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Original poster

Should the person who earns more pay more for joint holiday friends not partners

482 replies

Libbykitty · 04/01/2026 17:36

Just that really.

2 friends going on holiday, should the person who earns more pay more say 75 ler cent of holiday cost, neither person wealthy, but one is part time and the other is full time so earns more.

Welcome thoughts as I am unsure.

OP posts:
RippleTV · 05/01/2026 16:02

I can see a situation where the more comfortably off might offer, depending on their other circumstances, but absolutley no "should" about it.

firstofallimadelight · 05/01/2026 16:02

If say full timer is planning to go away and wants company but knows part timer will struggle to afford it they could ask the part timer to pay additional cost of attending rather than half. But it should definitely come from full timer and costs while away should be 50/50.
if it’s a joint decision or part timers idea then 50/50 but full timer could treat part timer to a meal whilst away but should not feel in any way obliged.

GarlicSound · 05/01/2026 15:58

NickyKat · 05/01/2026 08:11

Imagine this scenario: you're getting into an expensive taxi on your own and a friend jumped in. Would you be happy if they said to you "I'm not paying anything because you were willing to pay the full amount when it was just you"?

I suspect not. It's cheeky and very entitled IMO.

Show quote history

I can't believe the number of people trying to make this something it isn't! Sure, if someone jumps in demanding a free ride, they're a CF. But have you never heard anyone saying "I'm going your way, I can give you a lift"?

See the difference?

Ihatetomatoes · 05/01/2026 15:49

No

DonnaBanana · 05/01/2026 15:41

If two friends decide to buy a house would it be reasonable for the higher earner to pay more of the mortgage? No.

AndeanFlamingo · 05/01/2026 15:10

I work part-time for medical reasons but I would never expect anyone to subsidise me (DH doesn't count because our money is joint).

MimiGC · 05/01/2026 13:51

I have worked part time for years and it has literally never crossed my mind that a friend working full time would subsidise me. Either I can afford to do something or I can’t. A friend’s income doesn’t come into the equation.

RegularHere · 05/01/2026 08:37

NickyKat · 05/01/2026 08:11

Imagine this scenario: you're getting into an expensive taxi on your own and a friend jumped in. Would you be happy if they said to you "I'm not paying anything because you were willing to pay the full amount when it was just you"?

I suspect not. It's cheeky and very entitled IMO.

Show quote history

It would be very entitled of the friend to say that.

But there is a middle ground.

If we’re going to the airport I want to get a taxi. Not get the bus because they can’t afford to split the taxi fare. And I don’t want to eat at the cheap buffet every meal either, or forgo the local sights.

LighthouseLED · 05/01/2026 08:33

NickyKat · 05/01/2026 08:11

Imagine this scenario: you're getting into an expensive taxi on your own and a friend jumped in. Would you be happy if they said to you "I'm not paying anything because you were willing to pay the full amount when it was just you"?

I suspect not. It's cheeky and very entitled IMO.

Show quote history

Not if they just decided to jump in, but there’s an alternative scenario where I want to take a taxi, my friend is happy with the bus, so I offer to pay for the taxi as I don’t want to wait for the bus and it’s unfair to make my friend pay more when they’re happy with the cheaper option but I’m not.

NickyKat · 05/01/2026 08:12

Xmasssssss2025 · 05/01/2026 03:01

As a general rule it should be 50/50. But if the full timer wants to pay more if it meant the part timer can afford to come and they will both enjoy it then fair enough. It's their choice.
E..g if the full timer is looking to go away regardless and will cost £600 to go alone but the same package holiday will cost £900 for two people to go. They could say they would pay £600 and the other person pay £300 rather than both paying £450 each.

Sorry, replied to wrong post but couldn't delete!

NickyKat · 05/01/2026 08:11

GarlicSound · 05/01/2026 00:19

All those saying No - the scenario outlined is the higher earner considering a solo holiday. You pay a big premium for single packages. The difference is often just 10% less than the price for two.

Imo, it's unfair to insist on 50/50 if you were going to pay 90 anyway and the other person's hard up. I have done this a couple of times - paid for two instead of just me - and the friend got a free trip, on condition they bought us a good dinner or something. I felt like having company, they felt like a holiday, all good.

Imagine this scenario: you're getting into an expensive taxi on your own and a friend jumped in. Would you be happy if they said to you "I'm not paying anything because you were willing to pay the full amount when it was just you"?

I suspect not. It's cheeky and very entitled IMO.

Bagwyllydiart · 05/01/2026 07:55

No. It’s 50/50 or the trip doesn’t happen.

Garroty · 05/01/2026 07:52

No. When it's friends you split the cost equally. Partners is different because there is usually at least some element of shared finances in a relationship, but with friends you both pay your own way and cut your cloth according to what the less well-off person can afford.

It would be different if the wealthier friend wanted to stay somewhere more expensive and offered to cover the additional cost but that isn't the expectation.

BanditSlashed · 05/01/2026 07:45

No. Wouldn't even cross my mind.
Who in the batshittery comes up with a suggestion such as this?!

CeciliaMars · 05/01/2026 06:35

I’m going to message my rich friends and see if they want to go to Barbados with me….

Womaninhouse17 · 05/01/2026 04:15

No. The price of things doesn't change according to how much you can afford.

Xmasssssss2025 · 05/01/2026 03:01

As a general rule it should be 50/50. But if the full timer wants to pay more if it meant the part timer can afford to come and they will both enjoy it then fair enough. It's their choice.
E..g if the full timer is looking to go away regardless and will cost £600 to go alone but the same package holiday will cost £900 for two people to go. They could say they would pay £600 and the other person pay £300 rather than both paying £450 each.

bridgetreilly · 05/01/2026 02:49

Person with less money needs to say if they can’t afford it and either suggest cheaper alternative or pull out of the plan altogether.

If person with more money is very keen to go with original plan, then they might offer to sub the friend, but they are under no obligation to do so.

mondaytosunday · 05/01/2026 01:19

No way.

Wholetthatgoatin · 05/01/2026 01:01

Do you want some ice cream to go with that huge dollop of cheeky fuckery, op?!

GarlicSound · 05/01/2026 00:47

mathanxiety · 05/01/2026 00:46

There's something a bit icky about that, I feel. It's almost like a Victorian paid companion setup.

Show quote history

😂 FFS. Would you feel the same if your friend had a restaurant voucher for two, and invited you?

GarlicSound · 05/01/2026 00:46

PollyBell · 05/01/2026 00:41

It is up to either person to pay what they want it is a choice, a higher earner should not be expected to pay more if they chose to that is up to them that is the difference

but how on earth can holidays be nice if it has to be this complicated? it wouldnt be worth it to me

Show quote history

No, the point is that I was going to pay anyway. It wasn't "Let's go away together", I was buying a trip for myself. It just happened that another person would only cost £50 more, so I asked a friend if they fancied piggybacking on my holiday. Which is much as the OP outlined.

mathanxiety · 05/01/2026 00:46

GarlicSound · 05/01/2026 00:19

All those saying No - the scenario outlined is the higher earner considering a solo holiday. You pay a big premium for single packages. The difference is often just 10% less than the price for two.

Imo, it's unfair to insist on 50/50 if you were going to pay 90 anyway and the other person's hard up. I have done this a couple of times - paid for two instead of just me - and the friend got a free trip, on condition they bought us a good dinner or something. I felt like having company, they felt like a holiday, all good.

There's something a bit icky about that, I feel. It's almost like a Victorian paid companion setup.

mathanxiety · 05/01/2026 00:44

No. Just go somewhere you can both afford.

PollyBell · 05/01/2026 00:41

GarlicSound · 05/01/2026 00:19

All those saying No - the scenario outlined is the higher earner considering a solo holiday. You pay a big premium for single packages. The difference is often just 10% less than the price for two.

Imo, it's unfair to insist on 50/50 if you were going to pay 90 anyway and the other person's hard up. I have done this a couple of times - paid for two instead of just me - and the friend got a free trip, on condition they bought us a good dinner or something. I felt like having company, they felt like a holiday, all good.

It is up to either person to pay what they want it is a choice, a higher earner should not be expected to pay more if they chose to that is up to them that is the difference

but how on earth can holidays be nice if it has to be this complicated? it wouldnt be worth it to me

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