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Money Moral Dilemma: Should my friends pay to stay with me?
MSE_Sarah
Posts: 328 MSE Staff
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
Got a money moral dilemma of your own? [URL="mailto: mmd@moneysavingexpert.com"]Suggest an MMD[/URL].
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I run a B&B and rent out all my spare rooms. My friends have invited themselves down in the summer, my busiest period. I want to see them and have space, but I usually sell out, so would be losing revenue. Is it wrong to ask my friends to pay?
Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
Got a money moral dilemma of your own? [URL="mailto: mmd@moneysavingexpert.com"]Suggest an MMD[/URL].
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Comments
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Yes , friendship is not a business transaction and it isn't their fault if you have nowhere private to offer them.0
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As you said ' they have invited themselves down' explain that it is your busiest time but would love to see them and put them up at another less busy time.
Personally I find it a cheek that they have invited themselves down at a particular time. I have an open invitation to some of my friends to stay but they always check first that the time they would like to stay is convenient. Even my son checks first!0 -
Decline their visit.
"Would love to see you, but Summer is my busy time and all my rooms are usually fully let."
Leave them to choose between paying or not coming.I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0 -
Given that you run a business, it would be reasonable to respond and to say "As you know, I run a B&B, and summer is my bsuinest time. I relay on letting the rooms - this does mean that if you'd like to come on [dates] while I would love to see you, I would have to charge for the rooms.
Alternatively, if you would like to visit at [suggested low season dates] as my guest I would be delighted to see you, and would have more time to socialise as I would not be working flat out running the business."
Or if you feel that asking them to pay would be more hassle than it is worth, then simply say "I'm afraid I don't have any space for [dates they've suggested] - but if you are in the area let me know, and perhaps we can meet up for dinner/drinks at some point"All posts are my personal opinion, not formal advice Always get proper, professional advice (particularly about anything legal!)0 -
Just say your rooms are all booked. Simple.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0
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OP.
Can I be your "friend"?
Pretty please.0 -
As you said ' they have invited themselves down' explain that it is your busiest time but would love to see them and put them up at another less busy time.
Personally I find it a cheek that they have invited themselves down at a particular time. I have an open invitation to some of my friends to stay but they always check first that the time they would like to stay is convenient. Even my son checks first!
The bit in bold is the only relevant part.
Charge them.
Or tell them to book themselves into a hotel or B&B.0 -
How long have they invited themselves for? How many of them? Tell them if they wNt a room it will have to be xx dates (start/end of season) or they will have to sleep on the living room floor (assuming you have a private living room) on a blow up mattress.0
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No. You don't charge friends rent to visit, what are you thinking?
But I agree you should rearrange so that you're not at a financial loss0
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