Do You Have Any Parents That Pay In Cash?

[littlemommy]

I have one family that pays in cash. The parents are divorced, and both pay half-in cash. This week the total for each parent was $84 and some odd cents. DCM pays rounded up to the next dollar. DCD paid $90.

I feel like I should be crediting him the over-pay for next week, but I know next week he will pay over too. He doesn't use a checkbook, and for me to keep track of all the over/under pay is a lot of book work!

What would you do?

[awestbrook713]

I have the exact same situation, except mom tends to under pay so it seems to work out. Technically it is income and you should still be recording it.

[Cat Herder]

I only accept cash or online payments.

I would give him change, a receipt and/or end of year statement.

IME, When dealing in cash payments, it is best to keep a till, just like any other business.

[TSDaycare]

5 of my 6 parents pay cash, but the rate is an even number so I usually get it in $20 dollar bills. I also have divorced parents who both pay each month, they however pay every other week- so it equals out that they each pay the same amount each month. MAybe talk with the parents and discuss doing it this way, it works out the same for them so it shouldnt be an issue. Just let them know splitting it up every week in addition to everything else we must keep track of is just too much....

[meganlavonnesmommy]

I would just change their fee, so its an even number for both of them.
It seems that your fee is $168, each parent pays $84. I would change your fee to $170, so each parent pays $85, or $180 so each parent pays $90.

[Blackcat31]

I will accept cash, checks, money orders and online transfers but I do not require one method of payment over another.

I have one parent who pays me in cash and it is always rounded up. I HATE having to keep track of the overage and feel it is not my job to do so. I RARELY carry cash and I don't keep a petty cash fund so I don't feel it is my responsibility to make change or keep track of the overage.

This particular parent pays the same rate each week and it rarely, if ever, changes so I feel it is her job to bring me the correct amount in the first place or find an alternate form of payment.

[mac60]

I very rarely have anyone pay cash. I did go to cash only for one family years ago because of bad checks....the first week she comes in and ask me "Do you have change for.....NOPE. No change here. You went to the bank to get the cash smarten up and ask for the right bills. UGG. I don't do change.

[Cat Herder]

This particular parent pays the same rate each week and it rarely, if ever, changes so I feel it is her job to bring me the correct amount in the first place or find an alternate form of payment.

I absolutely agree with you. I just picked a new battle.

That is why I put "IME" instead of "IMHO". ::::::

I had to give it up as some tried to argue their end of year statements and caused way too much holiday stress for my family (I give out statements/updates, etc. just before the holiday break for Jan).

Keeping $20 in ones and fives solves the issue for me ($105).

[sharlan]

I take either cash or check. I do have one family that splits the payments between the parent and grandparent. Parent always pays cash, grandparent either. The both come with the exact amount, though.

[Blackcat31]

I absolutely agree with you. I just picked a new battle.

That is why I put "IME" instead of "IMHO". ::::::

I had to give it up as some tried to argue their end of year statements and caused way too much holiday stress for my family (I give out statements/updates, etc. just before the holiday break for Jan).

Keeping $20 in ones and fives solves the issue for me ($105).

LOL!! I'd probably be a lot more understanding if this mom wasn't already he77 bent on being co-dependent about EVERYTHING else already as it is......

This line of thinking should go with the post you made about long time parents that are continually trying to push their boundaries..... That is exactly why I am so non-supportive with this mom about making change.

[small_steps]

You could always say "Any money paid over the exact fee amount will be considered a tip" ha ha ha. I probably wouldn't ever do that but it would be funny to see some of my parent's faces if I did
I actually do have one parent who over paid me $10 one week and said thanks for all you do. She also bought a new outside toy another week as a thank you. Love parents like that.

[Nellie]

All my families besides 2 in the last 5 years have paid in cash. Families that the total is the same week to week bring exact change most of the time. They all seem to hit the ATM after work so they come with 20's. I am a cash user myself. So I save my ones and fives through out the week and save them for Friday's change. I'd rather do the change than credit the bills for the next week, but if I don't have enough change all my parents are happy with a credit. On the reciept I write credit of X amount. I actually start the next weeks reciept and add the credit in there so I don't forget. I guess I'm just happy that they are paying. I don't need to worry about bounced checks, waiting so many days for them to clear before I have access to the money, ect. If you don't want to do change or crediting bills tell them they need figure out different way to pay or let them know what there total is the day before or have them call on there way home from work so they can stop and get the change themselves.

[wdmmom]

I have a receipt book that I write all payments in. If they are overpaying, you should be rolling any overpayment into the next week. Once they have a credit, either return it or tell them that payment this week is less than normal or wait until the credit is significant enough so they have a full week built up and paid for.

[MarinaVanessa]

Get a receipt book and give each parent their own receipts or keep track of their payments in a notebook. Keep track of each parent's overage or under payments and then when it gets to $10 of overage or whatever you can tell him that he only owes you $74 this week or whaever.

[mismatchedsocks]

I keep track on microsoft money. If it ended up being alot over at the end of the year, you can say each week you over paid by X amount of cents. Would you like that credited for your first week of new year or donate to get some new books for the daycare?