A 24-year-old started sending Venmo invoices for babysitting after three years of doing it for free. Her sister says family does not charge family.
I have been watching my sister Rachel\'s two kids, ages 4 and 6, for free for three years. It started as a favor. It became every other weekend, then some weeknights, then four days straight while she went to a work conference. I am 24 and I do not have kids. My time has value. I told Rachel I needed to start charging $15 an hour, which is below market rate. She told me family does not charge family and that I should want to spend time with my niece and nephew. I do want to. For a few hours. Not 40 hours a month for free.
I am a single mom. I work full time. Tanya is my sister and she loves my kids. She has never once said it was too much until she sent me a Venmo request for $180 after a weekend. No conversation, just a request with a note that said babysitting invoice. I cannot afford a regular babysitter on my salary. That is why I rely on family. Our mom watched us for free. Our aunt watched us for free. I am not running a business. I am trying to keep my family together. A Venmo invoice felt like a door closing.
⚖️ The Verdict Is In
😤 Side B is right, but handled it badly
160 people weighed in on this dispute.
Official NACOL Ruling
The Court finds that while the Plaintiff's labor does indeed possess quantifiable monetary value, the Defendant's handling of familial financial negotiations was abysmal, yet the Plaintiff's decision to unilaterally invoice without prior discussion was approximately 0% justified and the jury's 75% support for the Defendant reflects a unanimous acknowledgment that surprise Venmo requests are not how families communicate (though they are excellent at destroying them). Case closed.
120
B right, bad handling
⚖️ Think your friends would have opinions on this?
Share the case. Let the internet weigh in — or submit your own dispute next.