'They think I don't need the money': Babysitter Gets Short-Changed by Cheap Parents After They Find Out She Drives a Nice Car

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Aug 20, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

If you went to the gas station and tried to give the cashier $1 for a gallon of gas, they'd probably laugh at you and send you packing. We learn from an early age that goods and services cost money, but somehow, once entitled parents spawn an expensive baby, normalities don't apply to them anymore. So when you're a babysitter with a price sheet and a clear-set menu of the cost of your services, suddenly cheap parents are blind to the societal norms of standard payment practices… At least, that's what happened to the babysitter in our next story. 

After watching the two young children of a nice family nearby, this babysitter had grown comfortable. Normally, she'd take an Uber to the family's house because parking was limited and she lived nearby, but she thoroughly enjoyed her time spent with the kids. Things were dandy! Until recently, she'd never noticed a difference in her pay–a pre-determined $25/hour rate–until after she drove her own car to the house. 

Somehow, because the parents suddenly learned she was driving a 'luxury' vehicle, they decided that they no longer needed to abide by their babysitter's pay rate. I guess they thought 'she didn't need the money' so they went ahead and created their own discounted pricing, short-changing a good babysitter based on a materialistic hunch.

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    Cheezburger Image 10391822336
    via canva
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    Family saw my car and now they pay me less Question I met a family through a website and they have 2 kids. They lived pretty close so I would Uber
    via ParticularAge5736
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    since they live in an apartment with not ample parking. The area they live in is not the nicest I would say but I don't mind. They at first would pay me $25/hour.
    via ParticularAge5736
  • 04
    The last couple times, I decided to drive my car and they had my park in the garage and the father was saying how nice it was and everything. The first time I drove my car he paid me $18/hour. The
    via ParticularAge5736
  • 05
    second time it was $20. I am babysitting for them next month but if they pay me lower again because I drive a nice car then should I keep babysitting them? I babysit because I enjoy being around kids and I'm in school so
    via ParticularAge5736
  • 06
    it's extra cash. But my rate for 2 kids is $25,which is stated in my profile. But I don't want to think the worst but perhaps they think that I don't need the money so that's why they're paying me less. What should I do?
    via ParticularAge5736
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    Edit: thank you all for your advice! What I've decided to do is a week before the set date, I will send a confirmation text. Within that text I will be reiterating my rate and explaining that the last couple of times I wasn't given the proper amount.
    via ParticularAge5736
  • 08
    princessofcurses Why did you allow them to pay you less than your rate?
    via princessofcurses
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    ParticularAge5736 OP. They pay me in cash and I didn't check the total until I was back in my home, so I thought that I misplaced bills but the second time I drove I knew that they underpaid me
    via ParticularAge5736
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    MayaPapayaLA. I'd go with: "I noticed the last two times I babysat the total amount you gave me was less than my rate of $25/hour. I'm not going to be able to babysit for less than my agreed rate. I want to make sure that you understand that in advance. Let me know if you are interested in me babysitting for your family again."
    via MayaPapayaLA
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    tadpole_bubbles I'd also say I was underpaid by X amount last time, im sure it was an accident as my profile clearly states it is 25/he for two children. Please could you send this over to me? And then see if you want to babysit for them again.
    via tadpole_bubbles
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    I mean if you were going to get 25 for four hours that's 100£, if they paid you 18 for 4 that's only 72? You're missing literally an hour's worth of pay- that's not okay.
    via tadpole_bubbles
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    Swimming_Net_6102 Very simply put: don't deal with them again. Even if they say they will pay you x amount. People who cheat you because they don't expect you to count the money will make other problems elsewhere, even if they say they will pay you what is due.
    via Swimming_Net_6102
  • 14
    onelOvenik If you charge 25/hr and they paid you 18/hr... they have stole from you. Send them an invoice for money owed. Don't let them decide what they owe you, you tell them the amount when you finish service. If they don't pay... they have stolen. I wouldn't continue working for them until they pay up.
    via onelOvenik
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    Tranqup Agree with all, except for considering working for this family again if they pay up. Shorting a babysitter for me, is a one strike and you're out.
    via Tranqup
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    Traditional-Ad2319 That's not the way it works they don't decide what they pay you you tell them what you charge and then if they don't want to pay that you don't work for them.
    via Traditional-Ad2319
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    Mamapalooza You have to have a direct conversation with them that says, "I am really enjoying your children, and I hope they are enjoying me." Let him answer. It will be positive.
    via Mamapalooza
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    "That's great! So, in response to that, I wanted to make sure that there was no confusion around my rates. If you're happy with my services, I'd like to remind you that my rates are posted on the site."
    via Mamapalooza
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    Lots of parents will do this. They'll just pay you whatever and think it's okay. It's not. You're WORKING. You have a verbal contract if nothing else, so this is actionable if needed, but it won't be. Establish your
    via Mamapalooza
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    boundaries, enforce your boundaries, count your money in the bathroom before you leave and cheerfully correct them if they short you, "Oopsy, minor miscount. Can we fix this before I go?" Or move them to Venmo "for taxes" so they can't pull a fast one.
    via Mamapalooza
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    weaselblackberry8. A lot of parents do think they can just pay whatever. One I had several years ago paid $10 plus a tip that I think made it $80 for 7 hours. I think I'd said the lowest I could do was $12.
    via weaselblackberry8
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    Sufficient-Reply9525. This is so strange... Always count out the cash right in front of them before you leave, if there is money missing, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF?!?!
    via Sufficient-Reply9525
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    I mean it literally doesn't matter "why" he is paying you less, the fact that he isn't honoring his side of the agreement is reason enough to confront him! I really don't understand the way you're thinking right now...
    via Sufficient-Reply9525
  • 24
    Busy Challenge1664 Check the total in front of them and let them know they shorted you.
    via Busy_Challenge1664
  • 25
    phred0095 Go to the gas station and tell them you'd like to pay only $1 a gallon for gas. They won't sell you gas. You set your price. If they don't want to pay it they can go elsewhere. It works for Exxon it'll work for you.
    via phred0095

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affluence luxury babysitter vehicle car rate bad parents parenting wealth babysitting short changed pay Reddit money rich parents wage
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