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Original poster

How to split the cost...?

9 replies

misspollysdolly · 14/03/2011 15:16

We are going camping in France in May half term - our main 'summer' holiday partly because the price was brilliant and also because I am pregnant and camping when 8 months pregnant (ie in the summer) did not appeal...!

There are five of us in our family - DH, me and 3 DCs (11, 5 and 3) and we are also taking a good friend along with us. She is a single mum whose DS is now at Uni - and she has rarely given herself a holiday, plus we are all very find of her and comfortable with each other so she's coming along too!

My WWYD is regarding how to split the cost of the holiday. My maths isn't great anyway, but I cannot get my head around how to split the cost of the holiday so that our friend contributes, but neither pays too much or too little. What is the logical sum to do..??! Do we split the cost between the 6 of us and DFriend pays 1/6 or into three between the three adults...? Do we count the DCs as one and suggest that she pays 1/4 of the total cost..?! I can't do the maths - help!! We have not had any discussion about money, so this isn't coming out of any difficult confrontations - it's just that I want to do the right thing and not fall out with anyone MPD

OP posts:

vintageteacups · 14/03/2011 23:57

What about a contribution for petrol/toll roads/food shopping rather than the actual holiday?

vintageteacups · 14/03/2011 23:58

And if you've actually invited her, she may think you're paying for her?? Not sure how close you are?

savoycabbage · 15/03/2011 00:07

Definitely not the three adults.

I agree with Vintage that it depends on whether you have invited her. Also she will end up helping out with your dc's, especially as you are pregnant.

Ask her to pay for the petrol or the alcohol, if anything at all.

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 15/03/2011 00:07

Hi MPD

Can you talk about it openly with your friend....

Is the camp site price based on a pitch plus a charge per person? If so it might be you could say split on that basis? And same for fuel etc then a contribution for shopping as and when....

If you wanted to work out the expected overall cost incl tolls and fuel, there is a French website I used last year that was quite good... I'll do some digging tomorrow and see if I can send a link....

I am Posting from my phone while DH snores at the moment and hopeless at linking from my phone

Hope the scan goes ok too....

sunnydelight · 15/03/2011 05:30

With regards the campsite, how much extra does bringing her actually cost? The only accurate way to cost that part would be anything over and above what the five of you would pay without her. Does the Ferry/Tunnel cost more with her coming? - obviously the difference between 6 and five would be her share. Were you thinking that her coming would help with costs and have that discussion with her? If so then 1/6 of the actual cost would be her share. You certainly can't expect to just split it three ways - that means she is subsidising your three children. If it doesn't actually cost you extra what about asking her for a contribution for petrol and tolls and say "the wine is on you" (wine can be very cheap in France ).

Obviously there are costs when you get there. If you are eating out it's fairly easy - she pays for what she has (not something I would normally suggest but you can't really do otherwise). If it was a more equal "two families" situation I would say it's easier to run a kitty, but with one extra it's harder. Although a three year old certainly won't eat as much as an adult, if you are buying a lot of stuff especially for the kids (kids' cereals, biscuits, ice creams etc.) then you can't really expect her to cover that, on the other hand if she has a taste for seafood or expensive cheese she can hardly expect to only pay 1/6 of the total bill. Most decent people do the right thing and if you are good friends nobody should be left feeling hard done by - it's a bit difficult to work out an exact formula though! Have a great holiday.

PepsiPopcorn · 15/03/2011 12:41

I'd say 1/6 of the cost.

cheesesarnie · 15/03/2011 12:45

id ask her to contribute to food and thats it tbh.

hairylights · 17/03/2011 22:49

Split it into six and she pays one sixth. Otherwise she's paying for your kids!

IloveJudgeJudy · 20/03/2011 21:20

My mother came with us a few years ago. She's coming along again this year. She's paying £15.00 for the ferry as that's what it costs extra for her. She'll pay whatever an extra adult costs on the site. She won't pay for the electric or whatever as we'd have that anyway. She'll probably pay for a shopping or two during the fortnight. that's it, really. I think she might have taken us out for a drink or ice-cream a couple of times, but that's something we wouldn't have done as we don't have that much cash. HTH

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