During your stay you are entitled to earn pocket money in return for your assistance. This money should be paid at the end of the week, credited to your bank account or in cash. You may consider this money quite a small amount, but do not forget you have food and accommodation which are really expensive. On top of that an au pair does not pay tax as their earnings do not reach the tax threshold.

The weekly pocket money depends on the regulation of the host country and the following factors also could play a part in the level of pocket money:

• The level of previous childcare experience
• The number of hours you will be required to work
• The level of responsibility you will be required to take
• The level of your education, and spoken English and other languages

Full Room & Board

The special thing about au pairing is not just boosting your language skills, discovering more about yourself, being independent but being able to live cheaply in another country. There is no need to worry about organising or paying for food, transport to work, finding accommodation and all the other headaches normally associated with starting a job in a new place. You are safe and you are surrounded by people who care about you. You have no more things to do but concentrate on your goals of learning foreign language, and experiencing a foreign culture.  You will receive full room and board from the family throughout the stay. You must have your own private room within the family home and varying in levels of comfort (own bathroom, TV, DVD player etc..) You should be given facilities to study and WiFi access.

Other benefits might be available

• Use of car in your spare time
• Chance to travel abroad with the family
• Payment for language classes
• Payment for a First Aid qualification
• Payment towards travel expenses on public transport

Other benefits of the Au pair program

Living abroad is a unique opportunity to break down cultural barriers and fear of the unfamiliar. Studying abroad is an opportunity like none other to learn, share and grow as a citizen not only of your home country, but of the world. Anyone can take a snapshot of the Eiffel Tower or the Sagrada Familia, but plugging into the local culture is the real challenge-and prize.

Combine your stay abroad with a job!

As an au pair you're part of the children’s daily activities and helping out with household chores. You receive pocket money for your work and get room and board. Your life is safe and sorted, everything is organised before you arrive. As au pair you have the possibility to finance a longer stay abroad without large expenses of your own and to get to know more than the city you live in.

Learn a foreign language!

As an au pair you will take part in your host family's daily life. You will be forced to use the language during the whole day. Moreover you can use everything you learn at your language school in real life. Soon you will speak fluently without having to search extensively for words.

Extend your horizon!

Living abroad is a unique opportunity to break down cultural barriers and fear of the unfamiliar. Be open to new experiences. You will see and learn a lot of new things, you will meet interesting people, which will improve not only your general education but also your personality.

Become independent!

You will have the possibility to finance a longer stay abroad without large expenses of your own and to get to know more of the area you live in. You can travel all over the country during your spare time or your holidays.

Boost your CV!

Good foreign language skills, intercultural competence and international experience look great on any CV! The benefit of having work experience in a foreign country is that it helps you stand out from the crowd, especially in an increasingly competitive market.