How do you share camping expenses?

[clikrf8]

My husband and I invited my sister to go on a 2-3 week camping trip with us. We have been to many of the places she and I planned to visit but I thought it would help her readjust to being back home in the PNW. Well, I was distracted about water issues and running a small business so shined on her proposals. Besides, she yells at me and I take the path of least resistance.

Somehow, I agreed to have us pay for a site and she would pay the extra car fee. Yeah, I know, stupid. Her reasoning was that we have a full-sized truck and a pop up truck camper and she has a small SUV plus tent. Essentially, we have a similar footprint. I should have nipped that proposal right away but, I was distracted.

Toward the end of the trip, I tallied up the costs and whoa, there, we were paying 3 times as much. When I mentioned this to her, she blew up and threw money at me. She has been cold and distant since.

My take is that you pay for the site, and it is not based on the size of your RV. If a class A or a 5er or trailer can occupy a standard site (no hookups), they pay the same as anyone else. I have never really thought about the fair or unfair aspects. We are all camping no matter the size or type of RV.

Needless to say, there will be no more camping trips with her. I have learned to say no, now, more often than I used to.

What do you all do when faced with this situation?

[Airdaile]

jfkmk wrote:
you need Dr. Phil, not RV.net.

+1 on this. You invited her.

[Tyler0215]

Sounds like a no win situation with sis. Next time , if there is one, you pay your way, she pays hers.

[TenOC]

On my last shared trip I paid for the gas and campsite because I would have that cost anyway. My guest paid for and cook all the food. Very happy even if my cost was much more.

[Lantley]

Money isn't everything. Go and enjoy each others company. It's not about the money or dividing things equally!
It's obvious some value money more than there friendships.

[jfkmk]

you need Dr. Phil, not RV.net.

[midnightsadie]

call dear ABBY , just pay it and shut up. its only money ,not life or death.

[Tvov]

If we invite someone NEW to camping for a night or two, we pay for everything. If it is going to be for longer, we explain to the newbie how campgrounds work and the costs. We usually just split the costs in half - easier to figure out. Meals we plan out in advance - so far everyone we've camped with jumps in and offers to pay / provide an equal amount of meals.

We used to camp with 3 other families, and I would pull my hair out - because they were very much into "bring whatever, whenever". They wouldn't have set times for meals, and you never knew what was for dinner, or if you would have multiples of the same food. We always had a blast with the group camping, but I am a "planner", and would get a bit frustrated with the lack of meal planning.

[tragusa3]

Whichever path you decide, decide up front. If that is too awkward, then pay for it all.

We have done it all sorts of ways, whatever comes natural. Sometimes our tenting friends get their own site, other times they share our site. When sharing our site, they offered to pay half and we accepted. I don't think I would have asked.

We have always just split meal duty, each taking half of the shopping and cooking responsibility. Seems to work.

[wildtoad]

Now you have an experience to learn from. Get all expense issues set before you go or don’t go.

[riven1950]

A fishing buddy has joined us in the Keys for a week or two for the past two winters. He pays for his flight and we pick him up at Key West. He stays in our TT on a site that is about 3000.00 for a month. I haul his fishing kayak and gear from NC to the Keys. He buys some food and takes us out to eat while he is there. My wife and I enjoy his company and visa versa. Never thought about tallying up how much he owes me for the site etc.

[CincyGus]

I only camp with a couple situations:

My Daughter and her friends. I pay for site, food. They pay for extra curricular events like boat rental, horseback riding, fishing licenses, etc. that they may decide to do or not do.

A large group of friends (About 10-15 most years) that we have had a yearly campout for about 35 years now. one person goes shopping for all main meals. Everyone brings their own drinks and snacks. We total all expenses except the drinks and snacks (Site fees, Ice, Food, firewood, etc) and add up how many days each person has been there as some come in on Thursday and some Friday. Total them up and we have how many Mandays (1 day x 1 person) If it's 45 man-days, we divide the total amount by that number and then each person pays that times the number of days they were there.

Lastly is if I invite someone to go camping with me, they get the same treatment my daughter and her friends do. I pay for everything I normally would, they pay for extra's. I invited them, I plan on feeding them unless they decide to bring their own stuff and then we can cook together or they can do their thing, whichever they prefer.
If they get their own site, then their on their own other than welcome to share in our meals and campfires free of charge.

[MURPHY55347]

It always seems that it's money that ruins relationships. Watch Judge Judy. If you asked her to come along and you did not specify up front who was paying for what then I would have just paid for her. We're not talking huge sums of cash here. Sorry but I agree...too many excuses.

[toedtoes]

How I handle costs:

1. If I invite someone to join me on my trip, and they can fit (and be allowed) in my site, then I just have them pay the extra car fee. I'm going to pay for the site anyway for me to use, so I'm not going to expect them to pay that. Instead, I just expect them to pay the extra amount that I wouldn't be charged for if they didn't come.

2. If they need a separate site, then they pay their own way.

3. If they don't have their own cooking/food storage setup, then I plan food accordingly with their input and suggest things for them to bring (considering their ability to carry/store food).

4. If they have their own kitchen setup, then they bring their own, but as I usually make more than I need, I will offer to share my dinner.

Other than that, I don't worry about the expenses. But I suspect that is because I don't invite people with whom I have issues.

[clikrf8]

Wow, some of you are awfully judgmental. I am talking to you bob. Yeah, we are explorers, not campers nor travelers. I knew there was a reason I do not frequent this site much. Others have had similar experiences here. Mods, please delete.

[MitchF150]

I've only camped with family a couple of times and while it was a good time, we don't do it often, as scheduling seems to always be an issue and just plain not really wanting to! 😉

I paid for the site and they paid for the extra vehicle fee. I was going to be there anyway and they slept in the tent part of the same site.

Food wise, it was a 'bring what you want to eat' and kinda made it a buffet out of it for breakfast and dinner. Lunch was on your own.

As far as what we all did, we went on the same 'excursions' as such, but if anyone wanted to do something the other didn't, then we just went our own way and met up later at some point.

Same deal when camping with friends, except they usually want their own site anyway, so no big deal.

Hope you can mend the fence as such with your sister at some point.

Mitch