<p>Hey all, I was JUST accepted as a transfer student to a schol in DC and am going crazy looking for fooms (dorms are filled up) when I came accreoos an ad from family looking for a college student to help out with their two kids (age 10 and 13) in exchgen for a free room (the basement) and utilities (including cable tv, internet, heat, etc…). Basically they just ask to help get the kids ready for school and help them a few days a week after school (homework etc…) and take them to a few afe school activities. Which since they’re kind of old as is I wouldnt think it’d be TOO difficult.
Now this seems perfect because it saves me 7-8000 dollars which I was going to get a student loan for any way, and I have tons of younger siblings Ive had to help raise. I was just wondering if anybody else as done anything like this and if so what was it like? Either way opinions are welcome, thanks.</p>
<p>While you consider this offer, remember to have all the conditions clearly defined, and written down preferably: Which days and what hours will you help? (School busses can leave very early, are you ready to feed breakfast at 6:30 am?) How many after school activities, and will you be driving the family car, will they insure you? what happens if you are in an accident, will they want you to pay the deductible? Are they expecting you to be available for evening babysitting?</p>
<p>Are you allowed to have visitors? Overnight visitors? Access to the kitchen? Your own bath? Music and TV in the basement? Any history of flooding in the basement? does the basement have windows? Is it a legal rental?</p>
<p>If you have everything in writing, it will help everyone understand the boundaries. Good luck in DC!</p>
<p>While im not live-in, I am a nanny.</p>
<p>My advice would be think long and hard about this choice.
Even if the kids are older, they could have behavior problems.
The family might not be a perfect “fit”
They might want you to babysit evening/weekends…</p>
<p>Ask if you could go down for a week before school starts and do a test-drive…see what it is like.</p>
<p>I’d never go to college and babysit at the same time. You are very brave. I’d die. xD</p>
<p>A ‘few’ days a week helping after school can turn into every day since if they parents have a babysitter to fall back on, they are more likely to stay at work later, go out with friends, run errands before they come home, etc which could leave you taking care of their kids longer than you expect. </p>
<p>fauve is right. Get a contract and have them outline exactly what they expect for you to do and also come up with an agreement about what would happen if you are needed to do work outside of what is in the contract. I would infer you would be doing a lot more than making breakfast in the morning and helping with homework problems. A live in would do more than that, usually, maybe even cleaning and whatnot.</p>
<p>You have to live inside of a baby-sitter? I’m sorry but that’s just barbaric and borderline cannibalistic. You’re already repulsing me.</p>
<p>^ that was a witty response and all, but is it such a big deal OP said “live in” rather than “live-in?”</p>
<p>
Yes. 10char</p>
<p>If the expectations were written out, I think I would give it a try. It might be a perfect fit. If it does not work out, well, once you have been at school for a few months, you will probably have more ideas for places to live.</p>
<p>It sounds like a great deal. I would do it but make sure you settle on an agreement beforehand.</p>
<p>On the opposite spectrum, this makes me think of those Lifetime movies where the babysitter is either killed, hooks up with one of the parents, or spied on by the father.</p>
<p>
It actually wasn’t that witty or at all funny.</p>
<p>Lol Plattsburgh…yeah…it does a little.</p>
<p>Well. </p>
<p>I would say it’s not necessarily a bad idea. Like the second poster so aptly said, it’s really important to get everything in writing, especially how often you’ll be working and what the expected mode of transportation is. They may need someone with a car or more babysitting experience than you have. </p>
<p>This MIGHT be the sweetest deal on the planet.</p>
<p>…Hmmmmm.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know it could lead to some potential problems, but baiscally it would be the equivalant of a $9000 scholarship or more, and I’d be willing to put up with alot of crap for that kind of money.
And yeah, Plattsburgh, that thought crossed my mind, but if the “lifetime” scenario ensued I think I’d live, and then right a tell all book and make millions ;)</p>
<p>Watching kids is exhausting. I’m always relieved when they go home because then I can do what I want without them bugging me. If you live there you can’t run away. lol.</p>
<p>I know some people have had great experiences working as au pairs and live-in sitters, but the demands of the job need to be strictly outlined. For example, specify the exact times when you are “on call” or available to work; else they’ll be randomly expecting you to watch the kids when night on short notice. Also, I would ask for a stipend (for other living expenses and incidentals) in addition to the free room, because I wouldn’t be comfortable working for no pay.</p>
<p>Well - IF you really are strapped for cash, I don’t think you have a choice. Its a favorable position if you have good conditions. At ages 10 and 13, those are great! But make sure that they don’t have activities that interfere with what you do in school.</p>
<p>IF you aren’t strapped for cash and just wanna save some dough, than consider getting a dorm (if you can find one). It MIGHT be hard to find a group to hang around if you don’t live on campus. You need to get settled into your new environment!</p>