Real-life MMD: How much should my friend pay me?

Former_MSE_Debs

Money Moral Dilemma: I used a voucher to pay for something we'll share. How much should my friend pay towards it?

My friend and I have just moved into an unfurnished house. We've been buying furniture and splitting the costs. I recently used a voucher I won in a competition to part-pay for something. My friend insists she should only contribute half of the actual money I paid for it (after the voucher was deducted). Is this fair?

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double_mummy

if she got a choice in the item she pays 50% if not she pays 50% of the cost minus the voucher

psychopathbabble

I would actually buy everything individually anyway... You aren't living together for ever so how will you split everything when you eventually move out?



I wouldn't have told her I paid using a voucher and asked for half. But as she knows you should probably split the cost you paid.

cte1111

I've never shared the cost of furniture with flat mates. What would you do if / when you want to live separately in the future? So my answer would be, the friend pays nothing, you pay and it's yours. She could maybe pay for another item.

lvm

NO WAY!! You could have used that voucher to buy something just for yourself. Ask your friend why she thinks she's entitled to some of the voucher YOU won.

Maybe she thinks it was some sort of 50% off voucher instead.

tgroom57

No it's not fair.

But I would take her up on the offer to pay half of the hard cash you parted with for it. And (but most likely 'or') I would keep the item for myself, as it represents your prize, since it was bought with what you won.
This sounds like it was a big item and considerable outlay.

I wonder if she'll expect the same arrangement when you use a voucher for a meal out? Say a £40 meal out, you contribute a £20 voucher and she thinks her bit is £10. Time to talk through some ground rules.

iclayt

She's cheeky! I'd say I didn't want to share the cost of it at all and she can save her money to contribute 50% towards something else instead. Like a really expensive sofa.

I see arguments about utilities and food bills on your horizon if she's being like this already...

Sooler

Your voucher, your money. Knock it on the head - she's trouble, kick her out.

bsms1147

I'd have discussed it beforehand.

itsanne

If you could have used the voucher to buy something else for yourself she should pay the usual 50% of the item. If you couldn't have made use of it otherwise she should only pay half the money.

Either way it raises other issues. There was a lack of communication for this to have become a problem. Who will get which items when you move on? Arguing about money isn't a good start - make sure everything is very clear, and agreed, from now on.

Leeward

If you had won a cash prize, would she still expect the same 'discount' on your good fortune? If so, could you apply the same principle if she won the lottery so she pays for everything until her winnings are used?
A 50/50 agreement is a 50/50 agreement, whether either of you pay cash, credit, voucher or shirt buttons!