Real life MMD: 'Should singles pay more than couples?'

MadMom

Gareth_Lazelle wrote: »

My wife has a similar work-related problem,

At her workplace staff buy cakes for other staff members on their birthdays - all very well,

My wife is a coeliac (can't eat gluten) though, so she can't eat anyone else's cakes - should she still be expected to buy everyone else cakes on her birthday? (She simply doesn't participate at all for what it's worth - but the problem also arises at the Xmas party, etc)

Going back to the OT: Personally I think anyone that wants to should opt out with no pressure (whether they be single or a couple), but providing they get back what they put in and are happy to participate then maybe they should simply take it or leave it?

... then it's rather thoughtless of them (those doing the buying) not buying some gluten-free cakes on each occasion! Frankly they can't use the "but its only for 1 person" excuse because EVERYONE can eat gluten-free

Talent

Dilemma?? Don't be silly. What you going to do if a couple or a couple of couples split up?? Why bring couples into it?? Treat them all as singlies (sic). 15 quid each.... where's the prob bro??

Dorisbird

I think the single one should pay half - why should they pay more? They won't be getting such a big gift no doubt as all the money would be split equally between the whole group, which would work out at £15 per person or £30 per joint gift!
I used to get stung by this sort of arrangement, but not anymore. Any real friends would see that them paying more is actually unfair. Simples!

Waiting.for.the.sunshine

It is unlikely that the half of the couple actually having the birthday is going to pay towards their own present (half of the couple cost) so everybody would get £105 spent on them.

If the same group of friends were splitting the bill from a meal equally they would split it 9 ways, the singleton wouldn't be expected to foot a fifth of the bill (he didn't eat two dinners after all!)

I say half a couple should pay half the couple rate = £15 :beer:

foxy4114

I would expect a single to pay half of what a couple would pay, although if I could afford it and did not mind I would just pay up.

Enjoy the joint birthday bash. Friends are more important than money.
:beer:

dave2

OP is unclear. "Everyone" might mean literally everyone, friends + partners, or might mean just friends.

In other words just work out if everyone is receiving a £30 or a £15 (ish) present? You should be paying in what you are receiving.

BUT... If you're getting a £30 present, will you be separately buying presents for the partner's when their birthday comes around? Fundamentally what is happening is the friends are buying each other presents and their partners are having their name tacked on for free.

Marisco

MadMom wrote: »

... excuse because EVERYONE can eat gluten-free

Yes but they are awful and dry!!!! My workmate has the same problem, and we used to get her a bar of Cadbury's chocolate instead:)

Amaretto68smile

Borokat, what??? :rotfl:

Singles pay half, unless they genuinely feel they want to pay more and can pay more. Simple.

Any singles who feel pressured in to paying the same as a couple are daft and need to wake up. Fight your corner for God's sake! :T

Pellyman

Surely there are three options:

1) If each friend and partner is getting an individual present each on their birthday you pay £15 each time/birthday because that (£15 each) is what everyone else is effectively paying.

2) If only the 'friend' is getting a present (whether it is suitable for the couple or the individual) you pay £30 because you won't be asked to to pay for the partners' birthdays.

3) Point out that the whole scheme is silly, unless they give the person (friend and/or partner) the cash collected to buy something for themselves. Otherwise, some are going to receive a present they don't really want or don't consider to be worth the total money they have paid out for others during the period. It's a disaster waiting to happen, especially if/when couples start splitting up - have the 'dear departed' already had their present or will they miss out? Forget it, it's a bum scheme unless all the birthdays are in the same week/month and that would be expensive!

Actually there is another option - Get yourself a partner and the dilemma disappears!

addyann

No. I'm part of a couple, and I'm perfectly capable of paying my own half, so why should a single person have to pay double of me.
Totally agree with the earlier posting. also some couples may use the excuse that only one is working. Only way around that is to means test every one!

No, every one person in the group pays their contribution