Cross Breeds

How much would you pay neigborhood children who came to help shovel snow?

My neighbor & her children were shoveling their driveway. I had alread shoveled my walkway (2' wide x 20' long), and most of my driveway (8' wide x 12' depth), I had 2/3rd done already when the two children came over and offered to help. They helped me do a small 4' x 4' (10" of snow) area then watched me shovel a path down the cliff to my dog pen- 2' x 40'. I do not want to be cheap, but they did not do all that much. I feel if I pay them too much they will get in the habit of arriving after I complete shoveling each time to do little and be paid (I have had a few problems with the mother in the past who tried to put a septic system for her house on my land when she thought I was away for the week- luckily I was home & stopped it. Also she moved stakes, that designated where my land was, closer to my house than kept calling the police complaining that my dog went to the bathroom on her land. I put up a fence & she was mad that her children had no where to play anymore. I like children and want to be fair. What should I pay them and how should I broach the subject that if they want to help me, they can do the entire job and I will pay them. Also, I want them to ask me each time so not to be charging me when I am away from home and they didn’t really do it, but since it snowed they will say they did. ( I do not trust the mother all that much, but I also want to be neighborly without being screwed over). Zaynab: Thanks for your input. As for the $20.00, that is high because I could hire a local plow service for $20. that would plow out my entire drive way (75' x 18' and not just a parking place at the end of my driveway.

Public Comments

1. You pay them for what the job is worth. Don't ask them. They want more money then it's really worth.
2. well this happened to me last year. the kid down the road, maybe 8-10 came by when it was snowing fairly good out and seen I was shoveling already but still asked if he could shovel the rest for a few bucks. I laughed and told him he's kinda late but I told him if he finished the rest of the driveway I would give him $10.00. He asked if I wanted him to come back again and I told him if he got there before I started or gave me a time he would show up then I would pay him $15.00 but if I had already done half or more I would only give him $5.00 but if he made it a habit of showing up after I did most of it I wouldn't need any help. for the rest of that winter he would show up rite after it snowed and asked if he was too late! as far as the mother, don't you love neighbors like that? HA! I wouldn't think any less about the kids because of her because after all they are only kids and its not their fault their mom goes off on a nut. I would tell the kids that you will only pay them when you are home and they ask you first that way you know they were there and you can pay them. Saying this will save you from telling the kids you don't trust them.
3. Best to pay them each ten bucks and tell them Thanks but no thanks and not let them shovel again- The mom sounds like an instigator who would manipulate them and put you in a dilema...M neighbors are the same- I steer clear