Hi all! A sitter asked us to help out with gas $ if we are open to it and specified that there wasn’t any pressure. Curious how much people think I should contribute? It’s a few day stay and they will be driving about 400 miles from another sit or vacation (unsure). I was thinking $50-60, but curious others’ thoughts. Thanks!
I think $50 is fair for a few days sit, to help with the sharp increase in gas recently.
We have sitters for 3.5 weeks now and gave $75 to help with gas money out and about.
Calculate the mileage and the current cost of gas and estimate their miles per gallon and come up with a number.
Hi @zzz 
We totally get that travel costs are tricky right now. That said, we’d never ask for a contribution towards getting to a sit, but the kind offer of a car or a full tank for local use during the stay feels like a fair middle ground.
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The sitter shouldn’t be asking in the first place, even though we are all aware of fuel and travel costs in the current climate.
The hosts offer is a kind gesture and not intended to cover the whole trip. My take on it anyway.
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Yes that was my understanding as well and I don’t think the sitter was even asking for the whole trip. Just a contribution for the unexpected and sharp increase.
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My thoughts are the same as @WeRPAWsome in that I would never ask for a contribution towards fuel costs to get to a sit. After all, sitters choose to apply for sits knowing what distance is involved. Yes, many of us are being impacted by rising fuel costs, both hosts and sitters, and need to think about this.
Providing a car with a full tank for their use while on your sit could be a nice gesture.
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Completely up to you but IMHO the remuneration door, in any form, shouldn’t be opened as it undermines the platform.
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A sitter asking for gas money is no different than asking for food money or money to help towards air cost. That is going against the structure of THS. Sitters sign up knowing what this platform is all about and agree with the terms. Asking for reimbursement to get to a sit is not right in my books. They chose to travel this way so they are responsible for costs. That being said I find it lovely when hosts leave gift cards on arrival for either a nice restaurant, food market, etc. It shows appreciation. I would just be concerned because if they ask for gas money, they may keep asking for other things once you say yes. I would be concerned that they do not have the funds to cover an emergency. You need to arrive back early because of illness and now they ask for hotel costs for a week.
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Hi @zzz, welcome to the forum!
If you have decided to contribute, 50$ should be OK. It’s entirely up to you and what other options you have. I agree with @Oztravels that this not what THS is about.
Well, that’s better than factual pressure but we’re all different and, in your shoes, I would feel the pressure no matter how nicely it was worded. But that’s me.
That said, it would be different if the sitter didn’t apply to your sit and you invited them or even if your listing didn’t have applications and, after a time, she reached out in order to help you.
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If you can’t afford to travel to a sit, you shouldn’t be applying for the sit. At all. I fly to the other side of the world or the other side of Australia at my own expense. I would never in my wildest dreams ask for a contribution to my travel expense. No sitter should be asking for remuneration for anything, even a “contribution" to fuel, that’s no different than asking to be paid or asking for an airfare contribution and only sets a really bad precedent on a site that strictly stipulates no money is to change hands.
I see this particular situation as one that is probably more likely to happen in the USA with it being a country of strong tipping culture which most other countries are not. That is NOT a dig at the US, it is a logical thought and possible expectation. IMO if this starts, it will end up being the norm expectation. Don’t start it I say. Again, if a sitter can’t afford the journey, don’t apply for the sit.
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It’s against THS terms for a sitter to ask for money. If you were asked, you could report them.
If you volunteered without being asked, that’s your choice. And in that case, the amount is at your discretion, like any gift would be.
If sitters can’t afford travel — whether because of rising gas prices or otherwise — THS isn’t a fit for them. Some might hint at needing financial help, rather than asking directly, but neither is cool, according to the spirit of THS.
One exception: If a host needs their pet(s) driven somewhere to walk (rather than walking from their home), that’s a cost that many sitters will expect them to offer gas and/or maybe use of a car to do. That’s because sitters shouldn’t be expected to pay for host’s pets’ costs.
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Don’t forget…or hosts asking towards utility bills
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Not right as well. Off subject but I am a subscriber to your channel. It is very good and recommend others subscribe.
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Like booking fees? To
keep things running smoothly for everyone
?
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Agreed. These are “interesting times” we’re living in. I really see both sides on this…we don’t want to set ongoing expectations of remuneration, but the reality is that things are not normal right now.
Many sitters are in fact saying they can’t afford to travel since the powers-that-be set the world on fire; as a consequence, many sits are going unfilled. If I were a host having trouble securing a sitter, I may very well offer up a gas gift card or stipend to help a sitter out, because it ultimately helps me out to have the sitter.
I guess what I’m saying is that the measure of an “equal exchange” may very well change with circumstances — and these are some messed-up circumstances.
For the OP: I might offer the value of a tank of gas or to let them use my car during the sit if that’s practical & you feel comfortable with it, and if it doesn’t feel like a shake-down to you. Go with your gut.
Yeah I think sitters calculate a reasonable amount for travel. I think it’s fair for them to raise their hand right now and say we didn’t expect this, so would you volunteer to help? Totally fair to me, and yes I would help. I wouldnt pay 100 percent of their gas, but just help with a top off amount to help with the fuel increase.
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What about if a HO offers partial fuel reimbursement as a means to entice people to sit for them? Is that acceptable or would is start setting expectations for HOs who may not be in the most desirable locations?
How about sitters offering to partially pay for utilities? That could be a way for a sitter to “beat out” other applicants for a diserable sit.
Anyway, I do not think anyone should ask for any kind of financial assistance. However, since both HO and sitter have the discretion to say no, then it’s up to the individual parties to decide. I think it’s an absolute no-no if the sit has already been accepted. That’s manipulative.
@zzz I note you haven’t asked whether you should pay, but rather how much is reasonable. This tells me you are willing to pay, even though TrustedHousesitters states that sitters cannot ask for money. My gut reaction, as a sitter, is that you should not pay anything, given the rules that each member agreed to. However:
- If you invited this sitter (in that they didn’t apply), it does open up a door for sitters to perhaps say ‘I will, but only if …’. However, I doubt you approached someone 400 miles away, but correct me if I’m wrong. They likely applied, knowing the details.
- You say the sit is only for a few days. I have to question why a sitter would apply for a sit 400 miles away, for that length of time, unless they had other reasons. Why should you supplement a journey they perhaps want or need to do anyway? What if their next booked sit is near you, for example? Look at their calendar and see if they have bookings soon after yours (black line through dates).
- Do you have any other applicants that seem suitable? If so, why consider this one? If not, perhaps you feel you’re in a bind. If you have multiple pets with complex needs, maybe the sitter’s offer is more attractive to you than any alternative.
- You haven’t mentioned how far away (in time) this sit is. Maybe you should wait to see if you get other applicants.
- For me, their request is a red flag, but of course that’s your call. Having been on this forum for years, I can’t count the number of times a disgruntled member has said ‘Oh, in hindsight that was a red flag that I now see I chose to ignore.’
You can add your listing to your profile so that forum members can offer suggestions for improvements that might attract other sitters.
I wish you well and hope things work out for you.
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We would not be interested in any sitter that outright asks for money.
(P.S. We don’t charge for utilities. 
)
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