How to get out of being a free taxi for your Mam?

Question

I'm 18 years old, have recently bought a semi expensive car for someone my age, and my Mam expects lifts everywhere if I'm not busy. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind giving lifts, especially to my Mam, but when I rack up an extra 100+ miles a month just driving her to pointless places, it's annoying.

On top of this, she complains about my driving, and the amount of mileage I'm racking up means I'll be wasting money; yet she's adding to this problem massively (another question maybe).

How can I get out of doing so many free trips for her, or potentially getting some money for it because I can't afford the petrol money and she's complaining about my savings?

Edit

Although we live in the same house:

1. I've never been given a lift from my parents unless they wanted me to be somewhere I didn't. I was forced to get public transport or not go.
2. I pay her over 500 a month for board.
3. I've been earning since I was 14 doing jobs on the street.
4. I bought, and fuel the car with my own money.
5. My Mam can drive but she no longer has a car because she couldn't afford it (so she should understand the costs).

Answer 1

When being offered a lift by someone with their own car, it's easy for some people to forget that it still costs money, it's just that the driver pays these costs.

Preferably not during a time she is asking for a lift, have a chat with your mother about petrol costs, how you're looking to save money and - where possible - you yourself are trying to cut down on the number of 'pointless' drives (not just those for your mother) as well. She would surely appreciate efforts on your part to save money. Rather than asking your mother for money - which could be a stretch if you're living together and have a salary - this may instead encourage her to ask for lifts less frequently.

Here in the UK and many other countries, it would be considered extremely rude to criticise someone's driving while you're in the passenger seat, unless they do something really stupid like go at 60 in a 30 zone! Next time she complains, explain to her as calmly as possible that you're not doing anything wrong and antagonising you like that really discourages you from agreeing to these lifts. Assuming you're an adult at 18 in your country, talk it out as you would any other unfounded complaint from another adult.

Answer 2

I am well qualified to write this answer because it has been an established family task for me to drive my mother or father everywhere if they ask, for so many years, ever since I became a competent driver in 2003. Here in India it is a son's duty to drive his mother wherever she wants to go (but not a daughter's duty) so the cultural background is very relevant to this question.

Even in UK where you live, an Asian or Middle Eastern family may have different cultural expectations in this matter compared to a native British family, because in many Asian cultures (and other "traditional" societies) parents have the moral right to demand anything of their offspring, simply because of their massive contribution to making us what we are, though you can decide how true that is in your particular case.

The ideal interpersonal approach, if you have good and frank channels of communication with your mother, and especially if she is a reasonable and fair-minded person, is simply to tell her (when she is relaxed, and after you drove her somewhere, not before) that it is costing you money you can ill-afford and request her to suggest some solution. That puts the ball in her court and she can decide how she would like to compensate you for your expense, or what alternative she might select instead.

Things to be careful of, if you can have that discussion:

1. Make sure your mother is in a frame of mind to positively take this discussion.

2. Be sure not to put her on the defensive by accusing her of wasting your time or money. You should avoid any negative-sounding statements.

3. Emphasise that you are glad to help her by driving her anywhere but it is costing you, and that is why she finds you saving less money.

4. So how can you help me to help you, Mother?

If having such a clear discussion is not possible in your family then one remaining option is to assert yourself by driving her most times when she demands but sometimes avoiding it with whatever excuses you think will work in the short term. That demonstrates your general willingness to drive her around while asserting that you are your own person and she cannot take your availability or co-operation for granted. So she will have to be prepared with an alternative means of transport for that occasional situation, pay for it, and also, hopefully, begin to think about the cost of your driving her substantial distances for free.

The best thing to do after asserting yourself is to work out a system of recurrent reciprocal favors that will take your mother where she wants to go and make your time and expense worthwhile. For example, one of my young student friends age 20 routinely drives his father to work at a mobile phone company and reciprocally Father often gets him substantial employee-incentive discounts for data plans, freebies, etc. It could be anything... Maybe your parents could sponsor the next repair your car needs, or pick up the tab for your next educational expenditure? That's how my parents 'recognize' my services as a driver.

That sort of thing keeps the balance in the interaction and reminds your parents that you are now an adult willing to do them a useful chore to be reciprocated with certain benefits, rather than the obedient child of not-so-distant memory. Meanwhile you can consider that you are substantially working off your "unrepayable debt of gratitude to your parents", from the Asian perspective.

Answer 3

There's two elements here, the criticism of your driving and the giving of lifts.

As far as the criticism goes this is all too common sadly when it comes to parents being driven by their children and assuming the complaints are unfounded then this is absolutely something you can (and should) push back on.

The giving of lifts however, I think you need to think of it like this:

• you get cheap rent, including bills and food by living at home (if this is less then about £1k a month you're probably doing quite well out of that deal) and I imagine before you were earning you probably didn't pay anything. The full costs of living away from home can be very high - and if you didn't have the subsidised costs of living at home would you even be able to afford the car you have in the first place?

• I imagine before you could drive your parent(s) (probably your dad since if your mum drove she probably wouldn't need lifts now) were doing a fair bit of driving you around to "pointless places"

And you're quibbling over 100 miles a month extra driving and a bit of your time? Seriously?

Honestly I think you need to grow up rather a lot and realise that it's not unreasonable for a parent to expect an adult child (whom they are still assisting) to assist back in the ways that they can, like giving lifts.

Answer 4

You need to work in some give-and-take.

Perhaps your mother wants to show off a little - either about the car itself, or more likely, about you having that car (and driving her around).

If it's about the novelty of you having a car and driving her around, this will likely pass. This might be a small luxury she indulges in just to enjoy the feel of moving through traffic without being the one at the wheel. Give it a few more weeks and see how it goes. After that, it might be that she likes the functionality or ride of your car - perhaps it has a big boot for groceries. If she is covered by your insurance and can drive, try this:

Here are the keys, Mum. I don't need the car until 5pm. Would you mind filling it up for me on the way back?

100 miles per month works out to about 3 to 4 miles per day on average. If we take petrol at 150p/L and 6 miles/L, that 100 miles works out to about £25 per month if I got my sums right. Topping up the tank a couple of times each month should just about cover that. If the tank is nearly empty, a single tank would likely cover a couple of months' worth of driving.

Meanwhile, it might be nice to indulge your mother from time to time. If you initiate some dialogue as you drive, the conversation might default less to complaints about your driving.

As AndreiROM's comment notes, this addresses "having her impose on the OP's time, the bickering about his driving, as well as maybe getting some money back on the gas used".

If this doesn't go far enough, or if you need to give up your car often enough that the car becomes a communal vehicle - and if you want to address it at a more fundamental issue, try this:

Mum, can we have a discussion about the car? ...

I'm quite happy for you to use the car when you need to, but it was rather a large purchase and I'm losing the sense of ownership of the car while still paying for insurance and fuel and so on - it's starting to feel like a communal vehicle but no one else is chipping in. I'm also struggling to make decent headway on my savings. Would it be okay if we went easy on the car for a bit?

This brings up the topic in a respectful manner while putting the spotlight on the financial aspects.

On the topic of "driving her to pointless places", consider something like this:

I don't mind driving you to places when you need a lift. It's the round trips to nowhere that puzzle me. Instead of all these 10 minute drives everyday, why don't we drive to the park once a month for a family picnic?

The intention here is to change the negative issue of "driving to pointless places" to something that (hopefully) your mother and you - and perhaps others in the family - can look forward to, while reducing total unnecessary mileage.

Answer 5

As it is your mam with whom you still live, maybe you should first consider what she does for you. I'm trying not to make this answer cross over into advice on how to treat your parent, but there is no way to address the question of how to approach this subject interpersonally without first considering your position.

So you pay board - you don't state the currency so I can't say if "500" is a lot, or not very much. But remember that living with parents is not really comparable to having your own place. Parents often do things like laundry / cooking and buy your food for the board you pay, which you don't get living alone! Consider whether you think you are getting a good deal or not before you bring up the expense.

If you do feel that you are paying your way, and that the expense you are incurring from driving her around is unreasonable, you could tackle it from a cost perspective. Perhaps say:

Mam, you know I pay my way while I'm living with you. The car journeys I do for you are costing me a bit. Could we talk about how to cover for that?

BUT if the issue is that want to cut down on the trips and she agrees to cover the costs you won't get your time back. Are you studying? Or working? You could address it from a time perspective, perhaps say you are exhausted from work, or you are busy studying, whatever.

Remember that living with your family is not a business arrangement. She may not see it the way you do. She may just view this as paying her back for all the things she did for you as a child (which I appreciate didn't include driving you around). This discussion could hurt her feelings, so be prepared for that.

Answer 6

Putting this in perspective. If you get 20 mpg, drive 100, and gas is 6/gal that is about 30 / month. If you factor in wear and tear then like 60 / month. Not much but it does add up. There is also your time.

You mentioned she has a bus pass. I get your mom gets upset but tell her petrol is expensive and I have to drive both ways. It is more economical for her to take the bus. I would try and have a conversation with her the petrol is a drain on your savings and you want to keep miles off your car. I think you would have an easier time giving less rides than charge. Maybe say:

Mom that is on the bus route. It is more economical for you to take the bus.

If the weather is bad or she is grocery shopping then I get why she would need a ride rather than take the bus. Maybe ask her if she could limit to 1 per week and she can prioritize which is most important to her. If the average round trip is 10 miles then she is doing like 10 trips a month now.

In the end it is your Mam so go soft and be prepared to lose.

Answer 7

Say:

No! I'm not driving you.

Your not her personal taxi. She has no saying over what you do.

You're an adult, you make your own choices. I understand it is difficult, because you're still very young. And your mom probably still sees you as a kid. At some point she will have to realize that you have your own life with your own responsibilities.

I also think it is useful to give a reason since she is likely going to ask why.

"No, I can't drive you. It is too expensive."

"No, I can't drive you. I am too busy this week."

This will have to make her look for alternatives.

Answer 8

Just tell her the truth being polite. Arguments:

• It takes you too much time
• You have many other priorities
• You can't assume the costs and consequences
• You may understand, or not, her necessity to meet you, but it does not means you don't have other preferences.

Just think, would you prefer to not have the car to avoid moving your mom?