You must be kidding.

So I have tentatively found a job! Yay. MWF 9-4, $230 a week, and I’ll have to get a second afternoon job.

Then tonight, some people emailed me from craigslist. They need a sitter MWF 8-4, around 25 hours per week, and wanted to know my rates. I told them $300/week, which is what I normally charge- $12 an hour. They called about 5 minutes ago and said, “Hi, we’re the people that just emailed you. We just wanted to let you know- there is no WAY we would be able to pay you $300 a week. I’m a medic and he’s a something-or-another. We pay our babysitter now $75 a week.”

1) The reason you pay a nanny more is because she’s not a 13 year old girl (aka “babysitter”) looking to make some cash to blow on lip gloss and babydoll tees at the mall.

2) $75 a week? A WEEK? Even taking a serious pay cut at my new job, I’ll make that in a day.

3) $75 a week divided by 25 hours work is $3 an hour. Did you know gas is $4 a gallon? Also, did you know $3 an hour is poverty wages?

4) Have you ever heard of a daycare? Try one in Frasier. They should be able to help you out for $3 an hour.

In all seriousness it shocks the hell out of me that people are so stingy about paying for their childcare. If you won’t pay good money for someone to take care of your own flesh and blood, what are you going to pay for? Prada bags and $400 car notes for your Escalade? Okay, meanness aside, if $75 a week is all you can afford, that’s fine. But don’t waste my time and don’t insult me. Call a low-rate daycare (because yes, even most daycares charge way more than $75 a week) or an old lady on a fixed income who needs a few extra bucks at the end of the month.

And what bugs me the most is that I know these people thought I was CRAZY for asking for that kind of money. Being a nanny is hard work. Just because I don’t have my degree yet doesn’t mean I’m not as professional a childcare giver as you’ll find.

Though I want the best for Henley, I secretly selfishly wish the Robertsons would stay.

Add a comment June 22, 2008

more job crap.

The Robertsons are moving to Chattanooga so I am out of a job in about a month. Let the job searching begin.

To reinforce what I said earlier, UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Add a comment June 17, 2008

calorie counting

Today I got an elliptical, which has only added to the clutter of our 750 sq. ft. apartment. But if it saves me the $25 monthly gym member ship, I’m all for it.

Still haven’t found a second job and my situation has gotten infinitely more complicated. I decided that I would just ask the Robertsons if I could work an extra day through the week so I could make a bit more money. That would save me from a second job and I would still be flexible with my hours with them. Surprise: They’re going to give me a raise, without asking me to work too many more hours, but might be moving. They won’t know until the middle of July. :/ On top of all that, they’re going on vaca in July too, and I have no idea if they’re going to give me a paid vacation. PLUS they have some friends who may or may not need a nanny when their kid is born in August. So I basically am just going to be hanging on tenterhooks for another month. Who knows what I’ll do if they end up moving and their friends don’t need a nanny. Probably wait tables a few days a week and on the weekends until I can come up with something better. BLAH.

Add a comment June 11, 2008

Ungh.

The costs of gas, food, cable, and cat food are rising. Health care was expensive to begin with. And my weekly salary is the same as it was 8 months ago. A part-time job is in my horizon.

Add a comment June 7, 2008

goodbye old friend

Today I retire my old (well, 2 years old) Kodak Easyshare C330 digital camera. It has served me well with its 1.5″ screen and 4 megapixels. It was the first “expensive” thing I bought when I started working for Chili’s in high school and actually started earning some real money. It’s the only electronic thing I’ve actually taken extremely good care of–kept it in a leather case and it has no scratches, not a one. For 4 MP, it’s actually a really good camera.

In place of it I have gotten… drumroll, please… a new Kodak Easyshare M763! No, I couldn’t escape. I don’t even use the easyshare function on these cameras but they are so good. 7 MP with a 3 year protection plan. This one is blue instead of silver and has something like a 3″ LCD screen, with 1600 ISO. It’s still just a typical point and shoot camera but that’s all I need.

“Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold.”

Add a comment June 4, 2008