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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Splitting petrol money?

114 replies

Spacebound · 14/07/2014 22:41

Hi my fiancée and I are travelling up to Edinburgh this week with our two friends and we're staying in my parents apartment.

We are going to drive as they don't (we always drive up there) problem is I got a txt of my friend today sort of hinting that they might not be going halves on petrol money and I'm a bit pee'd off.

It's a 4 hour drive so we will be looking at about £80 round trip. It's just so awkward to bring up the subject, we just wouldn't dream of not going halves if it was the other way round, any ideas? Thanks !!

OP posts:

impatientlywaiting · 15/07/2014 09:29

Another one who thinks your friend wasn't trying to duck out of the costs. Sounds to me like they are going to get snacks for the journey as you are driving and then costs will be split 50/50 for the petrol.

StanleyLambchop · 15/07/2014 09:39

Catsize- agreed breaking up the journey is an option, but then it makes it such a long day with increasingly fractious children. I also never buy advance tickets, as several times we have done that and then had vomiting bugs meaning we have to cancel, usually no refunds, or at least refunds minus an extortionate 'admin' fee. If we do a long drive with the car we break the journey at a local tourist spot/ NT property or something similar, it is more difficult to do that with a train journey as you then have to work out how to get there from the rain station and back again. It really is a hassle, and I say that as someone who is almost on the verge of being a train spotter!`

I do not know what the answer to the pollution problem is, but I feel that if you discourage people from driving to Edinburgh in their car, you discourage them from Edinburgh altogether. What implications that has for tourism long term is I suppose still up for debate.

TiffanyAtBreakfast · 15/07/2014 10:02

Um You are welcome to come to Edinburgh but do not drive here sounds more like an order than a 'plea'. Residents of Edinburgh don't actually have a say in other peoples' chosen method of transport y'know...

OP I think just a quick "Okay great, your share of the petrol is £40 and we can sort that on Saturday when we meet up. Looking forward to it, see you then!"

Avoids any possible confusion but doesn't sound accusatory / as though they are being stingy.

BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure · 15/07/2014 11:53

Whois, good system!

KatoPotato · 15/07/2014 12:07

Whenver we go through to the festival we park at the Radisson Blu hotel car park! it's really reasonable for city centre parking!

expatinscotland · 15/07/2014 16:00

I never claimed to know everything about the place, of course, some of the more barking locals have a well-earned reputation. We do drive in city centre. It's nice. We park and pay, it's just part of the deal. But try to avoid it as it's full of, well . . .

At any rate, the OP is going to stay at her parents' place, no telling where in town, and certain still felt the need to scold and dictate to others the best mode of transport.

expatinscotland · 15/07/2014 16:03

Again, sorry to derail your thread, OP. Naturally, you are free to travel to your parents using whatever mode of transport you chose. We chose a car, too. Often. It's convenient, it's diesel so fuel efficient.

expatinscotland · 15/07/2014 16:07

Hopefully it's not in the city centre, which is right up there with Hong Kong for pollution. But pass me a PM, the IL's have a blue badge so they can drive you up there and park! We park in Royal Terrace.

nuffy · 15/07/2014 16:19

Among my friends we never offer petrol money - I would feel very tight asking for it and pretty surprised if anyone asked me. Perhaps they are like me, and think oh, we'll get dinner one night. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with asking for petrol money, just that it's not what everyone does.

starfishmummy · 15/07/2014 16:22

Call me old fashioned...but surely if the op and her friends actually talk to each other rather than sending texts it will be so much easier and clearer than guessing what a text means!!

Aeroflotgirl · 15/07/2014 17:03

I would text it call them to tell them you expect them to pay their way

BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure · 15/07/2014 17:42

Starfish, radical!

ilovesooty · 15/07/2014 18:35

Yes starfishmummy - I said the same earlier. Why the hell don't people just pick up the phone if they are looking for clarification or need to make something clear to someone?

Catsize · 15/07/2014 18:36

Stanley, I'm not suggesting you actually break the journey. Let's say you want to go from Manchester to London. It may be cheaper to get a return from Manchester to Crewe and a return from Crewe to London but all on the same trains so you don't even have to get off. Not sure of the journey details you'd need, but it can work out better to do something like that. Look at the stations you pass through en route to Edinburgh and have a play.
Thank you for the Refreshers tips!
Any news OP?

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