<p>I'm in a nursing program, and it requires us to go to the hospital 4 days/week for class and clinicals. I don't drive, so I'm going to have to rely on another girl in the program. My mom thinks that I should pay for her parking (around $100) even though this girl would have a car on campus and would be going to the hospital daily regardless of whether or not she's taking me. </p>
<p>Does that (the $100) sound reasonable?</p>
<p>I think you should help with gas rather than parking. Granted, that could mean paying the same amount, but the fact remains that the only thing you’re really costing her is the gas to pick you up. Really depends on where you live, how far out of her way she goes to get you, how long you’re carpooling together, and how far you two drive to figure out that amount, but $100 may cover it.</p>
<p>We both live on campus (although at opposite ends – but our campus is tiny). We’ll probably meet somewhere in the middle anyway. The drive to the hospital is, according to Mapquest, just under 4.5 miles (so lets say it’s 9 miles/day, 4 days a week…so 36 miles a week). Her car gets at least 20MPG I’m sure, so lets say it’s 20. I would be using 2 gallons…and each gallon costs about $3…so that’s $6/week for 15 weeks which is $90.</p>
<p>Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good amount, and it makes sense with your calculations. I think that should be fair enough to give her.</p>
<p>Even if it’s not costing her any money to transport you, I’d give her the money anyway, as a gesture of gratitude.</p>
<p>In your calculation, you worked it out to be $90.</p>
<p>Whenever I’ve been the driver in this kind of situation (where I’d be going there anyway), I’ve always asked/expected half the cost of gas. (while it doesn’t cost her anything, she certainly doesn’t have an obligation to carpool with you, since it means her schedule is now dictated by your schedule if you ever run late).</p>
<p>So if I was you, I’d offer to give her $50 (slightly more than half, since it would be a bit odd to offer $45) for the semester/15 weeks. Or just go with what your mom said.</p>
<p>Go with what your mom said. It’s better to be generous when someone is doing you a favor than to nitpick about the costs. She has to leave a bit earlier to pick you up, so you are inconveniencing her. Giving her $100 is a good way of expressing appreciation and covering her costs.</p>
<p>If you want to continue benefitting f rom this carpool, you better make it mutually bebeficial, and as even as possible. This includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Gas</li>
<li>Parking</li>
<li>Wear and Tear (usually 10c/mi on 5yo cars)</li>
<li>Time/effor spent driving (I base this on minimum wage, ~$8/hr here in CA)</li>
<li>Maybe even insurance for your portion of miles</li>
</ul>
<p>Add up the costs, split it in half, and pay your half. It sounds expensive, but think about the other person and what she has to pay.</p>
<p>Taking excelblue’s example a bit further, if you want to use another method, use the standard IRS business mileage deduction, which is based on wear and tear, gas, insurance etc. It was $.55 for tax year to 2009, and will be $.50 for tax year 2010. Using your calculations for mileage and number of trips, it’s $270. Then I suggest halving it, paying her $135, as she would be doing the same mileage anyway without a carpooler.</p>
<p>It’s $ 9 a week. Pay her weekly, or you might consider doing 5 payments of about $27 if she’s agreeable.</p>
<p>Just another way of looking at it.</p>