Car share is it fair to ask for a small contribution?

HeadAboveWater

You didn't ask him to move house. That was his idea!

Just say you like your time alone in the car but if there is a day here and there where he 'needs' a lift to save time or something, no problem. But don't agree to a regular thing.

JimmyTheWig

Don't offer a lift unless you want to do it for free. (If he then offers money then a bonus!)

If you don't offer a lift and he asks then say something along the lines of "Oh yes, that's a great idea. My wife and I were talking just the other day that it would be good if I could find someone to share petrol costs with."

Gin_and_Milk

'Spiro' and 'Head' I think our posts crossed, which may explain why my last post didn't make sense!

Time wise, if he uses public transport, he'll have to set off approx an hour earlier, and be home an hour later than if he were to rely on me.

JQ.

I don't think you're unreasonable to ask for a contribution at all.

One of my colleagues drives past my house to work every day. I make my own way to work, however, if we ever did decide to car share I'd certainly offer and expect to make a contribution to his costs.

HeadAboveWater

Again, he knows where he works and he's decided to move farther away. That's not your problem. I agree with what JimmyTheWig says above.

zappahey

If you really don't want to share then simply explain that it's the only "me time" that you get, where you can, for example, play your music as loud as you like. He might not like it but that's tough.

If he does ask for a lift, and your happy to do so, then you could respond enthusiastically, explaining how useful it would be to have someone sharing the cost (hard times these days and all that). That then puts the awkwardness on him if he's expecting a freebie.

Or you could go for a pre-emptive strike and ask him if he's interested in sharing the cost of travelling since you now live so near each other.

Gin_and_Milk

Thank you, I don't feel like a tightwad by asking him for a fiver a week. I would feel a bit tight refusing to do it if he was prepared to pay as I'll be driving so close to where he's moving to. And you're right, he decided to move there! I what he's like, he'll have thought 'if I move here, jen will give me a lift to and from work'. As I mentioned before, that's probably annoyed me too. I don't mean to sound patronising but I don't think non drivers realise how expensive running a car is, and my OH and I have just moved down to one car as we can't afford two anymore

YorkshireBoy

I don't think anyone's mentioned it already, but you should check your insurance covers you for 'reward'.

And don't forget to put 20/40% away for the taxman.

Gin_and_Milk

My insurance covers me for business and domestic use (I sometimes have to travel to meetings, carry passengers etc). I don't understand your 'taxman' comment, lol! If I use it to my advantage insurance wise, I'll be more committed to driving him around though and there's also things such as holidays, sickness etc too. Might be worth having a look though.

fivetide

I think you just need to frame it.

don't offer hima lift, offer to car share if he fancies making a contribution. You are right, after the event makes it much harder and if he asks you it's a bit cheeky.

alternatively if he does ask you it gives you the chance to say "as in a car share?"

You can then look at ways to cover it as he doesn't have a car.

Me and a friend used to do this but we alternated the days we drove in so we were all square. He can't do that so it's only fair (could be fare ah hah) that he makes some other sort of contribution.

Good luck.

5t.

edit to add- there is no reward, you aren't profiting. Likewise taxman so ignore that.