How much to pay?

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

A very lovely friend has offered to come and let the pups and Bear out for 3 days this week-we very rarely need to have them looked after due to the OH’s shifts but this is the one time in 2 months when we need someone-normally Aunty B, but she’s in no fit state, bless her post broken arm etc.

My friend has said she doesn’t want paying but there’s no way I wouldn’t, plus if I need her again, I can ask again with a clear conscience. She will come probably 3-4 times to let them out, feed them once. Everything will be left for her, I’ve told her to hang round if she wants and watch TV etc. What’s the going rate for this kind of thing?

 

[bonny]

A very lovely friend has offered to come and let the pups and Bear out for 3 days this week-we very rarely need to have them looked after due to the OH’s shifts but this is the one time in 2 months when we need someone-normally Aunty B, but she’s in no fit state, bless her post broken arm etc.

My friend has said she doesn’t want paying but there’s no way I wouldn’t, plus if I need her again, I can ask again with a clear conscience. She will come probably 3-4 times to let them out, feed them once. Everything will be left for her, I’ve told her to hang round if she wants and watch TV etc. What’s the going rate for this kind of thing?

I wouldn’t want paying if I was doing that for a friend and I wouldn’t pay if it was the other way round. I would either buy her something, if a good friend maybe a meal out or something similar or can you help her out with something in return ?

 

[wren123]

If she drinks a couple of bottles of wine or a bottle of champagne.
Or a tin of nice M&S chocolate biscuits and a pack of nice teabags if she's not a drinker.

 

[Kat_Bath]

I wouldn't take payment either (mostly because hello! dog and puppy cuddles!! Yes please!) but those M&S biscuits, in the gold and black tin, or the extremely chocolatey ones, I'd do anything for those - yummy! - so I'm with Wren, buy her something nice.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We provide doggy day-care for a friend, she doesn't pay us (we certainly don't want her to) but she pays for a weekly secure field session for all 4 of them and often takes us out for lunch. If she has said that she doesn't want payment, I should think that she would be offended if you insisted. A different friend put our horses out for us occasionally one winter, we bought her a pair of good gloves as a thank you.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

She’s not a drinker and is on a strict diet ?

 

[ycbm]

My friend has said she doesn’t want paying but there’s no way I wouldn’t, plus if I need her again, I can ask again with a clear conscience.

I don't think it always works that way CT. The person providing the help can sometimes take it that payment would create an obligation that they will be available to be paid next time.

I would maybe find a restaurant that does food she can eat without feeling guilty or breaking her diet and take her out for an evening.
.

 

[Sandstone1]

She’s not a drinker and is on a strict diet ?

Flowers or a house plant?

 

[splashgirl45]

i have a friend who has horses and a dog, every so often she needs help with the mares and foals and insists she pays me. i also pop in and let her dog out and feed her about once a week and she insists on paying me for that as well. she tells me to tot up my hours and she pays me once a month.. i dont want us to fall out so i knock a few hours off the total so i dont feel so bad and she has no idea so she feels ok....its quite tricky

 

[twiggy2]

Work out what you would pay a dog sitter and put the money aside and use it for vouchers for something she would like to treat herself.
Spa, hamper, books etc

 

[Dasher66]

A lovely bunch of flowers delivered at the beginning of a weekend. Use a local florist whose shop you like the look of and ask them to make up a hand tied bunch of whatever is currently really nice to your budget.

 

[Kat_Bath]

She’s not a drinker and is on a strict diet ?

New hat and scarf for winter? I just crocheted my best friend a semi-matching woolly hat and a nice long, wide scarf in colours of her choice.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I don't think it always works that way CT. The person providing the help can sometimes take it that payment would create an obligation that they will be available to be paid next time.

I would maybe find a restaurant that does food she can eat without feeling guilty or breaking her diet and take her out for an evening.
.

I know her favourite restaurant. Vouchers for that might be the way forward, or John Lewis ones, she's moving soon.

 

[Blanche]

If she likes gardening what about a rose, shrub, tree or bulbs.

 

[ycbm]

I know her favourite restaurant. Vouchers for that might be the way forward, or John Lewis ones, she's moving soon.

She might still feel that was "payment", can you take her there?

The restaurant, not John Lewis ?
.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

She might still feel that was "payment", can you take her there?

The restaurant, not John Lewis ?
.

Socialise, me?! I'm going to chat to my OH and see what he says. I already mentioned payment to her, she said no. She does want puppy time and will be bringing her 2 year old. She's done insane amounts of research since losing her dog some years ago-also cancer and is just deciding on breed for when she moves into the new big house.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Sounds to me as though you are doing her a favour letting her puppysit your dog. Try to think of it as a mutual favour and offer to do the same for her if she ever needs it.

 

[SAujla]

Thats what friends are for, plus she gets to spend time with your dogs which won't feel like work and something for her to enjoy. Maybe just do her a big favour the next chance you get