Money Moral Dilemma: Is it unreasonable to ask my friends to pay me for taking them to the pub?

MSE_Kelvin

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

 I've two friends who usually get the bus to the pub on Fridays, while I usually drive if I'm going too. On the odd occasion when the bus isn't running or it's raining, I collect them and take them to the pub with me. But as time's gone by, they've stopped checking if the bus is running and wait for me to pick them up, and I feel I'm being taken for granted. Is it unreasonable to expect them to offer me some money for fuel, or at least return the favour every so often?

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retired19

Why aren't you using the bus? 

lukemack

😂logged back into here for the first time in years due to this madness.

Easiest and simplest solution is your friends juat buying you a drink in the pub, thats how pubs/friends work😂, pair of tight gits your going the pub with there haha

So you just skip a round basically. Your friends buy the first 4 rounds, you buy the 5th

SheepLady_2

For a while say you don’t know if you’ll make it tonight so they’d better catch the bus. Can’t believe they don’t insist on giving you petrol money. Thing is, you don’t get home till probably after they’re all nicely tucked up in bed!

OldChestnut

I guess it might depend how far you're traveling and whether you're going out of your way to pick your friends up? If it's just a couple of miles and on your route well I don't see the problem, assuming you live the furthest away. If it's 10 miles and you're going 5 miles out of your way I'd think good friends would be buying you a drink 

Marcon

 I've two friends who usually get the bus to the pub on Fridays, while I usually drive if I'm going too. On the odd occasion when the bus isn't running or it's raining, I collect them and take them to the pub with me. But as time's gone by, they've stopped checking if the bus is running and wait for me to pick them up, and I feel I'm being taken for granted. Is it unreasonable to expect them to offer me some money for fuel, or at least return the favour every so often?

You've let the situation reach this point without giving your friends any indication that you aren't happy with it, so why not talk to them and explain how you feel - something you should probably have done long ago if they are, as you say, 'friends' rather than mere acquaintances.

Floss

Suggest that the first 2 rounds are on them, as you're saving their bus fares.

20+ years ago when I used to go out every Friday night, my mates would buy my soft drinks when I was driving, as I saved them taxi fares home by dropping them off.

[Deleted User]

I bet lukemack is a great drinking pal, and he's said it all, a simple solution, and his description of your 'friends' is spot on!  Made me chuckle.

worto03

I don't think I've ever answered one of these before but that's crazy, if anyone in our group decides to drive to the pub and gives us a lift there and back we buy all of their drinks all night.

ripongrammargirl

I’m just concerned that you are driving when going to a pub. Anyone that lets one sip of alcohol past their lips should NEVER drive a car afterwards unless you want a death or serious injury on your conscience. Why don’t you all get a taxi together and then you can have a good night, share the cost and not worry about killing someone after a night at the pub?

Sheepies

ripongrammargirl said:

I’m just concerned that you are driving when going to a pub. Anyone that lets one sip of alcohol past their lips should NEVER drive a car afterwards unless you want a death or serious injury on your conscience. Why don’t you all get a taxi together and then you can have a good night, share the cost and not worry about killing someone after a night at the pub?

I don't see where the op said they were drinking alcohol.

In answer to the question though, if it were me, I would be buying their (probably soft) drinks