Money Moral Dilemma: Should I share my discount with my friends?

MSE_Sarah · 14 December 2017 at 1:19PM

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

I often book theatre tickets for myself and friends, who then pay me back. However, I recently bought a discount card (which cost £40) that gets me money off tickets. Should I continue to charge my friends full-price until the cost of the card has been covered, or just ask them to pay me the discounted price?

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AnneMary · 19 December 2017 at 11:49PM

Surely you bought the discount card to pay less for these tickets. So was it to save you all money or make a profit out of your friends?

I'd Tell my friends I had bought the card and say something along the lines of: I think it fairest if you pay me the full ticket price until the cost of the card is paid, then we will all get a discount. Does that sound OK?

khris210 · 20 December 2017 at 12:06AM

It depends how long the discount card lasts (for ever, one year?) how many are there of you, how often do you all go to the theatre, so how long would it take for the difference to repay you? Do some maths. I do think it's reasonable for all to chip in, after all everybody's going to get the benefit, eventually.

happyinflorida · 20 December 2017 at 12:29AM

Discuss this with the friends who you are buying tickets for

joannedavidson80 · 20 December 2017 at 8:12AM

You should have discussed with the friends before you bought the card and got everyone to chip in for the card if you were wanting them to contribute to it.
As you didn't i'd say pass the discount on to everyone- surely you think you'll save more than the £40 yourself during the duration that the card is valid otherwise you wouldn't have bought it?

bawdale · 20 December 2017 at 10:32AM

Give them some of your discount so they benefit from your astute action. It will take you longer to recoup your investment but they can not complain as they are getting the tickets cheaper than otherwise.

enjoyyourshoes · 20 December 2017 at 10:39AM

Pay full price till discount card paid off, then pass on the subsequent discount onto friends.

Kim_13 · 20 December 2017 at 10:48AM

Reasonable that they chip in I think (otherwise you may not make the cost of the card back only getting a discount on your tickets and they would be getting a discount for nothing.)

I think it's only fair that your friends are given the choice to pay for their share of the card upfront (or within a reasonable time if they are temporarily short of cash) or continue to pay full price for their tickets. That way, no one is forced to be a part of this discount card if they don't want, nor would they notice the discounted price on their tickets and realise that something's going on. Be open and honest about it and see what they want to do.

KGB73 · 20 December 2017 at 11:57AM

It depends if you could afford to buy the card or not.If it’s not an issue then give your friends the discount and don’t ask for the card costs, however if the cost of the card was a lot of money to you and you wouldn’t use it again then recoup it, before any discounts are given, as long as the tickets don’t end up costing more once the card is paid for; in that case you would need to discuss with friends; the card becomes available for the group to use whenever they want, presuming it lasts for more than one use.

Augustus_the_Strong · 20 December 2017 at 1:14PM

Cover the cost of the card, and then share the discount, and then you'll all benefit.

Augustus_the_Strong · 20 December 2017 at 1:18PM

although I suppose you will eventually pay off the cost of the card with the saving on your own personal tickets - but covering the cost via your friends first would be perfectly reasonable.

Re other posters: I don't see why you should have discussed this with your friends first as they might object - they are unlikely to object to paying less for their tickets. You are not suggesting getting them to chip in for the discount card upfront, just to carry on with what they have always done, namely paying full price for the tickets.

Money Moral Dilemma: Should I share my discount with my friends?

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