She Strengthens

Discover the Surprising Financial Benefits of Becoming an Au Pair

When I first considered becoming an au pair, I thought it was a crazy idea. Who would want to take care of kids for a mere $2 an hour? But after experiencing it twice, I realized that being an au pair can be a financially savvy decision.

The Perks of Living with a Host Family

As an au pair, you live with a host family who covers all your expenses, from housing and food to transportation, mobile phone, and language lessons. In some cases, they may even provide you with your own studio apartment. This means you can save a significant amount of money, especially if you’re used to living in an expensive city like London.

My Au Pair Experience

I became an au pair twice, first after leaving school and then after studying in London. The second time, I moved to Berlin, where I found a remote writing job and saved €750 ($872.76) of my tiny au pair wage. It was a fantastic year, and I learned many valuable lessons about budgeting, saving, and finding creative ways to make extra money.

Top Reasons to Become an Au Pair in Your Twenties

1. No Bills to Worry About

As an au pair, you don’t have to pay for housing, food, insurance, gas, transport, language lessons, or your phone. This means you can focus on saving and enjoying your new city.

2. A Small but Sweet Allowance

You receive a weekly or monthly allowance, which you can use to treat yourself or save. I chose to put mine straight into my bank account and never took my card on nights out.

3. Budgeting Like a Pro

Living on a tight budget forced me to develop an elaborate budget sheet and track my expenses to the cent. This skill has stayed with me to this day.

4. Creative Ways to Save

I learned to save in unexpected ways, from collecting beer bottles for small change to only eating from my host family’s cupboards. I even knew all the free attractions in the city, so I was prepared when friends came to visit.

5. Instant Connections in a New City

My host mom introduced me to other parents who needed a babysitter, giving me extra work and connections in the city. My host parents also helped me set up a German bank account, which I still use today.

6. Learning New Skills

As an au pair, I learned German and French, which has been incredibly useful in my travels. I also gained confidence and learned to ask for what I wanted.

7. Finding a Side Hustle

Au pairing isn’t a busy job, so I had time to find a remote writing job and take on freelance writing gigs for experience. My host family was flexible and allowed me to work whenever I needed.

8. Taking on Internships for Experience

Before finding my dream job, I took on a few internships for experience. My host family was understanding and allowed me to work from home as long as I was taking care of the children.

9. A Break from College Without Breaking the Bank

Many friends became au pairs to take a break from college without spending a lot of money. After a year, they could reflect on whether paying for college was right for them.

10. The Ultimate Form of Contraception

Let’s be real – after being an au pair for a year, you may not want to have kids anytime soon. And what better way to save money over your lifetime than not having kids?

Overall, becoming an au pair can be a financially savvy decision, especially if you’re willing to learn new skills, budget creatively, and find extra work on the side.