Split the bill or pay for what you had?

purple12

It depends on the situation (i.e. if I'm with some of my friends, we know subconsciously that we will order more or less similar items or if it is a place where we are sharing dishes we'll split it ) but usually, I'll tell the person I'm with when we go to the restaurant that I'll only be paying for what I'm having so they know before they order. I don't usually tally it up penny for penny but round off the prices so it works roughly.

I do this quite frequently in the pub where I'll tell my friends not to include me in their rounds as I will just be getting my own drinks (I tell them its because I can't afford a round and I've never had be upset or annoyed at this).

LJD1_2

We tend to split the bill but if anyone isn't drinking then we knock some off their bill. Similarly, if someone's drinking more expensive drinks e.g. cocktails then we add a bit to theirs. It usually works out. Next time...order something expensive and insist on splitting the bill in half! Hehe!

skylight

Next time, as soon as the waitress starts to take the order, smile nicely and ask for seperate bills.

Then ignore the fact you have asked for seperate bills, smile nicely at your friend and just carry on with the converstation.

**purpleprincess**

When I've been out since my LBM with my friends I always say before we order “do you mind if I just pay for what I had rather than just going halves/dividing” and they always say that it's fine. (And really, who is going to say “no, I want you to pay for some of my meal”!!!!!!!!!!! ) and I've never had any problems. It's just the situations where people assume, I usually find that if you state your case before hand it's fine. Same with rounds, I always ask to buy my own.

Thriftylady

If theres just two of us, and theres a big difference in the amounts then I would say we should each pay for what we have.

But if I'm out with a big group, and its only every once in a while, (these are usually work 'do's) then I think its fair enough to just split the bill between everyone - everyone had the opportunity to choose what they wanted off the same menu, and as I see it I could have ordered the most expensive thing on it if I'd chosen to. Maybe I've had something cheaper this time, but next time I'm out with the same bunch of people, maybe something more expensive will catch my eye, it all evens itself out.

Also if everyone has just had one or two drinks, then it doesn't matter that much if you have drunk alcohol or not, as soft drinks in a lot of bars and restuarants are nearly as expensive, but I would refuse to contribute towards drink if everyone else was on an all out drinking session and I was nursing a single mineral water for hours at a time.

So basically, in answer to your original question, I would say it depends on the circumstances!