How much should I pay in return for a lift?
Posted by spitzzer1@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 30 comments
Hi all! Just wondering what is a suitable amount of money to pay back for being given a lift. I had a mate stay with me as my family were away but suddenly had to take my dog to the vets. It was about a 20 minute drive there and back along side being parked up for around an hour while we waited for the results from the visit. I bought them a meal deal and takeaway when we got home but want to pay them back for the petrol used as a thanks which they insist I don’t have to do but without them I would’ve been stuck as I don’t drive myself.
SpectreSingh89@reddit
Meal deal!? Honestly probably made up for fuel costs.
If u insist, find out total miles from home to the vet then divide it by 2 to get half, pay that much in cash.
AltruisticFox8763@reddit
Honestly, the meal deal and a takeaway covers the financial cost, the inconvenience AND shows your gratitude. I’d be so happy if a friend or family member did that to me.
I hope your dog is okay ♥️
ross-dirext-words137@reddit
This is now more you being available for them when they have some sort of emergency now
twonaq@reddit
The take away and the meal deal is all you needed to do. Friends help each other out. One day they’ll need your help…
Deep_Pepper_5405@reddit
Sounds like you already paid back by getting a takeaway. It was 20min drive and a favour to a friend. That is what friends do.
Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit
True, a takeaway now is easily £10 so that should cover it
Deep_Pepper_5405@reddit
If I get a takeaway for under £15pp, I'm happy.
TechJoe90@reddit
Yeah easily £10 plus. I mean I like proper chip shops. A unbattered jumbo sausage and chips comes to £6 for medium chips. But a piece of cod your looking at £12 just for a medium piece. Gone up a lot since I worked at the local chippy.
heyitsed2@reddit
I wouldn't want more in that scenario, a friend in need is a friend indeed and all that. If you insist, some beers or a bottle of plonk or something like that they might like.
OkPea5819@reddit
Personally I would find anything monetary to be insulting.
A bottle of wine or box of beers?
Scared_Following_347@reddit
Why insulting? Unnecessary but surely not insulting?
MidnightPractical727@reddit
I get it, you've not been their taxi driver, you're their mate
Scared_Following_347@reddit
Why is being a taxi driver insulting?
Not really serious just being argumentative 😂
MidnightPractical727@reddit
Hahah being any task based job rather than a friend is insulting. You don't console your friend when she's sad because you're a psychologist, you do it because she's your friend. The friend role has multiple tasks within it, you give and take. Monetarily rewarding a task in my mind is saying you wouldn't do it for your friend in return.
Glorinsson@reddit
I wouldn’t want anything for helping a friend out like that, the meal is a nice extra.
You would help them out in return if you could
Sirlacker@reddit
I'd slap that money right out of your hand.
Don't insult your friendship like it's transactional. Today you need help, tomorrow me.
Friends help friends and require nothing. If they really needed the money for petrol they'd have asked already.
No_Actuary9100@reddit
20 min return trip ? Probably £2 in fuel.
I’d just get them a bottle of beer or something
Aggravating_Cloud657@reddit
As a driver I'd not expect or want anything
WGD23@reddit
Meal day and takeaway is ample in this example, but the knowledge that they can call on you for a favour is equally valid.
Certain-Donut-9175@reddit
Concur with everyone else, this is what friends are for and I'm sure your mate didn't mind doing it for no recompense. The takeaway was a nice gesture to show gratitude, but 20 mins in petrol is nothing, a couple of quid maybe, nothing amongst friends.
VerbingNoun413@reddit
You've asked, they've declined. The dance of politeness is concluded.
Silent_Doubt3672@reddit
Nah, you're good 😊
Me and my friends do this, if i'm driving us all there they pay for snacks. I drove me and my friend to london and back couple weeks ago from manchester because we were going to a concert i did the driving she loaded us with snacks its all good
Absolutely nothing is expected for driving places for them in an emergency. Appreciated sure but not necessary in that situation.
AncientImprovement56@reddit
They might have used £5 worth of petrol - so easily the kind of amount a friend will consider nothing to a friend (especially given you spent easily more on food for them)
Careless-Giraffe-623@reddit
What everyone else said, a takeway and a meal deal is fine, your friend even said as much.
r33c31991@reddit
I personally don't expect anything for helping someone out.. especially for urgent matters. The meal deal and takeaway is more than enough (in my opinion)
eggpotion@reddit
I think the meal deal was fine
Witty_Professional_2@reddit
A takeaway and meal deal easily covers it. If I drove I wouldn't expect nor want anything but certainly no more than what you've already done.
Strangely__Brown@reddit
Nothing.
If it was a problem they wouldn't have offered and if it was really a problem they'll say no the next time you ask.
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
Sounds like you paid then more than the petrol was worth, given the cost of takeaways these days...
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