One big hurdle keeping many of us parents from going out on more frequent date nights: The cost of a babysitter.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. It turns out there are payment strategies that can help make the cost of a sitter more reasonable than it might otherwise be.
Today’s hint is three such money-saving strategies for paying the babysitter.
1. Skip paying for the sitter’s ride home. When a babysitter I’ve hired doesn’t have a car, I’ve generally sent her home in an Uber on me. Turns out I’m in the minority. According to UrbanSitter’s 2015 National Childcare Rate Survey, a survey of 10,000 families from across the country, very few parents say they pay for a sitter’s ride home. Instead, most just generally rely on a sitter finding his or her own way home. UrbanSitter, a site that matches parents with sitters, is giving away a year membership (a $100 value) to one lucky Hint Mama reader – details below. You can see the full survey results in the infographic to the right – double click on it to zoom in.
2. Just round up when tipping, or don’t tip at all. Instead of giving the babysitter a 10% or higher tip, say for a standard babysitting night and or for going above and beyond, consider just rounding up what you pay to the nearest multiple of five or ten. Indeed, according to UrbanSitter’s survey, “most parents just round up when tipping a babysitter,” and at least a third of parents don’t tip at all.
3. Know when you have rate bargaining power. According to UrbanSitter Chief Executive Officer Lynn Perkins, you can save money by booking babysitters for evenings when there’s not much demand from other parents. “Demand is much lower on a Monday or Tuesday evening, so you may be able to find a babysitter at a great rate if your plans are flexible,” she says. Or, you also may be able to negotiate a lower rate if you book a sitter for a date afternoon rather than a date night.
You can read more findings from UrbanSitter’s survey in the infographic to the right, and be sure to enter the giveaway below. Also, check out my earlier hints for cutting the cost of date night, including skipping dinner and trading babysitting with friends.
Do you agree with the tips above? Why or why not? What are your strategies for cutting the cost of date night?
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This is such a great tip list! I didn’t even know that babysitters get tips in addition to their pay, but I guess if it’s via a service it makes sense to equate it to services at a nail salon.
Regarding providing transportation home. In certain urban areas, New York, San Francisco off the top of my head it is expected; but generally not in small cities, suburbs and large cities that are safe and have good public transportation.
Regarding tipping. Most good sitters are in high demand and set their own schedules. You don’t have to tip nor is it necessarily expected. But I am much more accommodating for my families that do tip.
Regarding negotiating my rate. Don’t. Just don’t. You wouldn’t negotiate another professionals rate. If you can’t afford me, you can’t. But don’t negotiate, it makes me think that I don’t want to work with your family. And that range I have in my profile on Urban Sitter. That lowest dollar amount is for the potty trained child who will be asleep most of the night. You will pay several dollars above the minimum for an infant or toddler still in diapers or for a daytime appt. that requires transportation and meal prep. So no, afternoon “date nights” will not be cheaper.
The takeaway: A good sitter, one you truly feel safe leaving your children with, is in high enough demand that they control the negotiation, not the parent.