How much to charge for an overnight baby sitting job?

Baby sitting job for a 16 year old (Easy ten points!)?

• Hey guys so I'm 16 and I would really like to have a weekend baby sitting job. I live in a very small area, and I'm not really sure how safe it is, I couldn't really just go around asking if anyone needs a babysitter, plus there are not a lot of kids around at all. I go to a small church too, I know some of the people there either have a babysitting for their children already or they stay with their kids, themselves. My dad suggested for me to just go around and ask if the young parents had any friend they knew that might need a babysitter, it's not a bad idea but I'm not a very social person..I'd rather not have to talk a lot to them. I was wondering if maybe I could just make a stack of fliers and leave them at my church for if someone needed or knew of someone that needed a weekend baby sitter, does this sound like a good idea? I wanted to post fliers in town but my parents are very concerned about me doing that, and so am I. I wouldn't feel safe just going to anyone's house and watch their children if I didn't know them. Is there anyone I could..still post fliers but some how make sure that I meet a nice, safe family? I really don't know how I'd do that. Any ideas? Also, if I do get the job how much do I charge? I've had tons of babysitting jobs but it's always what the people wanted to give me, I feel like I need to set a price. I would need to make enough, to pay for the gas getting there, and of course enough to make a profit off of it too. I was thinking $5.50 an hour per child and maybe $2 for each extra kid? I'm not sure if I can make anything off of that. So please let me know if you know any good price? Also if you have any more tips feel free to say so. Please, I am VERY serious about trying to make this work, please I would love for people to give this a serious thought and answer all of the questions asked above. Easy ten points! Parents, let me know what you think too!! Thank you very much! ~God bless

• Answer:

  I was wondering if maybe I could just make a stack of fliers and leave them at my church for if someone needed or knew of someone that needed a weekend baby sitter, does this sound like a good idea? All you have to do is get permission from the church! There is nothing dangerous with posting flyers around town...happens all the time, by girls much younger than you. If it is more comfortable there is nothing wrong with at least having your parent drve you to the interview and waiting outside to make sure you are safe. After that you would know you are safe. You can also take flyers around to the houses in your neighborhood..even if the people don't have kids, they may have grandkids or know others with kids. Getting a babysitting job is the easiest thing in the world...you are totally overthinking it and totally afraid of things that you shouldn't be afraid of...if you are to be a good sitter and keep the kids safe then you need to be a little more confident in yourself and your surroundings. Also, you don't charge ...you find out what they are paying and you either take the job or not take the job...you don't get to dictate a rate of pay...don't think you can go into any business, apply for a job and dictate the rate of pay...the world does not work that way. You can, however, expect to get about $5 per hr babysitting...(total, regardless of the number of children), this is pretty standard. I am a 4o something yr old woman, with countless yrs of chldcare experience and three kids of my own and I get $5 per hr. It is important to remember that you are not making the family any money....they can not afford to pay much..that is the nature of this type of work.