Not being payed and im the babysitter!

[BignRichfan]

Here's the lowdown, I babysit my 3 month old neice 6 days a week 45 hours a week right. My sister in law agreed to pay me $10 a day which is great. At first I was watching the baby 4 days because she'd have her friends fill in so she would'nt have to pay me so much om guessing. Then none of her friends wanted to babysit for her anymore so I ended up with the full time position. Well she was paying me at first then she missed paying me a day here and there and then 2 weeks ago she did'nt pay me for 3 days, then she ended up paying me for the whole week. My brother in the mean time had quit his job so I figured they were having money troubles so I would'nt push the issue. Well he sells on ebay and does flea markets and such so he's been making money here and there and he does good. Now they owe me for 3 days las week because she paid me for 2 days and I watched the baby all this week including 12 hours last night! So she calls at 8pm and she is supposed to get the baby alittle after 8 and says im going to go grocery shopping ok? I was like whatever. When she comes at 10pm to get the baby she brings me 3 gallons of milk,2 boxes of cheerios and 1 dz of eggs that she got free from wic and hands me $20. She says here's $20 and with all the groceries I just gave you that should be enough to cover what I owe you! I almost died. I thought you have got to be kidding me. You did not even pay for these few items of food and you owe me like $100 and I have your kid more than you do. I am so pissed right now. When your expecting money and someone hands you eggs it just don't fly. So I don't really know what to do in this situation because I don't want to cause a big fight here but I am the only person who can babysit the little one all week since I don't work. I was thinking I should call my brother and complain to him about all the money they owe me. What do you all think I should do? I still want to babysit, but if she's not going to pay me then im not going to be waisting my time. Thanks for reading this long complaint.

[Ima saver]

I definately think you should call your brother and tell him, no pay , no babysitting. I don't know your age, but $10 a day is pretty cheap!! How old are you??

[Thrifty Ray]

Your brother and SIL need to understand that you are HELPING them by babysitting their child and doing so at a very reasonable cost. It is such a blessing to know that your child is well cared for and loved while you are working. The peace of mind alone is worth the $10 per day.

I know several people who have babysat, and gave up because the parents often paid them last (or not at all). It is all to common to underestimate the importance of paying the sitter...when it should be at the TOP of the list.

For the sake of your niece, I urge you talk to your brother and let him know your frustrations BEFORE you get to the point that you are 'done'.

[34saving]

Wow. It's okay to tell them that this is a huge responsibility and you can't afford to do it for free. (BTW, when I went back to work for awhile I was paying my MOM $30 a day to babysit from 9:00 am to 2:00pm . . .and Mom is under market . . .)

[robex]

I used to pay $25.00 per day for my 3 year old from 9:00-3:00. You are WAY undercharging, and they are taking advantage of you! I would definately call your brother and clear it up with him...where I live the sitters often charge for the care at the beginning of the month...prevents them from getting burned by people who decide not to pay part way through the month.

[lrjohnson]

I'm not against bartering, but really, the two parties need to agree ahead of time. Handing you eggs and milk is ...well, not cool. In fact it's lame. It's bringing out the babysitting teeanager in me too.

[tgavin71]

A similar thing happened to me. Luckily though it was friends not family so that made it a bit easier to do what I did.
I agreed to look after my friends little girl while she went to work. At first she paid me but then it was excuse after excuse. When I asked when she was going to pay the money that was owed to me she promised to have it to me by a certain day. That day passed with no money insight. The next day she came by to drop off her daughter before work only to have me tell her that I was no longer prepared to look after her daughter and she would have to find someone else to use. She couldn't and lost her job.
We never spoke again.
OF course with family it is a completely different kettle of fish. You need to talk to your brother and while you are there up the rate of pay. I wish you success.

[Tree0164]

Wow sounds like a mess.

If your brother isn't working, he should be watching the baby.

$10 a day is nothing...

[Ima saver]

That is true, why doesn't your brother watch the baby?

[tgavin71]

here here. He's the father get him to do it.

[goodhome]

It's so hard when it's family. You don't want your niece hurt by any of this. You really need to talk to your sister-in-law again and your brother. Make some rules, like if they don't pay you within a month, you won't babysit anymore.

[debtfreeme]

gently sit her down and ask her what the situation is, are they having problems? Do they need some help? Would it help her to have a little calendar so she would know when you worked for her and when she paid you? You could put on inside the kitchen cabinet and note when she paid you and what and how much. Tell her each day the two of you can discuss what is going on and how you can help her, but taht she needs to be honest with you. Ask her if you can help her manage what money they do have. Does she work this much that you need to sit for the baby? why does he husband not watch the baby?


My sister runs a daycare and i cannot imagine anyone taking advantage of someone like this. it is so sad, but if they are having trouble it might be better to talk to her. Say each evening when she leaves, i'll note todays work on the calendar. Also, gently explain to her that she is defrauding the sate in giving you free items from the WIC program which could jepoardize her ability to stay in the program and could have the state prosecute her for fraud. Be very careful for that. Highly illegal and could get her in serious trouble if the people who administer the program find out.

[Snoopy2645]

I think thier is always gonna be people like this. I used to have a friend who does this to everyone!! She used to try to do it to me too the baby was the same age as my 2yr old so she wouldnt bring diapers guess she thought I had them on hand so why bring them. And she would call at least everyday so she could go to this or that!! ANd then she had a 5yr old that was still in diapers now I refuse to change a 5yr old sorry but I wouldnt even change a 3yr old by that age if they arent trained they are changing themselves!! BTW she dont work is on welfare & all she did was gripe about people on welfare constantly & btw I never been on it so leave me out of it KWIM?

Then she would go on & On & on about how she bought so & so much in groceries with her foodstamps & she never every brought anything for these kids over to eat or like I said diapers for that matter I wouldnt have took her food for myself but she could have brought something for her kids at least while they were at my house Ya know?

I was tempted to call & turn her in thier is no way she should be bragging about using foodstamps to buy others food ya know well I put a end to it I wont be used for long. But the icing that topped the cake was definetly the no diapers!! But if this is a relative I think I would tell them I was busy or something or got another job or have to get a job because you are so broke just tell them no babysiiting about 5 times in a row I wouldnt feel bad either dad is thier he can watch the baby NO EXcuses for him not too!!