Best way to avoid over spending when out for a meal with family

lindseykim13

We have to go out for a meal tomorrow night for my dads birthday, problem is we have no money! There are 10 of us going all together, 5 of which are my 3 little ones and dh.
Now we are all paying for ourselves so me and dh were going to pick cheapo meals and share with the toddler then pick kids meals for my older 2.
I think i am stressing now though because the place we are going to has a 2for1 offer on and i'm concerned that the resteraunt will charge for the highest price meals and give the cheap ones free. I suspect my parents & other relatives will just want to split the bill, which isn't very mse if they are a)all having adult meals b)pick something much more expensive than me and dh.

How on earth do i get out of this by spending as little money as possible without looking like a tight git.

skylight

Sort it out before you get there. Do it now! Call your parents and tell them that you are really looking forward to going, going to be brill etc, but due to your really tight budget you will be paying for your own meals and not splitting the bill. Then, when you do go and the waiter/ess gets to you/OH, make a point of asking for you guys to be billed seperately please and can we have XYZ.

yvonne13_2

Why do you have to go out? Was this planned ahead? If you cannot afford it just say and tell your dad that you will cook him a birthday meal at home.

pinkshoes

I'd just speak to your dad and explain that money is very tight, so are there any plans to split the bill, as you've only got enough for your 5 meals.

I'd even suggest having a tab for the 5 of you, so that way if you order meals on the 2-4-1 deal that are cheaper, they can't charge you for someone else's more expensive one!

julie03

ive always told my family i wont split bills, we don't drink if we take the kids out and everyone else normally has wine and beer and they normally eat more that we do so i always refuse, and just add up the stuff i had and add a bit extra for a tip

Newly_retired

When I go out with certain friends for a meal the bill is always split and it is never fair, because some have more courses than others, some drink wine, others soft drinks.
As this is your family I agree that you should sort it out beforehand as money is tight. Saves any bad feeling on the night when the bill comes.

scheming_gypsy

lindseykim13 wrote: »

I think i am stressing now though because the place we are going to has a 2for1 offer on and i'm concerned that the resteraunt will charge for the highest price meals and give the cheap ones free.

The 2 for 1 meals are set options in the menu, they don't pick and choose when it comes to the bill. So they'll either be on a separate menu or highlighted on the menu which are part of the two for one offer.
Just make sure your mum and dad know that you'll be picking up your own tab as you can't afford to split the full bill

saterkey

We nearly always have a jug of water with ice and slice brought to the table which saves alot of money on the drinks side, although partner tends to have a pint or whatever still its a saving.

We do things like 2 for ones, nearly always skip the starter and just have the main meals, we share puds if its the kids, i tend to go without, or sometimes we go to macds and get mcflurrys for the kids after, so the kids dont feel deprived or whatever, but a lot cheaper than the £4+ puds in the restaurant.

Realise when you are out with others its more awquard, might be worth having a word with your parents before hand.

Have a lovely time.

busiscoming2

Yes, speak to your parents and say that you are going to have your own bill. It's up to the others what they do.

Milsey-Girl

When we go out on family meals as the OP is, my Mum always insists that the bill is always split between adults only - our 2 girls always eat from the kids menu or share a meal, etc, and we don't generally drink alcohol when we go out with the kids so it does sort of even itself out:D Would your family consider that as an option? I agree that whatever you decide you should sort out before the bill arrives:)

yvonne13_2

I don't like splitting bills to be honest as it always causes problems. I went out with some people from work last week for someone's birthday.

And I ended up paying £23.70 even though my bill was only £5.50.

They ordered alcohol and also brought 4 children with them and 1) I don't drink so why did I have to pay for the alcohol 2) Why did I have to pay for other peoples children to eat.

I may sound mean put I am just fed up of people not being fair. They should have paid for there own drinks as they went along and paid for there own children.

I will never go out with them again and OP has been very fair in not expecting other people to take care of her bill.