Dear Eric: I have been friends with Hal since high school; we are both in our late 70s. Hal is well off financially and he and his wife have no children. Hal has invited me to stay at his home, and we have traveled together numerous times. The problem is that he is a cheapskate, always looking for bargains and freebies. Hal has scored a bargain plane ticket and has invited himself to stay with my wife and me for five days. He is too cheap to stay at a hotel and rent a car and expects me to provide lodging and transportation. My wife really doesn’t want to spend that much time with this tightwad. Am I obligated to him and how can I say no?

– Guest Room Closed

Dear Guest Room: As with any prospective guest, you can always tell Hal that it’s not a good time for visitors. But before you hang the “No Vacancy” sign up, consider Hal’s perspective. If you’ve stayed over at his place, doesn’t it stand to reason that he’d think of a stay at your place not as an imposition but rather just part of your friendship? With that view, this may be less a cheapskate’s way out and more just one friend asking for a favor returned from another friend. Or, even, a desire to have some quality time.

Now, if your wife doesn’t care for Hal, that’s another story. You needn’t impose on her simply to appease him. But there’s nothing inherently wrong with being a bargain hunter or wanting to save money on a hotel if you’ve got a nearby friend. Personally, I’d suggest he rent a car, though. Five days of chauffeuring will likely grate on you.

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Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.