Raising Rates - Revisited

[marniewon]

I know there are several threads about raising rates on here, but my search function gives me an error message every time I use it

I'm revising my handbook and contracts for the coming year and am having a hard time deciding how much to raise a rate. I'm at the lowest end of the pay spectrum for my area. The family who first started with me (has been with me over a year) is paying that low amount per week. Everyone else is at my current full time rate. The difference is only $10/week. Should I raise it that $10/week or just $5/week? It turns out to be 10cents more per hour if I raise it $5. My husband gets yearly raises and they are usually between 15c-25c an hour. I'm just wondering if $10/week is too big of a jump? Although, I'm not sure she would be able to find anyone around here as cheap as I am, as when I saw others charging that rate, it was over a year ago.

This is the family that I'm considering terming if things don't improve by the end of the month. Part of me wants to raise it by $10/week, and either she pays it, or SHE terms and I don't have to deal with that issue (I'm sooo bad with confrontation!). But on the other hand, if this child miraculously turns back into a fun, napping, non-screaming kid by the end of the month, I don't want to think I ran her off by charging too much.

Any feedback?