Guests in your home?

[pbee]

Hi people,looking for some guidance. . This is the problem I must resolve ,I have two friends coming to stay at my place for a month in December. I know they will want to make a contribution ££££££ to the household, as is good manners and not unusual. If I was in a position not to accept any offers, obviously no problem. This is not the case,however I do not want any money from them personally,but it would be nice if they were to offer some money for their stay.How much money would be acceptable? Considering their main meals would be bought in town.I am just thinking of tea coffee milk,fruit rice meals eg cow pat,snacks basically.Washing ironing,hot showers. I figured 2000bht per week would be ok,what do you think? perhaps 1500bht,I dont know. Hotel prices are approx 350-500bht per day,but this is a family house. I say again I do not want to profit from my friends,but they want to pay something. I am not a skinflint,but an extra 2 grown men will make an impact on a household budget over 30days. I want them to treat the house as their own and feel free to eat and do as they please. I wait on helpful replies,am over in 25days,but whose counting

[Lourens]

I had friends stay over at my house for a week or two at a time as well. I did not want nor ask for any compensation expecting the same in return if I ever were to visit them in their home countries. The impact that they had on my budget was almost non-significant as far as food and washing was concerned. Four can eat as cheaply as three (just add more water to the soup  ) and to do an extra load of washing takes no effort at all. About the only difference that I noticed was in the electricity bill because they used an extra Aircon unit in the bedroom. The advantage was that we went out to dinner or drinks more often than usual and they always insisted on paying the bill there. Also, if we traveled anywhere (Panom Rung and such like) they always paid for the fuel without my asking. These were things I would not normally do with my family. I'm not on holiday in Thailand - I live here and they're my friends came to visit.

Now, if it were complete strangers looking for holiday accomodation, I would milk them for all it's worth  .

I hope this helps to make up your mind.

[dave the dude]

I had friends stay over at my house for a week or two at a time as well. I did not want nor ask for any compensation expecting the same in return if I ever were to visit them in their home countries. The impact that they had on my budget was almost non-significant as far as food and washing was concerned. Four can eat as cheaply as three (just add more water to the soup  ) and to do an extra load of washing takes no effort at all. About the only difference that I noticed was in the electricity bill because they used an extra Aircon unit in the bedroom. The advantage was that we went out to dinner or drinks more often than usual and they always insisted on paying the bill there. Also, if we traveled anywhere (Panom Rung and such like) they always paid for the fuel without my asking. These were things I would not normally do with my family. I'm not on holiday in Thailand - I live here and they're my friends came to visit.

Now, if it were complete strangers looking for holiday accomodation, I would milk them for all it's worth  .

I hope this helps to make up your mind.

Hi PB

I'm with Lourens 100%.
I have done exactly the same, in other words my guests always offer to pay petrol/meals out and that tends to cover additional costs at home. AC is the biggy with us, I found.
This entirely depends on your guests and how much money/generosity they have(or havn't) got.

Good luck

Dave

[Khun Tony]

Interesting problem, particularly if the added cost of feeding and accommodating two extra people will test your budge.   I agree with both Lourens and Dave, however if having them stay with you will prove difficult financially, then I'm sure if they are worth their salt they will offer to pay something for putting them up.  Leave what they pay up to them.  Generally most people would offer more than what you would ask for and you could always say the offer being made was too much, on the other hand if it's not enough, at least you have learnt that your friends are miserly.  Of course, if you already know they are miserly then yeah 1500 baht sounds reasonable, given your main cost will be electricity. 

Good luck

[bkkstan]

If they were my friends and I had money issues,I would simply explain my situation to them.Friends always work things out fairly!