Real life MMD: Should SIL help with fuel?

Former_MSE_Penelope

Please give this MoneySaver the benefit of your advice...

Should SIL help with fuel?

My sister-in-law will be joining my wife and I on a touring holiday in the US. She has paid her own airfare, hotel etc but we've hired the car and I wonder if she should contribute to the car hire and fuel costs. If yes, should it be 1/3 or 1/2 - or will she expect it to be free as we would have had to pay these costs anyway if she was not coming with us?

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svmitche

Have you spoken to her? I feel that you're jumping the gun a bit here, she may be intending to contribute her fair share without letting you know at this stage.

Just talk to her informally about the best way to share fuel/meal costs etc. I really wouldn't bother with 'this is this share and you've paid that', if I was her I would tend to say 'I'll fill the car with gas this time', 'i'll pay for this meal' etc rather than set it in stone. Sharing costs with good will is much more important for your relationships than being worried that you or she may have paid a few dollars more than the other.

Have a good trip.

Techno

I agree - just ask her. And if you do go for equal shares it should be thirds as there are 3 of you - same with food costs - either have a kitty or you pay for 2 and she pays for one

euterpe13

Don't be so cheap - you're a couple, she's alone - be a bit generous here

brewerdave

ALL the costs of the holiday should be split three ways - she's not doing it to help you out in any way. Just tell her what her share of the care hire etc is. .... and make it clear that she will have to fill the tank with gas every third stop.

Solomon_Broad

If she's benefiting from the car hire, then she should pay towards it. One third would be fair, since there are three people. The fact that two of them are in a relationship doesn't affect the cost of the fuel.

pennypinchUK

Why on earth wouldn't she pay her contribution to the car hire and fuel? For all she knows, you could be budgeting for her making the contribution. To not offer would just be downright rude. Isn't it just the same as going to a restaurant and paying your contribution to the bill? Surely this wouldn't be a dilemma for most people? Happy holiday.

Come on Martin, give us something that really is a dilemma!

WiseOldBird_2

I think she should pay her third, and hopefully she will offer to do this. The only exception would be is that if you're a lot better off financially than her, and she has scrimped and saved for the holiday, you may want to be generous and bear the cost.

gaily

If she's named as a driver, and the costs cover her insurance, I can't see any other way but to split the costs. It really makes no difference if she's on her own, or was part of a couple - if a couple were coming with you, you'd expect them to pay their way (unless specifically arranged otherwise in advance)

It sounds as if she's entered the holiday on an equal footing with yourselves, you're not forking out for her other expenses, so the only dilemma is why you think she may not be keen to pay for the car (especially as it's a touring holiday as you say) If you'd gone on a beach holiday, and you had hired a car which she wasn't going to use, then maybe that'd be more of a dilemma.

She's probably already paid out more than you guys anyway, as single travellers often have to pay supplements for accommodation, so she doesn't sound like she's trying to scrounge anything so far.

She may well be waiting for you to finalise the costs of the car hire for her, and noone can guage how much anyone should contribute for fuel etc before you get there.

Olipro

in all honesty, if you expect her to chip in on the rental and fuel, she should have been a part of the decision-making process of which car to rent and which rental company to use... if you didn't make her a part of that then I would say that unless she offers to chip in, leave it. it'd be the same if you'd also booked her flight for her and said "by the way, you're going first class"

Sambucus_Nigra

I'd arrange for her to join in with the holiday kitty - which would include fuel, food etc - but as mentioned, if you didn't include her on the decisions around the car and you'd have hired it anyway then just absorb that side and split the rest.