I found a rent-a-friend a few years ago. She has a hard life, works three jobs, and is from another country. She comes over every 3 or 4 weeks and I have dinner delivered, we watch a movie, she goes home, and I give her $100. Strictly platonic. She has a few forkfulls and takes the rest of the dinner home. A little annoying.
Last week she was here and said I didn't have to pay her, but I did. I want to keep it businesslike.
This past weekend she thanked me for the time and money, and recalled that I would be renting an Amtrak roomette for a 2-day trip to the mountains, and she wanted to go with me. I said yes. So we went up the other day. I paid for the Uber to the station, the train (food included), hotel, etc. There was a problem with her ticket but she was able to eat free on the train. I fixed it later so that she could eat on the return trip, also.
I told her that if she wanted to go into the hot springs to bring a bathing suit. She forgot, but said she would improvise. See we took a taxi ( I paid) to the area and I paid the $64 ($32 each) for the hot springs for 2.5 hours. She then decided she didn't want to go in. I felt uncomfortable in the water by myself while she sat it out with a parka on. A big waste of $32. We then headed to a Mexican restaurant. She ordered a huge meal even though she wasn't hungry, ate a tiny amount, and decided to take it with her for the train the next day. I figured she would pick up the tab - or at least offer. Nope.
So the next day we eat on the train, so she threw away the food from the night before. What a waste.
I am not poor. I'm also pretty generous. But I'm still pissed off about this. Not even an apology for the wasted hot springs ticket. She didn't spend a dime on this trip.
If I see her again I will tell her that I won't be supplying food when she comes over. I feel taken advantage of. Feeling bad for her working 80 hours per week has clouded my judgement.
Am I being too harsh, too easy, or too cheap?