A Missouri mom has cleverly optimized her date nights by providing her babysitter with a list of optional tasks for extra cash while looking after her kids.
The idea was simple: enjoy a night out with her husband and return to a tidier, better-organized home. Since babysitters often find themselves with idle time while children are asleep, this approach allows them to earn a little more during their shifts.
Katrina Ivan, a science teacher, shared her creative list on TikTok, where it quickly garnered over 1.5 million views. In her note to the babysitter, a high school senior she has known for four years, she wrote, “You’re welcome to hang out and watch TV all night, but if you want to make some extra cash, these jobs are up for grabs.”
When the babysitter saw the list, she enthusiastically jumped into action, starting with window cleaning just 10 minutes after Katrina and her husband left. Katrina realized her plan was working when she spotted the babysitter scrubbing the windows through her Ring camera. “She was like, ‘Heck yeah!’ and got to work right away,” Katrina told Today.com. “I made sure to leave all the supplies out for her so she didn’t have to hunt around for anything.”
By the end of the night, the babysitter had not only cleaned the mirrors and windows but also organized the toys, vacuumed the couch, and tidied up the silverware drawer.
Commenters praised Katrina's innovative idea, with many appreciating the choice it provided for the babysitter. “This is a great opportunity for your babysitter. You’re giving a choice, and I love that,” wrote one user, while another added, “Sometimes it’s boring to just sit and watch TV. This makes time go by quicker and involves tasks I’d help with.”
However, some people felt that the pay for the tasks could be improved. One commenter noted, “I think $10 is too cheap for some of these tasks considering the amount of work involved.” In a follow-up video, Katrina addressed the compensation, revealing that she had paid the babysitter $75 for the night just to look after her 2-year-old son, who was asleep most of the time.
In total, the babysitter earned $28.75 an hour, tax-free—a decent rate. In another update, Katrina interviewed the babysitter, who expressed enjoyment in making the extra money, saying, “That sounds great!”