready to show the parents when you tell them you are raising you rates. That way they can see that they are not paying you enough and will see how much more they could be paying if they took their kids somewhere else. You are providing meals, I'm assuming, they are using the air, heat, water, electricity, soap, etc. that you pay for and they need to compensate you accordingly. I have a day care in my home and I raised my rates just recently, I mean a gallon of milk is over 3 dollars now, and all the parents completely understood and knew my home was better for them than any big day care center. If they have the money to spend on other things and want to keep their kids in a smaller more familiar setting they will find a way to make it work. If not, let them go, you need people that are going to appreciate you, monetarily and otherwise.

Answer 3

Tell that you have to raise your rates. If they don't like it, they can try getting someone else to watch their kids for $50 per week (that's NOT going to happen!). Set a price, tell them that's what it is and if they can't pay, then SEE YA! Don't worry about sounding too greedy. $50 for 50 hours is waaaaaaaaay too little money. You deserve MUCH more. I'd say you'd be cutting them a deal if you said you needed $200 per week (and that's on the LOW side). Good luck! I hope you get your money! :)

Answer 4

i watched a two year old girl and got 75 a week for 45 hours a week. i also provided meals. most daycares here for one child only run for about 115 dollars.for twwinss you need at least 150 -225 dollars a week. thay are taking you for granted just sit then down and talk to them. if you dont need the money it might be better to just leave it alone. i would talk with them atleast

Answer 5

Simply tell them that you can't afford to watch them anymore for $50 a week.

Is that your only source of income? Do you run a daycare? You are not being greedy by wanting more! Your friends are taking advantage of you.

Answer 6

You unapologetically say that you need to charge more money. Watching kids is hard work, and worth the money. $1 an hour is ridiculously little money, especially for twins. Even teenage babysitters get something like $8/hour.

Answer 7

Be honest with them. Tell them that the fee they are paying you is unreasonable and that if they cannot ante up more money that they will have to find some other arrangements. People that take advantage of you are not really your friends. Do not allow people to use you to your own hurt.

Answer 8

tell them you need more money....look at what a daycare costs. you are definetly getting ripped off. hell i thought the hourly wage for babysitting was at least 5 an hour now. thats crazy

Answer 9

dont sugarcoat what you need to tell them just tell like it is, be blunt, don't beat around the bush if you see them spending money on everything else..chances are they are using you..i mean $50 a week for 2 children!!!..oh no...i would be charging $50 per child per day........dont forget u have bills to pay just like they do and if they dont like it tell them to take their butts to a daycare center.......