October 11, 2017

Getting a Nanny 101

I have been a nanny for more than 10 years. I am currently between jobs. So now I am looking at the online nanny/childcare job websites. It can get a bit frustrating when I see an ad that just says, "we need a nanny". Uhm, can I get some details? I don't want life stories or specifics. I want a bit more information, please. 

If you want a nanny saying you want one is a good start but as a nanny who reads many many ads seeking nannies it needs to have a bit more information. Like how many kids, how old are they? Some nannies are better with different age levels. Like me, I like working with babies. Others only want to work with school aged kids for after school care. 

What is expected of the nanny, feeding, dressing, playing with, transporting to activities, and other requests. Do you expect the nanny to do any housekeeping? Laundry, dishes, grocery shopping? Let us know in your ad, please.

What part of town do you live? Just a general area is good. I want to know how far I would be expected to drive to work daily before I apply for a job. In my opinion NO job is worth driving way across town for, especially during rush hours. 

What do you expect to pay a nanny? I know I don't want to take less than I am worth. Please don't low ball it. Just because a nanny might not have a college degree doesn't mean they are worth less. Just remember this is a hard job! This is also your most precious child. You get what you pay for. I hate to sound elitist but if you can't afford in your home care with a qualified nanny you might need a preschool or daycare center. There are good ones around! 

A nanny also needs some paid vacation and sick leave time. At least I ask for it. I love kids and will love your kid/s but everyone needs a break sometime! What days of the week and what hours are expected? Are there extra times the nanny might be needed?

I know that is a lot of information to go into an ad and not all of it needs to, really, but all of this should be discussed in a phone interview, at least. I want to know your expectations and I want to voice mine, too.

I hope I don't sound too picky. It is just tough on those who need a nanny and those who are looking for a nanny job and anything to make it easier is always good, I think. 

Grocery Savings

If you live in a place where the grocery stores really compete with each other it can be a good idea to make a price book. 

It can be an old spiral notebook. Write down the product(s) you normally buy and sizes, too. Write down the prices at each store. Don't forget warehouse stores, if you use them. I would put down price per ounce or pound, too. Just so you can make sure it is a real comparison. 

Check the prices every so often to make sure they didn't go up or down or that there was a sale on that item on the day you priced it. 

This process helps when the grocery stores in your area have sales. In my region the leading grocery store is hands down the lowest prices already so it really doesn't do me any good. Most of the other grocery stores around here only put junk food and soda on sale, usually. I don't even check their circulars anymore. 

Menu planning is also a good way to save on groceries. Plan for the week and don't go to the grocery store without a list for the week. Some plan all three meals for the day. In my house, my boyfriend and I are on our own for breakfast and lunch, as he doesn't usually eat breakfast, works from home and sometimes doesn't even eat lunch. (How can he do that?) I take my lunch to work so I am on my own there, it is usually leftovers from the night before. I only plan our evening meals. I plan for the week but it isn't set in stone what we eat on what night. Now that I make a bit more money we always have at least one night a week of takeout. Sometimes we have a "forage" night where we each eat what we can find to eat. 

Menu planning helps to make sure your grocery list is complete with all you will need to make those meals each day. 

Cash Only Spending

One sure way to save is to only use cash when you shop. If you don't have your credit or debit cards with you and you run out of cash you can't spend anymore. 

Some use the Envelope System from the Dave Ramsey books. But I think that whole system is just another excuse to buy something else. 

Just use normal envelopes. Label for Food spending, Household needs, Gas, are a few of the options. Use what your family uses as labels. Some might want cash for movies and entertainment. Other families won't. Put the cash you budgeted for that category for the month and put it into the envelope. When you shop, use that cash and when it is gone, you don't spend on that category anymore for the month. 

It may feel embarrassing to have to return things at the checkout if you run out of money for it but that small bit of embarrassment is small compared to the amount of money you would save with the Envelope System. 

Frugal Meals

One sure way to save money is to prepare frugal meals. Cutting the grocery bill may be the easiest way to save money. 

I know how hard it is, though! I love food, good food, flavorful food, a good variety of food! I love my "fancy" food! But pasta is a good cheap food too. Depending on how it is served. I love Pesto but it can be expensive. Pasta with canned, diced tomatoes and beans with spices of your choice makes a good, easy, fast, cheap meal. 

Macaroni and cheese, homemade, from a simple, cheap recipe is inexpensive. Add some peas and tuna and it can be a full, filling meal. 

Try to cook extra and freeze the left overs. It is just my boyfriend and me eating and I learned to cook for 4 so there are always leftover. My freezer is usually full to busting with meals. Which is good for the nights I don't want to cook. Pulling something from the freezer is way cheaper than take out every night. 

My first post was going to be about frugality but since I am going with what is on my mind, mostly, at the time I am going to talk about parenting a "boomerang" kid. My daughter is 25 and is living with me, again. Hence the word, boomerang.
I do believe that parenting a young adult living in your home (again) is just almost as stressful and worry filled as parenting a toddler. It is even harder when said young adult had health issues. Add depression and anxiety to the mix and I am a huge ball of stress. I know this will pass but I am scared, angry, worried, guilt filled, sad...Ugh!

Hi, I'm Martha. I am overflowing with ideas. I hope this will be a good way for me to express my ideas and opinions. I hope you can enjoy them. Or that they at least give you some food for thought. I don't censor my thoughts, so beware, if you are sensitive...I am sorry.
I hope to be mostly positive because I am learning to have a positive outlook on things. Sometimes, though I can get kinda pessimistic but that is okay, we all have those days. Especially if you follow the news at all these days.
I plan on writing about frugality, childcare, the news and how it affects regular people, my spirituality, my love for my family, cooking and creativity. Many things that aren't, yet are, connected.  I want to write about things I have learned while my navigating this life. I want to write about the things I am still learning, too. Sometimes lessons have to be learned over and over again. Sometimes they have to be learned by the Universe smacking you upside the head with a 2 X 4.

9/20/2016

The Half Payment Method

If you have some fixed payment bills a good way to be able to afford them and possibly get ahead on them is the half payment method. 

Lots of people use this for mortgage payments but it can work for other, mostly loan payment. 

Take a bill, divide it in half and pay that half every 2 weeks. (that is if you get paid every two weeks.). I usually also pay a little bit more, even $5.00 extra can cut away on the debt. 

By paying this way you end up paying an extra payment every year. So instead of 12 payments a year I am paying 13 payments a year. I am ahead on paying it back. That is also saving me some interest.