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Original poster

Taxi costs split - who should pay

158 replies

Airspice · 06/02/2025 17:46

Just wondering if I’m being an arse for thinking this so would like opinions!

Going on holiday soon with a good friend and my two teens (ds14, dd16) 2 week package longhaul, can’t wait.

We were discussing costs/kitty etc the other day and she said that we’d need to get taxis round and about quite a bit (she’s been several times before so knows the score) and we can just split the cost 4 ways and I pay 3 lots and she’ll pay 1. I was a bit surprised, I fully expect when we go for dinner, trips etc to pay for me and the kids but for taxis I would have just split it between me and her, if it was her with the kids I would never have suggested a 4 way split for taxis.

YABU - there’s 4 of you, so split 4 ways, she shouldn’t have to pay for your kids taxi
YANBU - that’s tight, it should just be split between the adults

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 06/02/2025 19:05

(I don't actually think that, obviously, but it's the logic that's being used in rdvers)

Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 19:04

CatherinedeBourgh · 06/02/2025 18:59

Do people really nickel and dime so much with good friends?

I've just come back from holiday with friends and my dc. I paid for everything I would have paid for anyway with my dc, so if I would have taken a taxi with them I did not expect them to chip in. I paid for almost all the meals out too, as my dc eat more than all the adults combined, but it would have been OK to split those per person I guess.

OP you won't be out of pocket if you pay most of the taxi, if your friend wasn't there you'd have to pay it all. Your friend is already making concessions by going with your dc in tow, do you really want to be so stingy?

She’s not making concessions as such as she’s been on at me and the kids (teens) to join her on one of these trips for years 😄 but I get your point

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 06/02/2025 19:04

theotherplace · 06/02/2025 18:57

But the cost would be the same whatever? Friend is being tight

Show quote history

The cost would be the same for OP and her 2 kids, so the friend can jump in for free, no?

ServantsGonnaServe · 06/02/2025 19:03

75/25 is fair - you (3) and her (1) are all benefitting from the taxi, why would she pay half? Basically paying for 1 of your kids.

Ihopeyouhavent · 06/02/2025 19:03

Very awkward. I agree should be 50/50 and id be really worried about bill splitting with her on the holiday.

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/02/2025 19:03

50/50, I have never heard of taxis charging per person. It is per journey.

Your kids being in the taxi isn't costing her any more than just you being in the taxi.

Call her bluff 'oh its a total riot us lot getting in a cab, we'll get our own cab and you get a separate one, be much nicer for you...' .

Sittingonthefence83 · 06/02/2025 19:02

I think she is being very unfair. Maybe ask her if the taxis charge per person? Say you assumed you two would just cover the cost of the taxi when she confirms that they wouldn't charge per person. Also reiterate that you of course will cover their food and trips. Maybe joke about how the teens will have to spend their pocket money on their share of the taxi!! See what she says to that?

NovemberMorn · 06/02/2025 19:02

Viviennemary · 06/02/2025 18:45

Maybe compromise and you pay two-thirds.

Why?

CatherinedeBourgh · 06/02/2025 18:59

Do people really nickel and dime so much with good friends?

I've just come back from holiday with friends and my dc. I paid for everything I would have paid for anyway with my dc, so if I would have taken a taxi with them I did not expect them to chip in. I paid for almost all the meals out too, as my dc eat more than all the adults combined, but it would have been OK to split those per person I guess.

OP you won't be out of pocket if you pay most of the taxi, if your friend wasn't there you'd have to pay it all. Your friend is already making concessions by going with your dc in tow, do you really want to be so stingy?

Gemmawemma9 · 06/02/2025 18:58

She seems so tight. Technically yes she’s right but I can’t imagine being this mean. I’d hate to go on holiday with someone like her.

theotherplace · 06/02/2025 18:57

Comewhatmay25 · 06/02/2025 17:56

Its not fair to force someone to pay more than their share. If she offered that would be great, but you cant hold it against her that she doesn't want to pay for your kids.

But the cost would be the same whatever? Friend is being tight

grizabellacat · 06/02/2025 18:53

Well I can see I’m in the minority, but I’m afraid I think she’s right. Single people are always getting ripped off like this. 3 in your family are benefitting from the taxi ride compared to one person in her family. So you split the cost 3:1.

mrsm43s · 06/02/2025 18:53

Greenbottle123 · 06/02/2025 18:30

50/50 because she’s incur the same cost if it was just the two of you

Using that logic, OP would incur the same cost for just herself and the children, so why can't her friend just jump in for free since it's not costing any extra!

Technically, I think OPs friend is right, she's only responsible for paying one quarter of the taxi costs.

However, these are friends going away together, and there should be a middle ground, and some consideration of each other.. I absolutely wouldn't be splitting every taxi journey, but maybe OP could pay for more of the days than her friends? I'd think a 1/3:2/3 approx split would be a compromise on both sides, maybe? But not exact? Just OP paying a bit more for her 3 people than her friend does for one.

NannyR · 06/02/2025 18:51

I would think it would make sense to use the kitty to pay for transportation. Each person contributes 25% (or friend 25%, you 75%) and pay for taxis from that.

goingtotown · 06/02/2025 18:51

100% YANBU

MounjaroOnMyMind · 06/02/2025 18:49

No, I'd say the adults split it, the kids go for free. She needs that lift as much as you do. This is the problem with sharing a holiday. I'd be tempted to suggest getting separate taxis.

Springflowersmakeforbetterhours · 06/02/2025 18:47

She's on the make imo.

flossymuldoon · 06/02/2025 18:46

My Dad comes on holiday with us quite often and we always have a kitty. We guess how much we’ll need and he adds 1/4 and we add 3/4 and all meals, transportation and trips come out of that. Obvs anything we buy for ourselves we pay for ourselves.
If we need to we top it up.

For accommodation we split it 4 ways.

the way I see it for accommodation and taxis is that I would have to pay the full cost of he wasn’t there so it benefits us by him paying 1/4.

Viviennemary · 06/02/2025 18:45

Maybe compromise and you pay two-thirds.

HomeTheatreSystem · 06/02/2025 18:43

Well 4 in a taxi plus driver is a squeeze so you go with your kids in one taxi and she can go in a second on her own. See how she likes that maths.

NovemberMorn · 06/02/2025 18:42

Your friend sound mean, obviously the taxi fare should be split 50/50.

Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 18:39

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 06/02/2025 18:35

Going out to dinner ... order seperately so you get your own bill.
I think your mate is taking advantage on the taxi front. If they were 23 abd earning then yes split 4 ways.

If they were adults and earning I would definitely expect a 4 way split (even if I ended up paying 3 lots being their Mum and a pushover 😂)

OP posts:
Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 18:37

DoItBetter · 06/02/2025 18:32

How's the accommodation costs working out. Might she be feeling short changed and trying to recoup costs?

It’s a package and the total cost was split 4 ways and I paid 3 so she only paid for herself (as I would 100% expect)

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 06/02/2025 18:36

I would say 50/50 on taxis too since 5 seater cars are the norm and there’s 4 of you plus a driver. If the destination charged more for 5 seater cars than smaller cars then there would be an argument for you paying more but if that was the case then she would have surely said.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 06/02/2025 18:35

Going out to dinner ... order seperately so you get your own bill.
I think your mate is taking advantage on the taxi front. If they were 23 abd earning then yes split 4 ways.