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Original poster

How much petrol money would you charge someone for 10 miles/week of driving?

145 replies

hfyuhgft · 16/05/2021 22:00

If you were giving someone a lift several times a week that amounted to 10 miles of driving a week, how much would you charge them?

It will be for around a year.

OP posts:
JollyHolly30 · 16/05/2021 22:36

Sorry, quoted the wrong post. Meant the comment about expecting them to stay there all day.

BarbaraofSeville · 16/05/2021 22:40

I missed the fact that the OP only wants a lift in the morning.

But unless she cannot walk a mile, the commitment is probably going to be a bind for her parents even if they are retired and apparently have nothing better to do.

Even if she has stuff to carry, I'd be looking at a trolley case so I could get there independently. It's more about the time than the money.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 16/05/2021 22:40

I’d walk the mile rather than put someone out daily for that short distance.

If there was a genuine reason for my children not walking or driving themselves I’d not want petrol money for such a small journey.

Em308 · 16/05/2021 22:41

If you want to give them money, I’d say £20 a month. That way it’s a bit more substantial in a lump rather than a fiver a week. Or buy a takeaway for you all?

Original poster
hfyuhgft · 16/05/2021 22:46

It's longer to walk for various reasons but still only around 35 minutes. I have told my parents I can walk but they are adamant that they are happy to take me. I work long hours so with my current commute time I'm out the house around 14 hours a day so I guess adding another 30 minutes won't make much difference.

Your comments have made me realise I'm in the wrong. However, I do want to add that I'm not trying to be tight or mean with money. This thread was never about trying to get away with paying the smallest amount.

OP posts:
KihoBebiluPute · 16/05/2021 22:49

I'd use 45p per mile if it was a single round trip once a week and not too inconvenient. I would go a bit higher for 5 trips per week which sound significantly inconvenient! Agree that the amount you offer should take into account some fraction of the amount of time and money you would have to spend to achieve getting yourself to work by public transport.

nickelbabe · 16/05/2021 22:54

If they're insisting on taking you, then you have no choice, and it's then bloody cheeky of them.to tell you they want the money. And then not to tell you how much is bloody bonkers! Shock
Tell them that you refuse to be held to ransom over something you didn't ask for and don't want!

SkepticalCat · 16/05/2021 22:56

OK, so the lift is saving you almost three hours per week.

As others have said, it's not just about the petrol money (which you could just base on 45p per mile ie about £5 week).

I would offer maybe £10 to £15 per week as it is saving you the 35 minute walk each day, it more than covers petrol and recognises the inconvenience of your parents taking you to the station each morning.

NameChangeforMoneyThings · 16/05/2021 22:56

Could you cycle OP? I understand not wanting to make a 14 hour day any longer and I doubt I would want to let my daughter do that either, so I can see why your parents might well not mind. However, if it's a mile's walk there and back, a lot of stations have secure parking and cycling would only take 5-10 minutes so might be nearly as fast as driving?

When I was working that many hours a day I was exhausted - I couldn't do that 5 days a week. Even if you cut your morning routine to 15 mins and shower in the evenings you're still talking about having only an hour or so left in the whole day to make and eat dinner. Is there any way you could work from home a couple of days a week to make it more manageable? I know I would burn out doing that long term - in fact I did and changed jobs to get rid of my terrible commute.

If your parents do take you I would make sure they know it's not an obligation and that any day they have other plans (or just need to sleep in) that's okay with you if they just let you know the night before. Assuming it's at some ungodly hour you could always walk some mornings and get an evening lift home instead if that was more convenient.

BelleBlueBell · 16/05/2021 22:58

Do you live with your parents? Is it a case of one of them hops in the cat each morning to drop you off? How long does it take to drive this mile?

We"re all different of course but I wouldnt be comfortable charging my child for this, maybe a tenner a month as a token gesture?

PineappleDreamer · 16/05/2021 23:12

£15 a week seems reasonable to me, all things considered.

whattodo2019 · 16/05/2021 23:22

£15 per week, I think would be a great deal.
Do you think they would expect more or less??

BackforGood · 16/05/2021 23:32

@Couldhavebeenme2 - tbf, it may well be that the OP has a two mile walk at the other end of her journey or something. She isn't "just" walking a mile from her home to her workplace.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 17/05/2021 00:32

When I first read the OP I thought it sounded mean to ask for any money at all.

The fact that your parents want their child to pay them to take you 2 miles a day is shockingly penny pinching. I'd walk it personally.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 17/05/2021 00:33

£15 a week for 10 miles!!! WTF. That's £1.50 a mile.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 17/05/2021 00:34

If it was me doing this for a family member I'd say "invite me round for dinner once a month" at best. Penny pinchers are the worst.

NuffSaidSam · 17/05/2021 00:44

'Your comments have made me realise I'm in the wrong'

OP you are not in the wrong.

Presumably, you and your parents know the full details of the situation and are happy with it? So it's fine. Ignore the stupid comments from people who have no idea of your situation. Just read the ones that are actually answering the question re. how much money to offer.

RAOK · 17/05/2021 00:46

£5 a week perhaps in the form of fresh flowers if it was my parents

NuffSaidSam · 17/05/2021 00:48

'Unless you have some sort of undisclosed disability'

Imagine asking about petrol money without giving Mumsnet a full health background! What a cheek.

Comefromaway · 17/05/2021 00:53

Pre Covid my dad did this for dh about 3 miles a day for nothing. Purely to help out so I did t have to juggle taking him, plus Ds to school then getting to work.

10 miles a day at 45p per mile is £4.450

Biffsboys · 17/05/2021 01:02

I can’t imagine charging dc for any lift that I give them ?
If it was a friend I’d expect a bottle of wine now and again 🤷‍♀️

denverRegina · 17/05/2021 01:05

Your parents are going to drive to drop you off and pick you up daily? Why?

Just say no thanks and make your own way, it's a mile away. Cycle?

Guavafish · 17/05/2021 01:11

£5-10 per week

TheTeenageYears · 17/05/2021 03:44

They can't insist on something and then charge you. It's a big commitment from them for which 'petrol money' wouldn't really do justice but it seems ridiculous for them to insist on this arrangement. If they are genuinely concerned about either your safety or long hours out of the house I would have thought they would just offer to help you out and as an appreciative DD you may reciprocate the kindness with taking the load of them in some way or with gifts in kind. Seems a bit of an odd situation really, it's a bit like mates rates where you never really know what the expectation is and it just makes thing's difficult all round.

TwoAndAnOnion · 17/05/2021 05:16

@Medievalist

1 mile to the station? Is there a reason why you can't walk that distance?
Why should people have to justify 'why' ?
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