Going Out for a Meal - The Awkward Moment When Someone Says...

Trazy

I have been stung by splitting the bill in the past

About 10 of us went to an American style grill house, I had no starter or pud and chicken as main. I also had diet coke. My bill including tip was £15.

Two of the group had everything, starters, puds, cocktails and surf&turf for main. One of them jumped in quickly with the idea of splitting the bill, it ended up at £25 per head :mad::mad::mad:

Never again

Birdy12

Saturnalia wrote: »

But on the other side of the table, it's cheeky for those on the wine to expect non-drinkers to subsidise their drink! They should get a clue as well.

Yep, in agreement with this. If 5 people are determined to get through a bottle of wine each and someone else is on lime and sodas, I would suggest, as an example, £5 from the non-drinker and £10 from the drinkers.

I too can't stand the whole 'splitting the bill' scenario at the end of a meal. Went to a 40th meal once and the last 20 mins was spent with people totting up their own share, it was just embarrassing and felt quite sorry for my pal whose 40th it was.

Have to say I'm agreemment with Elvis86, £20 was not enough, especially when the meal was £16pp. Say your FiL hadn't bought you a coke. So that's £16 for the meal, 2 cokes at, say £1.50 each so £3, and then the tip. So over the £20 mark. Not a lot, granted, but enough to know you didn't have enough cash.

Timmne

krlyr wrote: »

I think the main problem here has been lack of communication.

Absolutely!

I have a really tight friend who will happily ruin the atmosphere of an evening by trying to wriggle out of a couple of quid at the bill stage. She will do the tactic of (apparently) taking only one note with her, so at no point will she have to get into a round or have to tip (she never tips in any situation).

I don't go out with her any more!

Birdy12

Trazy wrote: »

I have been stung by splitting the bill in the past

About 10 of us went to an American style grill house, I had no starter or pud and chicken as main. I also had diet coke. My bill including tip was £15.

Two of the group had everything, starters, puds, cocktails and surf&turf for main. One of them jumped in quickly with the idea of splitting the bill, it ended up at £25 per head :mad::mad::mad:

Never again

You see, in this case, I would've stated my case from the outset or joined in, stuffed my face too, and paid the price. Surely, when you hear people ordering starters, cocktails and alcohol at the beginning of a meal, you know, financially, where it's heading?

mummyroysof3

only ever payed for what ive had..apart from when with parents and they have offered to pay..usually turn them down as there is 5 of us..might let them pay for the kids food or the drinks or something. a big family meal might see several people queing up to order and pay.

podperson

I'm surprised some people seem to think it's tight just to want to pay for your own share. I know I'm usually stretched for money and have to budget for a meal out - I don't begrudge going without something that week to go out and spend time with friends/family but then I don't think it's fair I should have to subsidise those who spend more then me as well - and from personal experience it's always the ones who have had 3 courses and put 2 bottles on wine on the tab who say at the end 'let's all split the bill then'.

auroan

pollypenny wrote: »

But if you want to keep your friends, you just have to go with splitting the bill.

If you loose friends because of that... then your definition of friend is somewhat different to mine.

Gra76

I have friends that we go out with from time to time who want to split the bill down the middle and then I have other friends we go out with once in a while who will argue over paying a penny more than they ordered.

I don't go out with the latter of the two couples much anymore...it's just too much hastle, and being honest, I find it slightly embarrassing at times watching them go to the bar to split a £1 coin to get the exact money...

PuppyLove_2

To be honest, you do sound like a tightwad. Turning up to a £16pp buffet for your MIL's birthday with £20 and no means of paying any more

Completely agree with the above, how embarassing to only take a £20 note out with you when your meal is going to be £16 and your going to have a drink!

I cant stand it when you go for a meal with people and they want to only pay for what they ate. I understand if everyone is drinking apart from that person, then we wouldnt make them pay for drinks but to start to break down a bill is childish and cheap.

Timmne

podperson wrote: »

and from personal experience it's always the ones who have had 3 courses and put 2 bottles on wine on the tab who say at the end 'let's all split the bill then'.

But this isn't because they've set out to eat as much as they can on others' money - they've gone out to have a good evening and have (quite rightly) not sat there panicking over the bill all night. A couple of extra drinks and a starter might only add £10 onto their bill and they've mentally agreed that this isn't a problem.

Potentially ignorantly (as I am one of these people) they probably thought everyone was there to kick back and have a great time too, ordering what they fancy, not the minimum to get them through the night without having to spend much!