Petrol Price

trio

OP, I completely agree with whoever said that you're gonna have to get the bus for a while.

It's the only practical way to a) make them see that you're not exaggerating about the cost of petrol and b) that you don't steam with rage at them every blessed weekend.

Perhaps after a few weekends of you all getting the bus they'll start offering the measly fiver (which I'm sure you'd gladly take at this stage).

I understand you don't want to take the bus when you have the comfort of a car, but as you said, you're heading for a bust-up unless you try something different.

When you say you're getting the bus they'll surely roll their eyes and call you a drama queen, but it can't be any worse than their attitude towards you now.
If you follow through and take the bus for say, a month, they'll soon raise the subject of petrol again - see if they don't.

mikemac

If you ever crash just wait for the reactions from your friends and their families, your postman will be rocking up to your door with multiple solicitors letters and compo claims

Realy you should not even have to ask, a decent person would offer

Point them in the direction of the bus station

Stinicker

These people sound like absolute stingebags, I drive my own car it costs me between €4k to €5k a wear between fuel, servicing, motor tax, insurance, nct, tolls and depreciation.

My mother has a saying, "I suppose they think your car runs on water" as I was in a similar situation a few years ago with friend who had no car and regularly he would ask me to go to the airport to collect relatives of his or take himself there at least 6 or 7 trips a year, the round trip to the Airport is around 100miles and as he didn't drive I had to drive from my house to his (He is farther away) which made it a 120mile journey for me after first collecting him and taking him to airport to greet his friends and then take them all back to his. It was costing me around €15 at the time as Petrol was cheaper back then.

Anyway the first one or two times, it was the usual thanks mate etc. but never any money, yet me being stupid enough accepted that. However the next time I did the trip I made sure to pull into the petrol station on the way home and he gave me €50, and without actually asking I think he got the hint and was then sound, afterwards he'd always throw me a few bob so I was happy out, even if it was only a fiver it was acknowledgement and he was fairly skint so I couldn't go too hard.

Coming back to the op, I'd leave these guys take the bus in future, they are users and will use you in every way possible, as a young person you are probably getting screwed on insurance so they should have a bit of cop on and I bet they would probably have no problems spending a fortune on booze on a Saturday night but wouldn't throw you a few Euro for the lift, their argument that they are subsidising your travel and wanting to pay less doesn't make sense, you are the one doing the driving and bought car and pays for its non petrol related costs; they are being selfish and let them make their own way in future.

This year I drove to Dublin to all the GAA matches due to the cost of the train at €75 return and each time I always took along two local lads whom i'm friends with and they wanted to give me petrol money throwing twenty euro notes when we got home that night, it is common courtesy and bad social etiquette not to offer money.

whatcartoget

I don't know where you live but the where I some from the done thing is people often share lifts to and from college at the weekends and people don't pay for petrol but they generally buy a petrol voucher at Christmas and at the end of the year!

Ickle Magoo

Can I just remind everyone that this thread is now in PI, which is an advice forum - please keep all replies on topic and helpful to the OP and post in a civil and constructive manner.

Be aware that off-topic and unhelpful posting can earn you a ban from this forum.

If you haven't already done so, please take the time to read the [URL=" http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056181484"]forum rules[/URL] in the charter.

Many thanks.

Aishae

There is one important thing to note that hasn't really been looked at.
The OP has said she doesn't want to fall out with these people and has a good reason for it that she can't get into here. So maybe she can't afford to fall out with them. There are many reasons why that may be the case.

If they had some hold on the OP it would be hard to work with this.

If you (op) can't really do the bus thing (all of you getting the bus for a few weeks) maybe you would be able to tell them you have to be elsewhere at weekends for the time being so they will have to get the bus.

BostonB

If its a regular thing they should contribute. If not I'd simply leave at awkward times that doesn't suit them. Which encourages them to find their own transport.

Thorella

As one poster said it is all down to decency. I don't drive myself (really should start, I am in my twenties) but if someone offers me a lift home from Dublin or anywhere for that matter, the comfort and company of getting a lift means a lot to me so I always give someone money. Mary it sounds like you have been taken for a fool and you were well entitled to ask for a few bob, it is ridiculous you even had to ask. Best of Luck and I hope your 'friends' sort themselves out.

quickbeam

Petrol? wrote: »

I wish I could show them this thread just to reiterate, what Im trying to tell them.

Maybe you should - make them understand that others are on your side.

Options are I think:

(1) work out how much the journey costs, including petrol, insurance, wear and tear, etc. divide by 4 and add round up and insist that they pay that.

(2) tell them to get the bus - surely there's no reason that you can't stay friends with them just because they're getting the bus.

(3) if they refuse to pay what you want and will not stay friends with you unless you drive them, then you need to decide whether their friendship is worth driving them under these terms.

Quite frankly it's awful of them to put you in this situation. If somebody gives me a lift I'd err on the side of over paying them in gratitude and certainly not without being asked. They are taking the mick. Maybe they're using the knowledge that you don't want to loose their friendship to their advantage, but it's certainly not very friendly behaviour on their part.

NedNew2

Well thats about 100 km.

Normally a 1.0ltr car would use about 6litres per 100km.

So that would be about €9 per 100km journey.

It adds up quickly.

I wouldn't be too impressed anyway...

LegacyUser

I think it depends on how much of a good friend they are. If I am going in a particular direction I have no problem bringing my best friends and would never expect a penny.
However, I did bring a work colleague to work for a whole year...and they never gave me a thing, even a coffee!!! Yes even though I drive that way anyway, I was annoyed at not even a gesture, suffice to say they are now making their merry little way to work by bus!
OP this is a tricky situation, I would base it on how good a friend these people are, and what they would do in return for you. If my best friend asked me for money and they were driving that way anyway and I was not making them go out of their way I would be annoyed. I, as a passenger, would however offer money every now and again, and the odd bottle of wine, but to ask for money each time is very odd and seems very cold and business like in my opinion...(if they are your best friends).
If you're not that close, let them off on the bus!