Should diesel money be offered even when your driving that way anyway?

[williesandwonkas]

I drive the same route home from work everyday.

I have a colleague that I drop off at the side of the road on my way.

It doesn't take any more time/diesel to leave her off but, I do have to wait on her sometimes to wait.

Other colleagues have asked if I am being offered money and I didn't think to ask for it. It would definitely be helpful and I know it saves her a lot of money for trains.

Should I ask for money or should they be offering? Or what do people think?

If she doesn't have the money, or, more likely, prefers to save it, tell her to take the bus - it still won't cost her anything.

She just needs to get on and tell the driver that, as he's already going there anyway, she isn't costing the bus company any extra, so she can ride free. I'm sure he'll understand and wholeheartedly agree....

The question isn't why should she pay; the question is why should you pay for the fuel for your joint journey to work, when you're already paying 100% of the rest of the car running costs. If anything, there's a good argument for her paying for ALL the fuel costs - considering that you cover all of the tax, insurance, MoT, servicing, repairs, depreciation etc - as well as being the one who actually has to do all the driving - the cost of the diesel is a relatively small proportion of the total costs anyway.

I became friends with a colleague and started giving her lifts home, she lived a little further but only 2 minutes out the way.

She insisted on giving me £10 a week for fuel. She said the bus cost £15 a week so she was delighted to save £5 and have the luxury of being taken to her door.

We're still great friends 17 years later

I’d tell her you can’t do it any more and she can go back to getting the train.

You don’t need the money, you have to wait around for her and the fact she hasn’t offered would piss me off too. I certainly wouldn’t ask for money - I’d rather have the time in the car to myself and get home a bit earlier.

If I were offered a regular lift I’d offer petrol money and, if refused, I’d occasionally give a bottle of wine, flowers or something to show my appreciation. She’s done none of those things and is therefore a CF.