Census Job: Is it worth it?

[moonlight]

I just got the call for a Census job. I’m not sure if I can work this out tho with the baby. I’m a SAHM to a five month old. It sounds like I can do most of my work on the weekends and evenings while DH is home with her. The “problem” is the training class. It’s M-F 8-5, and it starts in a couple weeks.

All total I’m looking at about 4K in pay for this job. I really could use that money. How much would it cost to pay someone to watch her for a week? Is it even worth the headache? Would you do it if you were in my shoes?

[SoonerTexan]

Hmmm...my grandparents just got a job with them too--opening envelopes for $17/hour part time. Is that what you'll be doing? She said the other option was door-to-door and she didn't feel safe doing that

[moonlight]

I have to drive around and note the correct addresses... or if there is a new building/home... or a building/home is no longer at a certain address.

Also, it’s only for 8 weeks.

[DCJenn]

You can always drive around w/ the baby, as long as you're not going to skeevy neighborhoods! and even after paying for a sitter, you'd still make a couple thousand if you have to go that route.

J

[moonlight]

You can always drive around w/ the baby, as long as you're not going to skeevy neighborhoods! and even after paying for a sitter, you'd still make a couple thousand if you have to go that route.

J

DH has most weekends off. So I'm hoping to do most of this on weekends. The main issue is the week of orientation.

I just talked to the college girl next door. She is in school until noon each day. Bummer. I have another contact that I am very certain will or will know of someone that can watch her that week. The issues I'm wondering about is how much to pay someone for a week of sitting????????? Don't we have a couple ladies on here that watch kids at home?

I'm also thinking about putting her in the hospital daycare. They are open everyday 24 hrs a day. That might be better just in case I do need to take her part of the time during the week or on a weekend that DH works.

[Chrisada]

The cost varies greatly depending on the city you live in. The going rate in my town is about $190 a week in home daycare.

[Vishenka69]

I'm paying $10 to a college girl for coming over to watch Isabel, so even at that rate a week would cost you $450. A number of local day care places are cheaper but I'm not comfortable putting her in one just yet.

[Chrisada]

I'm guessing that whoever you end up having watch the baby will have an idea of how much they want to get paid. I actually worked for the last Census when I was in college. I started off going to people's homes who had not returned their Census, but I didn't like doing that, so I had a connection that got me into the office to call people to confirm their info. It was a pretty easy job.

[SoonerTexan]

I'm paying $10 to a college girl for coming over to watch Isabel, so even at that rate a week would cost you $450. A number of local day care places are cheaper but I'm not comfortable putting her in one just yet.

Based on what I was paid as a nanny, that would seem about right. You might find someone for $8 since babies are easier to care for in some ways (if that makes sense)