TO ask how much petrol money to offer for a 2hour 40 minute journey

[Heartraker]

Non-driver here.

My camping group has someone offering me a lift - I’m planning to volunteer money upfront as I don’t want them to have to ask and feel awkward but not sure how much? ( on a tight budget myself) They’re also camping.

(Not trying to get out of it, but I remember my mum offering £5 back in the day! grin)

You have heard of inflation, yes?!

I always think ‘what would it cost to get there on public transport-how much would I spend if ‘kind Person’ hadn’t offered me a lift?’ and go from there.

I agree - £17 is a very weird amount. I think this makes you come across as very tight.

Maybe just ask the driver?

Agreed. I think I'd be offended with £17, it sounds like you have worked it out and paying the bare minimum in fuel and sod my related costs. (wear and tear, car fluids me driving, insurance) personally I would have offered to pay for all the fuel because a. If I drove it would cost me that much b. Compared to taxi etc it's a bargain.

Maybe she is playing you and will stop at a roadside Cafe, big boy breakfast and loads of coffee will be more than £17

I can see why you went for £17 as probably around the average of suggestions here. Enjoy the trip!

Jeez. I'm a driver, if I was going anyway I'd have done exactly what the driver did in this scenario. I'd be using a little extra petrol with the extra weight but I'd also have the benefit of the OPs company on the journey. I have a small car, it costs around £40 for a tank of petrol and in mixed journeys (town/country/motorway) I get nearly 400 miles from a tank. Country roads driving at 50+ are most energy efficient. I'd have been happy being offered a tenner but would have turned it down unless I was really tight for money myself. How much it would cost the OP to get there by public transport doesn't really apply in this scenario as it will probably involve multiple changes and would take hours and hours and public transport here is eye-wateringly expensive and infrequent. It costs me £2.50 each way to do a mile and a half into town. Luckily I'm OK just to walk but if you weren't it's a huge expense for a short journey. If OP had to use public transport she probably wouldn't be able to go.

You do know that often getting about in Scotland takes a lot longer than routplanner says??
It might say a hour to go 60 miles as the road is a 60 rd. but in reality you will never go over 40 mph. It's not just the fuel it's the mileage on the engine.
I don't mind giving lifts. But I do mind non drivers that have to be asked to chip in or have no appreciation for the true cost. Why don't you drive?

I'd have offered £20.

How did you come to 17?!?! Very odd amount to offer. I would think you're a right tight wad!

For all the talk about kindness being lacking in society, it is perfectly possible for people to be kind. OP is not a cheeky fucker, she has been offered and has accepted a lift from a member of her hobby group. Presumably this person likes the OP. OP has offered money up front for petrol. It's an odd amount sure, but does look like she's thought about it rather than either not offering or offering too little. It's really irrelevant why OP doesn't drive, she wasn't demanding a lift.

Breakfast for 2 will cost more than £17 unless you go to a MacDonald's! I also think £17 is an odd amount. £15 would have been ok, £20 better. Somehow £17 makes you look tight.

Don't worry about it op. It all sounds fine. I might have taken a tenner or breakfast too. £17 sounds fine

£17 seems quite tight. Just offer 20 as you have the luxury of not driving and wear and tear on the car. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I agree Wax. You can see it’s the grabby sorts who are calling the OP tight.

I'd offer £20 and ask if that's enough.

£17 is such an odd amount! You should have rounded it up.

This 😂

I often give friends lifts but I don't expect petrol money if I'm going that way anyway. Just be careful where you stop for breakfast. If it's House of Bruar you're in trouble.

£17!! Strange.

£17 is fine OP. Ignore all the post telling you it’s weird. 🙄 You’re not tight, it’s lovely of you to even offer the money as lots of people wouldn’t have done!

Have an amazing time!

£17 is such a funny amount .

I'd have been perplexed and s little offended at £17. (Would not have been offended at £15.)

Breakfast is a nice idea.
Bagels & Cream cheese
Croissants
Pan Au Chocolate
Take other nibbles - crisps, nuts, etc.....

17 is a bit cringe! I would have offered 20 as a minimum. Probably more as they'll be doing all the driving. I likely would have said how about 20 for petrol plus I get brekkie as a thank you for driving.

Ignore them, OP, this has worked out exactly as I hoped it would. Well done, you and the driver.

A lot of minor meanness on this thread:

1. £17 is such a bizarre, precise, penny-pinching offer for petrol. Offer 20 quid if you think that's the rough amount. Think how much would it cost you on public transport.

2. If you're offering someone a lift, don't take cash as payment. You're not a taxi and you were going anyway. Certainly don't factor in "3 hours driving on narrow roads" as some terrible ordeal that demands financial recompense. Or insurance you've already paid. Mean. Mean. Mean. The suggestion to pay for food is perfect, but would be better coming from the passenger: "As you're driving, how about I buy us a nice lunch?"

Also, some of you are vastly overestimating the cost of fuel. It costs about £80 to fill my car and that will take me over 700 miles.

Why can't everyone just think generously?

Last time we did this my friend was driving. She filled up with petrol on as we left and then again when we got back. Worked out the difference and halved it.