Money Moral Dilemma: Should I let my mum keep my car?

MSE_Sarah

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I live with my mum and we share my car, though I've decided to move out. I want to get rid of the car so I have more money for living costs, yet my mum says she needs it to get to work, but can't afford to pay for it herself. I'll be earning considerably more than her - and I'm torn between what's morally right and my financial stability and independence.

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McKneff

Do you mean she cant afford to run it

Give her it by all means but she should pay for the running of it herself.

If she cant afford that tthen present her with a bus time table

Red-Squirrel_2

As usual, need more info!

Is it a car you fully own and its the running costs (fuel, tax, insurance, maintenance) she can't afford? Or is it on some sort of finance and its the payments she can't afford?

moneyistooshorttomention

Well it's not an either/or imo - as there are people around (ie a new friend of mine here) that just work their way through a succession of more "beat up" secondhand cars and they last them a year or two BUT don't cost more than a few hundred £s to buy.

Presumably mother (as it's her responsibility) or OP might know someone knowledgeable enough about cars that mother could do the same.

The poster isnt responsible for the fact her parent doesn't manage their finances that well by the sound of it. Mother should have some sympathy with the fact that whilst she owns a home (presumably) the poster hasn't yet got theirs and needs all their own money themselves in order to do so at some point.

Another vote for get hold of copies of the local bus timetables.

I am wondering if mother has a job walking distance away (ie less than 4 miles), whether it's so poorly-paid/no prospects/etc that it's more readily replaceable than the posters job would be and therefore a type of job that could possibly be shifted nearer to the mothers home (ie by doing it for a different employer instead).

gettingtheresometime

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Well it's not an either/or imo - as there are people around (ie a new friend of mine here) that just work their way through a succession of more "beat up" secondhand cars and they last them a year or two BUT don't cost more than a few hundred £s to buy.

Presumably mother (as it's her responsibility) or OP might know someone knowledgeable enough about cars that mother could do the same.

The poster isnt responsible for the fact her parent doesn't manage their finances that well by the sound of it. Mother should have some sympathy with the fact that whilst she owns a home (presumably) the poster hasn't yet got theirs and needs all their own money themselves in order to do so at some point.

Another vote for get hold of copies of the local bus timetables.

I am wondering if mother has a job walking distance away (ie less than 4 miles), whether it's so poorly-paid/no prospects/etc that it's more readily replaceable than the posters job would be and therefore a type of job that could possibly be shifted nearer to the mothers home (ie by doing it for a different employer instead).

Well if that's your attitude I hope that the questioner is safely on the moral high ground by paying the market going rent.

As is usual there's no context - is the car only worth a couple of hundred or a couple of thousands?

Also could the mum pay for the car in monthly instalments?

svain

Assuming you have a good relationship with your mum, and I am going to assume the car is worth no more than about £1k .... If this is the case, i would let mum keep it

Flossied

It’s your mum!! Give her the car!!

sclare

Without knowing the value of the car, there's no way any of us can answer this question.

But either way, surely she realised that when you moved out your car would go with you? Whether you use it or sell it, is immaterial. It's your car which you were kind enough to let her share while you lived with her. Now you're leaving and you're taking your car with you.

In hindsight you'd have been better just leaving with your car and selling it later. She surely wouldn't have insisted you leave it behind if you were planning to use it?

robertoegg

you have to ask!? You're reducing your relationship with the person that has nurtured and cared for you for years to a simple "moral vrs my own stabilty"?

#vom

pickledonionspaceraider

Do what you think is right OP

There is not enough info here to give any kind of measured judgement on the situation

REJP

Insufficient information to be able to give a meaningful answer.