To not expect to pay excessive amount as we're family.

[Boop1e]

In laws brought themselves a caravan on a haven site a year ago. Decided to spend some pension money on it.
the site fees have renewed and have gone up just like everything else in life.
They don't rent it out and we only use it as family.
Anyway father in law has just charged his own son £75 for 3 nights to use it. He owed me money for ordering him a new tablet and doing him a favour so took the money out of that which I couldn't afford to lose.

Before the season started he mentioned charging £25 a day but nothing else happened and no mention of it again before we went.

He's also charged brother in law £150 to use but they paid upfront.

Am i being unreasonable to feel this is a lot to charge your own children and £10 or so a day would be sufficient. I'm not convinced I spend £25 a day heating and lighting my 3 bed home. They get their passes included with the caravan for 10 people.

Husband won't challenge it because it won't make any difference.

You're so lucky to have such a cheap holiday! I would expect 3 nights would probably cost £300+ usually for this time of year. If you went in school holidays, even more.

I get you feel they should give it to you for free (or £10) but £25 per night is still very much a family rate.

They're not forcing you to use it and they have bills to pay. Perhaps look around to see where else you'd like to go.

We have a holiday home in the South of France - owed by my DM and three of her cousins. They inherited it together with a fund to maintain it. Anyone in the extended family is welcome to stay without charge. Bookings are made via my DM who checks whether anyone else has already booked it. DH and I were there for a month last summer and DH’s parents came over from Canada to join us.

Sounds reasonable to me especially for a haven site and as he's not renting it out so this will help towards gas / electric.

We have a holiday home in the South of France - owed by my DM and three of her cousins. They inherited it together with a fund to maintain it. Anyone in the extended family is welcome to stay without charge. Bookings are made via my DM who checks whether anyone else has already booked it. DH and I were there for a month last summer and DH’s parents came over from Canada to join us.

That's great @Parker231 but what's that got to do with anything? It's not relevant to this discussion is it?

What's the comparison with op's situation if your Mum has inherited a maintenance fund and doesn't have any expenses to pay out of her own pocket?

This is one of the most entitled, rude cf threads I've ever read.

Cop on op.

Absolutely shocked you're quibbling about 25 quid per night. You should be ashamed.

Personally, I think it’s quite odd to charge your own children a specific amount per night. It’s as though it’s a business deal. I understand you and your husband offering a contribution as a nice gesture, but I do find it a bit too formal for a parent-children relationship to set up a “rule” kinda thing.

🥱

@IamKlaus

im good thanks
just mildly exasperated by the few posters on here like yourself who are so entitled that they think their parents should fund their holidays forever more and are outraged when asked to make a contribution cos you know “I’m faaaaaamily!!” 😩 waaah

@Parker231

and??

lol

You stayed twice last year, did he ask for anything then?

Also you paid for the tablet for him, have you asked for the money back, or reminded him to pay at all?

The reason I ask is it’s possible he feels taken advantage of, or likes been put out maybe. Maybe he thinks you’re cheeky for expecting everything free, but offering nothing in return.

My in laws let us stay in their home abroad, never charge us, but I always buy flowers and a bottle of wine to say thank you. Very small token but at least they know we’re grateful. Did you show your appreciation in some way when you stayed last year?

It’s not even about the money, just the principle, I find quite peculiar, an X amount per night. It’d be better if his dad just said, just contribute however much you like etc - than it being this formal.

It's very kind of your DM and her sisters to allow you to use it for a month last summer and to allow your DH's parents to visit as well.

I hope you showed your appreciation?

25 a night is good value. There are people renting their caravans out for 500 a week!

Just because you're family doesn't mean you're entitled to free holidays whenever you fancy.

Ah, so you DON'T understand the discussion, or the nature of my comment. As suspected.

@IamKlaus

please do explain as I am clearly thick and do not understand your highly complex and layered comment

@reddragon7 don't think the OP did offer any contribution. Maybe the in-laws are fed up having to pay for everything and never being offered any contribution even a token one

I Don't bother asking them. I once gave my daughter spending money and they insisted she paid for KFC for everyone. I'd already paid for the event tickets and train fares

Yes, it's odd, and people aren't understanding the issue at all.

If you rent out your caravan for 500 quid a week and you let your son have it for 250, that is kind and generous and they are getting a great deal and should be thankful.
If you don't rent out your caravan and it would just be sitting there empty, and you charge your son 250, that's not kind and generous, its fucking WEIRD.

Its like, if I buy a car that I only use on weekends, so it sits on my drive all week, fine. If I lend it to my kid on Wednesdays and Thursdays and charged them a fee as well as expecting them to pay their own petrol, would anyone here think that was kind and generous? Of course not!

People are so addled about this stuff.

I can see your point that he should perhaps have mentioned this before you went. But in no time since the 1950s is £25 a night for a whole caravan excessive! Just chalk it up to experience and don’t go back if you feel that strongly!

Well lucky you.

It's a total bargain!

In laws think anyone who orders more than a happy meal is greedy so that'd suit them 🤣

If they are also staying there when you use the caravan it would seem a little odd paying if it's about visiting family.

But if it is just your family staying there then it's a bargain holiday.

You could try charging them when they come over to your house! £10 for dinner only (plus tip), and £20 cleaning fee if they stay over.

That’s terrible.

You might as well have the day out with the kids yourself instead of giving PIL money to take DC on a day out.

Next time PIL ask to take out DC out, tell them that money is tight so they can take DC out but will have to cover the DC’s tickets and food themselves.