Taxi costs split - who should pay

[Airspice]

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

Before you get in the taxi ask if there’s a difference between 4 people or it’s just a general fare. If it’s just a straight up fare, she pays half

* "*it’s just not how I would split taxi costs if kids were involved "

Why not? Why do parents' minds immediately gravitate toward the notions that will get others to subsidize them??

I notice it's never, ever "oh, I'd be paying to transport me and the kids anyway, so I might as well let dear old Jane ride along free of charge."

She's one of four people on the holiday. Why on earth would she be paying more than 25 percent? She's hardly getting away with anything.

I was saying this as if I was the single person travelling with a friend with kids so I’m saying I would subsidise them in that case, so as a parent my mind is not simply ‘gravitating towards the notion that others will subsidise me’ as I would do it if the roles were reversed. I think you have mistakenly assumed I am a tight arse on the make, expecting others to pay for my kids which really really wasn’t the point of my original post at all!

And I have on a number of occasions had days out etc with a friend and my kids and when they’ve offered petrol money I HAVE said ‘oh don’t be daft’!

But that's your choice to make.

The actual fair split is 3:1. Your friend could offer to pay more to subsidise you and your children if she wanted, but that is her choice to make. It's not reasonable for you to assume or expect that she will pay part of your costs.

I don’t assume or expect her to pay part of my costs, people really are misreading the whole point of this post. Because it isn’t how I personally would split taxi costs with children involved (whoever’s bloody children they are 😄) I was interested to see other’s views. Somehow this has made me some sort of leeching pariah to some!

I don't think you're a leeching pariah, and I think I would probably just split the costs if it was me, mostly because I can't imagine faffing around and doing the split on every taxi ride.

But your default assumption should be that you pay your share (75%). It's clear that it wasn't and your default assumption was that she would pay some of your costs by splitting the bill 50:50

I still think you're absolutely right OP

It’s not a big deal though is it? Essentially stressing over whether you cover an extra 25% of a taxi fare?

Some people have said 50 /50 , some have said 25 / 75

It’s a saving on 100% either way.

25% of a taxi fare is hardly enough for someone to be ‘on the make’ or enough for you to pull stunts like saying you’ll take your own taxi, as PP have suggested.

Relax and enjoy your hol

OP, I would go down the route of the taxi being too crammed and we might as well get our own.

I think you need to let her off on her own during this holiday.
I think this holiday is about her and not you.
You sound afraid of her.
Very bad idea going on holiday with someone you feel afaid to get on the wrong side of, much less inflict her on your children.

I would be telling her NOW that she can head off and do her own thing as you are on a tight budget and will be spending accordingly.

Wow, that's a lot to read into someone wanting to pay their fair share of the costs and not subsidise another family!

In a group setting like this, I would find it normal to share, not overly taking the piss.

1 adult will say lunch is on me today, another adult will say dinner is on me today etc. I would find this normal, most people would.

Then you get the types of people who order steak and wine when someone else is paying but will only order a side salad and a glass of water when they have to pay.

Someone who is already picking at taxi fares being split 4 ways when 2 passengers are teenagers strikes me as a tightwad already.

50/50 for the taxi and obviously for food and outings you will pay your share as you have the kids. Bit tight of her, are you going to raise it with her?

Haha yes then she will have to pay for her own cab! Serves her right

As in I’m the tightwad or she is? 😄

Your friend.

I'm sorry but I think this holiday is going be a big strain on your friendship.

I think both ways could be seen as fair, if I was the one with kids I'd be fine paying more, although if I were the single person I'd probably offer to pay half especially if I knew it would help the other person out. But it's quibbles like this that put me off going on holiday with friends - we only ever go on holiday as a family, and we have joint finances so splitting costs never comes up. It sounds like an extra headache on top of all the other stresses of travelling.

I agree that both could be seen as fair. What isn't fair is labelling someone as either a tightwad or entitled just because their default position is different to yours.

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

Black cabs charge extra based on number of people.

How much money are we talking about over the whole holiday? £50? £100? £200?

If it's not a lot then suck it up but if > £100 then I'd agree general principles for bill splitting and list taxi as one of them.

"Hey! Just wanted to clarify how we'll handle bill splitting on holiday. For activities/meals that are priced per person, I'll cover that cost for me and my kids. For any activities with a fixed cost (e.g., boat hire), we'll split the total 50/50. Hope that works for you! Let me know if you have any questions 😊"

It's unbelievable the way some people think, isn't it?
Maybe the kids could get part-time jobs as chimney sweeps so they can chip in.🙄

But your default assumption should be that you pay your share (75%). It's clear that it wasn't and your default assumption was that she would pay some of your costs by splitting the bill 50:50

Wellsaid, @mrsm43s

I still am baffled as to why anyone would think an unrelated adult should be financially disadvantaged in circumstances such as this. Why the belief that solo/childfree should pay more than their share "to be nice "???

I'd respond "hey, just a little correction to the math: I'll pay 25 percent of group costs since I'll be one of four persons on the holiday."

If it's that type of country taxis will be really cheap so not worth fighting over either way. Just make sure you get the proper rate, as a tourist you can end up paying hugely over if you don't keep your wits about you, that would worry me more than who pays what %.

"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: "

I haven't a single friend that I would describe as above.
I certainly wouldn't bring my children on holiday with someone described as above "wonderful" or not.