How to ask for a raise?

As a babysitter, how should I ask for a raise?

• I babysit two 3 (turning 4) year old a few times a month and I am trying to save up some money for prom. I get paid $8/hourly and I clean the kids diapers (not potty trained still), feed them, etc. I am nervous about asking her and my dad wants to call her up and tell her himself. I have worked for her for over a year. I don't have a problem with asking her for a raise because I really am trying to save up money and I know a few dollars won't hurt her (she spends a ton of money on snacks and toys). But she asked me to work this week and I want to know if I should ask her for the raise over the phone BEFORE the day or I work for her or should I let her pay me with 8/hour fee and ask her for a raise in the future? OR if my dad should just handle all of this. She is pretty wealthy (single) but she is kinda stingy..(she wanted to offer me 7/hr originally). Should I ask for 10 dollars? Or just 9?

• Answer:

  I'm not sure how old you are but $8 an hour is a pretty fair wage already - I think that if you were to get a job at your local mcdonalds or supermarket than you would be paid less than that, and I know plenty of people who would be happy to babysit for $5 an hour and a couple who would be happy with only $10 after babysitting any entire day. I understand that you would like some more money because you are saving up for your prom, however if someone was saving up to buy a house and went to their boss and asked for a pay rise for that reason, the boss doesn't have much of a reason to give him one. In saying all that I think that if you wanted to ask for a pay rise it should be effective AFTER the next time you work for her. You had a verbal contract to work for her at a certain time and her understanding of that was that you would be working for $8 an hour - although you are well within your rights to call her up and tell her than instead you want to charge a higher price I think that it would be best to wait until after this time to ask. So the best way to tell her this is when she pays you for her work. For example when she hands you the money say 'thank you (her name), I just wanted to let you know that I will be charging $___ in future.' It would be best for you to tell her instead of your dad. I do warn you that there is a chance that after you increase your fee she may not call you again. I don't deal with babysitters myself because my husbands parents live next door to us and my parents live down the street and they are more than happy to look after my children. However, I do have friends that hire babysitters to look after their children. We do live in a wealthy area, and some of my friends could afford to pay the babysitters $50 if they had to, but they aren't willing to pay more than $7/$8 an hour. Their sitters have told them that they are increasing their fee and they just never call their sitters back, instead they look for a sitter who is prepared to be paid $7/$8 and there are a lot around. I am not saying tht you don't deserve to be paid more - but it might help to look for another sitting job to save more money.