Was $3.50 and hour a fair price for my babysitting job?

$3.50 an hour may be what they were paying for daycare for the kid. Do I think it's a fair price to pay for babysitting? Absolutely not! I made $6 an hour in the late 1980's when I babysat! 20-some years later, I would think that you should be getting at LEAST what I was getting in 1988! Now you know: Always negotiate price, hours, expectations and stuff ahead of time.

Personally, I don't think it was fair, but it's better than nothing.

NO Omg that's ridiculous... where do you live?? I get paid 10.00$ an hour to babysit, Im 17 and don't babysit that much but that's what I charged, I actually got paid 12$/hour the other day to babysit 3 kids and they were sleeping. Well do you live in an older neighbourhood? I mean if they have no TV, Im not sure if that's a choice or what, but it sounds (from what you have said) that they don't have a lot of money- wouldn't they put the kid in daycare if they did? Anyways, no you did not get paid fair AT ALL. If they ask you to babysit again you NEED to tell them that you charge ___ (maybe minimum wage for your area? or ask around see what other people charge). **EDIT:** Ok so they do have money, they just sound very cheap to me, either that or they really have no clue about wages these days. I find it rude that they didn't ask you first what your wage is- any service you get you know the charge, whether it's the plumber, daycare, a maid, they all have prices that you pay according to THEM so babysitting should be no different and they should have asked you. I think it was nice of your parents to give you guys an extra 140$, you deserved it. If they EVER ask you to babysit again, TELL them your charge- I would at LEAST say 8.50$- that's the minimum wage where I live, so Im not sure what it is were you live but at least say your price is that much. Anyways, bottom line is that was a hard job- when I babysit the kids usually go to bed (easily too) and I get to watch tv the rest of the night, plus the kid sounds bratty. Anyways, that was a crap pay and you deserve to get more, so don't take that next time!

I don't think it was fair at all. I made that much babysitting in the 80s. Ask around to see what the going rate is. You can't change what you made this time, but next time agree on a rate before you agree to babysit.

NO Omg that's ridiculous... where do you live?? I get paid 10.00$ an hour to babysit, Im 17 and don't babysit that much but that's what I charged, I actually got paid 12$/hour the other day to babysit 3 kids and they were sleeping. Well do you live in an older neighbourhood? I mean if they have no TV, Im not sure if that's a choice or what, but it sounds (from what you have said) that they don't have a lot of money- wouldn't they put the kid in daycare if they did? Anyways, no you did not get paid fair AT ALL. If they ask you to babysit again you NEED to tell them that you charge ___ (maybe minimum wage for your area? or ask around see what other people charge). **EDIT:** Ok so they do have money, they just sound very cheap to me, either that or they really have no clue about wages these days. I find it rude that they didn't ask you first what your wage is- any service you get you know the charge, whether it's the plumber, daycare, a maid, they all have prices that you pay according to THEM so babysitting should be no different and they should have asked you. I think it was nice of your parents to give you guys an extra 140$, you deserved it. If they EVER ask you to babysit again, TELL them your charge- I would at LEAST say 8.50$- that's the minimum wage where I live, so Im not sure what it is were you live but at least say your price is that much. Anyways, bottom line is that was a hard job- when I babysit the kids usually go to bed (easily too) and I get to watch tv the rest of the night, plus the kid sounds bratty. Anyways, that was a crap pay and you deserve to get more, so don't take that next time!

I don't think it was fair at all. I made that much babysitting in the 80s. Ask around to see what the going rate is. You can't change what you made this time, but next time agree on a rate before you agree to babysit.

Personally, I don't think it was fair, but it's better than nothing.

It seems very unfair to me. I charge 7$ an hour for 5 years old & up, because its a lot of work to take care of children. You have to feed them & interact with them. Also a lot of children are very antsy & like to move every waking moment & you have to move with them. Children are beautiful little creatures too that deserve attention, discipline, love, & more. You work hard for those little guys, & you should be paid decently which is at least 5$ an hour especially if your watching them for 8 hours everyday. I think they took advantage of the fact that you didn't discus the price with them. Which is wrong.

It seems very unfair to me. I charge 7$ an hour for 5 years old & up, because its a lot of work to take care of children. You have to feed them & interact with them. Also a lot of children are very antsy & like to move every waking moment & you have to move with them. Children are beautiful little creatures too that deserve attention, discipline, love, & more. You work hard for those little guys, & you should be paid decently which is at least 5$ an hour especially if your watching them for 8 hours everyday. I think they took advantage of the fact that you didn't discus the price with them. Which is wrong.