Real-life MMD: Should I charge my sister's colleague for bed & board?

slimbo

My sister and I live in different parts of the country and every now and then we visit each other and stay over for a couple of nights. Of course, we don't charge each other. But this is different: it's for a week and she's bringing a friend. I wouldn't dream of sponging off someone for a whole week, even my sister, and would offer to pay my way and take her out for a meal at the end of my stay. The friend should be expected to pay her way too, absolutely. As other posters have stated, they will probably get an allowance from work for this. If expenses are only paid upon receipt of an invoice, then produce one for them on your computer.:rotfl:

meknowalot-51

YOU invited your sister to stay at yours one week for free,nice family gesture,spend time together and catch up.Then sis said if it would be ok to bring a work colleague along,without giving it much thought you agreed.What you have to do now is phone your sis and ask these questions;Male or female?One bedroom or two?What eating arrangements has he/she planned?
Tell your sister that you don't mind if you all want to spend meal times together as long as the guest chips in,suggest £20 a day b&b,which is very cheap.Highlight it's the stranger your charging for not your sister.There's a very strong chance that she will agree and it wouldn't suprise me if they hadn't thought of that anyway.You sound like a nice person,make the call.

JodyBPM

I wouldn't charge, but I also wouldn't provide food other than perhaps cereal/toast for breakfast. I'd assume they would either be eating out/takeaway or would provide their own groceries. I'd think it likely (although I'd not *expect* it) that they'd either take me out for dinner/provide takeaway one night or perhaps bring chocs/flowers to say thank you.

Re the utilities/laundry costs - its only one week, and they will be out all day, so its only going to be pennies.

BigAunty

I say no to charging either. It's an honour to be a host and to treat guests. This is just a one-off that will probably only result in a modest increase in household expenses.

Not sure why there needs to be a commercial imperative or why people think the non-blood related guest ought to pay.

Whatever happened to hospitality for its own sake? Consider them as great company rather than simply a hole in a budget. If you view them as pests rather than guests, then you shouldn't have accepted the request to let them stay.

One of my friends may have to move out of her property due to a ceiling collapse and so I offered her my spare room if the landlord releases her from her contract. She confided in me that she has a friend from overseas staying with her until she can find her own place. So I said my offer to her is extended to her friend, whom I have never met, as I couldn't bare the thought of them being homeless or hurriedly accepting a new private tenancy that didn't really suit them just because they were in a rush to find onward accommodation.

WiggyDiggyPoo

MSE_Debs wrote: »

Money Moral Dilemma: Should I charge my sister's colleague for bed & board?

My sister's got a week's work near where I live, so I've invited her to stay with me, completely free. But she's asked if one of her colleagues can stay too. Not wanting to disappoint, I agreed. Bed and board for two is going to cost a fair amount and while I'm happy to cover it for my sister, I'm not so happy about shelling out for her colleague. Should I ask her colleague for a contribution to the cost or would that be awkward for all involved?

My work allows me to claim a 'Friends and Family' expense for exactly this, with the expectation that I buy my host a gift (for example) as thanks for this as I am making a significant saving on a B&B for the night.

Whether or not your sister and her colleague have this available to claim I'd expect them to buy you something anyway, but I wouldn't ask them as I'd be interested to see how grateful they are without trying to guilt trip them. If at the end of the week they depart with only a 'thank you and goodbye' I wouldn't feel guilty for refusing a repeat request.

Ps I wouldn't be cooking for these two and would expect them to look after themselves!

lynneee

I would ask for a contribution. Speak to your sister and maybe find out if her colleague is planning on giving a donation towards costs