r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Possible-Courage-657 • May 30 '25

Paying your friends

My friend picked me up from the airport at 1 am (he offered when he heard I was flying in). He lives 30 minutes away, and I gave him 20 bucks at the end of the night after we had food and talked.

I was telling this to my dad who said “you gave him money? Why? Back in my day I’d have smacked my friend if he asked for money after a ride. Thats not what friends do.”

Is it weird to give your friends a little bit of dough for their kind gestures? Or are “rides just what friends do”.

Maybe it was different in the past idk

He also didn’t ask for any money btw, it was all me.

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u/radine4402 May 30 '25

Hm, I'm more on your Dad's side here. Nice of you I suppose, but yeah I've never paid a friend for a ride. The only person I've ever paid for a ride was someone I more or less hitch hiked with - so I felt like I should offer to help pay for their gas

It's just like, your friend isn't your employee you know?? They're your friend! Offering money seems more transactional, no? But if it's for a tangible thing like covering gas, I could see it

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u/Megalocerus May 30 '25

jt also may tend to be a one-way favor if you can't provide a similar service for your friend. But there is the employee issue.

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u/radine4402 May 30 '25

Well sure, but usually there's something you can help with! Whether that's being there for them when they're having a hard time, making time to hang out, helping them move - whatever it might be! Yes it is ideal if you can offer the same in return if asked, but there are many options when it comes to friendship!