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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taxi costs split - who should pay

158 replies

Airspice · 06/02/2025 17:46

Just wondering if I’m being an arse for thinking this so would like opinions!

Going on holiday soon with a good friend and my two teens (ds14, dd16) 2 week package longhaul, can’t wait.

We were discussing costs/kitty etc the other day and she said that we’d need to get taxis round and about quite a bit (she’s been several times before so knows the score) and we can just split the cost 4 ways and I pay 3 lots and she’ll pay 1. I was a bit surprised, I fully expect when we go for dinner, trips etc to pay for me and the kids but for taxis I would have just split it between me and her, if it was her with the kids I would never have suggested a 4 way split for taxis.

YABU - there’s 4 of you, so split 4 ways, she shouldn’t have to pay for your kids taxi
YANBU - that’s tight, it should just be split between the adults

OP posts:
NovemberMorn · 06/02/2025 19:02

Viviennemary · 06/02/2025 18:45

Maybe compromise and you pay two-thirds.

Why?

Sittingonthefence83 · 06/02/2025 19:02

I think she is being very unfair. Maybe ask her if the taxis charge per person? Say you assumed you two would just cover the cost of the taxi when she confirms that they wouldn't charge per person. Also reiterate that you of course will cover their food and trips. Maybe joke about how the teens will have to spend their pocket money on their share of the taxi!! See what she says to that?

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/02/2025 19:03

50/50, I have never heard of taxis charging per person. It is per journey.

Your kids being in the taxi isn't costing her any more than just you being in the taxi.

Call her bluff 'oh its a total riot us lot getting in a cab, we'll get our own cab and you get a separate one, be much nicer for you...' .

Ihopeyouhavent · 06/02/2025 19:03

Very awkward. I agree should be 50/50 and id be really worried about bill splitting with her on the holiday.

ServantsGonnaServe · 06/02/2025 19:03

75/25 is fair - you (3) and her (1) are all benefitting from the taxi, why would she pay half? Basically paying for 1 of your kids.

mrsm43s · 06/02/2025 19:04

theotherplace · 06/02/2025 18:57

But the cost would be the same whatever? Friend is being tight

Show quote history

The cost would be the same for OP and her 2 kids, so the friend can jump in for free, no?

Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 19:04

CatherinedeBourgh · 06/02/2025 18:59

Do people really nickel and dime so much with good friends?

I've just come back from holiday with friends and my dc. I paid for everything I would have paid for anyway with my dc, so if I would have taken a taxi with them I did not expect them to chip in. I paid for almost all the meals out too, as my dc eat more than all the adults combined, but it would have been OK to split those per person I guess.

OP you won't be out of pocket if you pay most of the taxi, if your friend wasn't there you'd have to pay it all. Your friend is already making concessions by going with your dc in tow, do you really want to be so stingy?

She’s not making concessions as such as she’s been on at me and the kids (teens) to join her on one of these trips for years 😄 but I get your point

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 06/02/2025 19:05

(I don't actually think that, obviously, but it's the logic that's being used in rdvers)

StormingNorman · 06/02/2025 19:07

I would just split all costs 75% you and 25% friend.

ViolinsPlayGentlyOn · 06/02/2025 19:09

I’d split taxi costs 50/50 in those circumstances, but would let my friend have the “best” seat (if there is one!) rather than being squashed in with the teens.

ValentineValentineV · 06/02/2025 19:12

I think 75/25% is fair.

TheGoogleMum · 06/02/2025 19:13

I think she is being a bit cheeky, but it probably isn't worth arguing over?

tropicalroses · 06/02/2025 19:18

If it was 4 adults this wouldnt be a debate. You'd each pay 25%, I don't see why because its kids they don't count? I think you get a skewed view on mumsnet where most people are parents, so would be happy for other people on the trip to subsidise the kids

Fuzziduck · 06/02/2025 19:18

I vote for saying it'll be a bit crammed, so why don't me and the kids just get our own.

Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 19:18

TheGoogleMum · 06/02/2025 19:13

I think she is being a bit cheeky, but it probably isn't worth arguing over?

Yeah and she’s not the kind of person you’d get on the wrong side of! Don’t get me wrong, she’s a wonderful friend of 30 years but she’s very blunt and outspoken, doesn’t suffer fools kind of gal!

OP posts:
Snowmanscarf · 06/02/2025 19:22

Greenbottle123 · 06/02/2025 18:30

50/50 because she’s incur the same cost if it was just the two of you

Don’t really see this logic.

if friend was on holiday by herself, she would pay 100% of costs , so maybe she should pay this, and op and teens go free.

Or maybe op should pay 100% of taxi fare, because if friend wasn’t going, she’d have to pay for the whole taxi.

If it were just op and friend, then it would be 50:50.

However, there’s four people in the taxi, so costs should be split four ways. .

Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 19:22

Fuzziduck · 06/02/2025 19:18

I vote for saying it'll be a bit crammed, so why don't me and the kids just get our own.

I like your thinking!

OP posts:
Original poster
Airspice · 06/02/2025 19:23

tropicalroses · 06/02/2025 19:18

If it was 4 adults this wouldnt be a debate. You'd each pay 25%, I don't see why because its kids they don't count? I think you get a skewed view on mumsnet where most people are parents, so would be happy for other people on the trip to subsidise the kids

I think it’s because if it was her with the kids I’d split 50/50 so I was surprised when she suggested it. I did go on holiday with her and her dd11 years ago, before mine were born, we didn’t get taxis anywhere but I know without a doubt I wouldn’t have expected her to pay 2 thirds and me a third if we had, but I wasn’t sure if my thinking was abnormal!

OP posts:
Eldermilleniallyogi · 06/02/2025 19:24

ServantsGonnaServe · 06/02/2025 19:03

75/25 is fair - you (3) and her (1) are all benefitting from the taxi, why would she pay half? Basically paying for 1 of your kids.

But she isn't because the cost would be the same as if it were just her and OP

Amba1998 · 06/02/2025 19:25

Taxi would be same cost if it was just you and her.

restaurant bill would be cheaper if just you and her

you pay for their food as suggest but taxi is split 50/50

arcticpandas · 06/02/2025 19:28

YANBU. Ofcourse you should pay for your DC meal accommodation etc but the taxi should be Split btw adults since there is no extra cost included for your dc. If I were you I would say that you prefer taking a taxi with your DC so you could all be in the back and the cost will be practically the same for you.

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 06/02/2025 19:32

tropicalroses · 06/02/2025 19:18

If it was 4 adults this wouldnt be a debate. You'd each pay 25%, I don't see why because its kids they don't count? I think you get a skewed view on mumsnet where most people are parents, so would be happy for other people on the trip to subsidise the kids

Exactly this. OP, is there any reason you expect your friend to voulunteer to subsidise your family? Other than 'it's not what I expected'?

arcticpandas · 06/02/2025 19:33

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 06/02/2025 19:32

Exactly this. OP, is there any reason you expect your friend to voulunteer to subsidise your family? Other than 'it's not what I expected'?

Show quote history

Seriously ? Subsidise for sharing a cab btw adults? Some people are so mean it hurts.

2thumbs · 06/02/2025 19:34

Since the accommodation and dining is being split 75:25 (which makes sense), it follows that taxis would be split in the same way

ViolinsPlayGentlyOn · 06/02/2025 19:35

tropicalroses · 06/02/2025 19:18

If it was 4 adults this wouldnt be a debate. You'd each pay 25%, I don't see why because its kids they don't count? I think you get a skewed view on mumsnet where most people are parents, so would be happy for other people on the trip to subsidise the kids

For me it’s not that kids don’t count, I’d just want to split the taxi by party (as otherwise each party would be getting their own taxi). So if there were 3 adults sharing, but two were a couple and one was a single I’d also split 50/50.