Was this too much money?

flybye023 · #1 07-24-2010, 03:22 AM

We were on vacation last week and my sister had asked the 12 y/o son of a friend from church to feed our cat 2 times a day, clean the litterbox, put out the garbage can on trash day, water the potted plants outside and set sprinklers on the garden. She paid him $5 a day for the 8 days we were gone, so $40 total. (he's saving up to buy an iPod or something like that)

She stopped by today to pay him but he wasn't home so she gave it to his mom who said "no that's too much, just give him $10." My sister politely refused and left the full $40 telling her friend to give him however much she feels is right. Also, we're assuming the friend had to drive her son to our house twice a day so there's some gas money involved even though they're only a couple of streets over. My sister was a little taken aback about it though and we all started wondering what would have been a fair price. We (my mom, sister and I) still think $40 was fair.

What are your thoughts?

HorrorFrogPrincess · #2 07-24-2010, 03:25 AM

I think his mother kept the money and the boy should have been paid when you saw him.

But my family is twisted like that.

I think that's a fair price. Moreover, that's what you agreed to pay him. Paying less would be dishonest, no matter what his mother says.

Might want to make sure next time you see him he got his money. Don't be accusing, just smile and tell him you left this 40 with the mother.

MaggieTheCat · #3 07-24-2010, 03:27 AM

Considering that professional pet sitters get $40 a day or sometimes even as much as $40 per visit to the house (so $80 a day for 2 visits a day) I think it's more than fair. Obviously a 12 year old is not a professional pet sitter but like you said, there was gas money involved and, what sounds like a pretty good amount of time as well so I would consider $40 a steal.

Squeaksmyalias · #4 07-24-2010, 03:33 AM

I think it's fair enough, my company charges between 15-18 PER visit.
I get $20 a day for friend's dogs.

It's teaching the kid responsibility and he is learning how to save. He did the work I don't it's fair of his Mom to change the amount he is paid, especially if he was told the amount he was going to be given before hand.

I realize the mother was just being polite by saying to give him $10 but she needs to consider the fact that this was a job for her son and he needs to be paid fairly. It might encourage him to do more side jobs and he can save money to put songs on his ipod.

flybye023 · #5 07-24-2010, 03:40 AM

Well, I don't think any price was agreed on beforehand 'cause I know during our trip my mom and sister discussed payment several times. This is the price range we've paid other kids that we've had watch the cat. And even though they probably drove, it's only a 10 minute walk to their house from ours. I think my sister was even assuming he would be walking but maybe not.

The only difference this time is this boy is younger than the other kids. They've usually been 14-16 years old.

Sonoma · #6 07-24-2010, 05:41 AM

$40 sounds fair to me. I housesit for some friends, taking care of a horse, dog, and a farm full of cats. Normally get around $60 for a weekend (5 feedings total), but I have to factor in 30-miles of driving round trip for each feeding. I don't get rich doing it, but it's nice to get out of town on occasion.

RetailWorkhorse · #7 07-24-2010, 05:56 AM

Sounds fair to me.

Dreamstalker · #8 07-24-2010, 01:37 PM

I normally get $50/day for in-home stays and $15-$20 for visits (a good hour or so to play with the animals in addition to cleaning/feeding/walks).

A friend of ours once paid $20/day when she was gone for 3 weeks and then after cutting her vacation short, demanded I owed her $150 worth of walks (if you asked nicely I might have agreed; rather you assumed you had a 'credit' and declined to explain why you thought so). She had me make a few bank runs for deposits while she was away, so I know her crying poor is a load of crap.

Crossbow · #9 07-24-2010, 02:20 PM

$5 per day is perfectly fair. That's about what our friends get when they cat sit for us. And I agree with making sure the kid knows you gave his mother the money.
$10 for a week is too low.

BookstoreEscapee · #10 07-24-2010, 04:02 PM

If there was gas money involved, it was his mother's, not his (or whoever was driving him). But if the driver wanted reimbursement for that, it would be up to them to discuss it either with you or the kid (really the kid). Personally I probably would have paid more for all the chores he did (assuming he did all of them every day, but then trash usually only goes out once or twice a week, and plants might not need to be watered every day, etc.).

I would have waited and paid the kid directly, also, conisdering what the mother said. Hopefully she is not that sneaky.