how much should i offer for car share??

jimbob_3

Hi,

this sounds a bit like one of martin's financial dilemma's but i would be interested in what people think...

i was just about to renew my train season ticket when a friend rang up and offered to car share with me (him driving his car, me passenger ) on a regular basis if i split petrol costs.

key facts

• The journey takes about 90 mins by public transport or 45 mins by car

• based on last years prices, my season ticket works out at about £3.87 per day (dont know what it has gone up to)

• he wants to split his approx £30 per week petrol bill (ie £15 each)

but

other people have sometimes given me lifts (for no charge) and are happy to do so

i get a gold card when i buy a season ticket so get reduced fares at other times

to buy an individual return ticket, ie when he cant give me a lift, will cost over £5.00 per day

so:

do people think i should accept ? and if so,
how much should i offer? and
should i do it per day/journey/ week etc?

thanks

epz_2

yeah, but i would place a substantial value on the 45 mins extra of free time not to mention the reduced number of times getting sick from people coughing on you and having to stand abut like a ponce in the rain.

the numbers seem to mean you will be 87p a day better off to get driven about, not bad. while he may not be able to always give you a lift, if he doest give you a lift 1 day in 6 you will still be better off.

as for free lifts, fair enough but i got stuck driving a work guy home after offering a lift one in the !!!!ing rain, ended up being nearly every day and having to go even a small bit out your way on the way home can really get on your nerves when you just want to go home without someone rabbiting on and are too polite to say something.

wishiwasarichgirl

sounds like a good deal to me if you work the same days. ok there will be the odd time (when he is on hols etc) that you will have to use public transport, but you will probably still be better off, and think of all the commuting time you will have saved, calcualte what your hourly pay is and work out how much time you spend commuting via public transport.

As for friends giving you free lifts occasionally, you can guarantee the offers would dry up if you turn into a regular scrounger and expect a free lift all the time

And how often do you use the train other than going to work - is paying for the gold card worth it?

Alfrescodave

A no-brainey question, snap his hand off. The convenience of door to door must be of immense value, unless you live and work next to the public transport.
OK its a slight additional cost when he's not able to offer you a lift but this will only be occasional - holidays, sick etc. But dont forget when you've bought a seasonal ticket, that is money wasted when you are on holiday/ sick etc

martinbuckley

You get an extra 90 minutes per day not commuting - time is something money cant buy!

Accept his offer and the fact that occasionally you'll have to fork out for a ticket - you'll gain far more than you'll lose.