11218

2

5-7

$15

I provide meals or pay for food.

No

I want to explain my answers above: we pay for a taxi or car svc if our sitter leaves after 11pm. We hire students in their 20s. We felt comfortable taking the subway home when we were their age and our assumption is that they feel comfortable on the subway too.

We tell babysitters if there are specific leftovers (from my cooking) that they might find yummy and we tell them to eat whatever else they want. We don't buy food.

We have a standing date night on Wednesday nights. Your conversation on the radio was all about the financial cost of hiring a babysitter. We have found that there is a MUCH HIGHER emotional cost to NOT hiring a babysitter. We are worse off as a couple when we don't go our on our own weekly. Yes, it's expensive to go out, but we see it as a necessary expense just as paying the mortgage, utilities, etc. are necessary expenses!!

22-30