sharing restaurant bills in a group

mutley74

Apologies in advance but found this the only sub-forum to post in..

Just curious how others tackle group meals with friends/others etc when sharing meals and drinks. do you split the bill total by no. of people or do you work out who had what?
If its a small group with close friends/contacts its not so much an issue, but with others sometimes you not met before, curious if there is a better way?.

flea72

If its a group i dont know that well, its always best to go somewhere that has a set menu as the cost of food is at least equal. Regarding drinks, im usually prepared to suck it up and split evenly, unless someone has really taken the mick and drunk expensive stuff/lots. Or people pay for own drinks as go along (most restaurants now have a bar, you can go to).

With friends/family, i go for an even split of the bill. As usually it evens out over time, or if someone drives and doesnt have alcohol, the drinkers just split the total drinks bill. But this has evolved over time and is now just a given.

Paulaviki

If it's a large group we buy our own drinks at the bar and split the food. If it's a smaller group of say 4-6 we just split the bill equally. I don't really drink but I don't mind splitting the bill providing people haven't gone mad, if they have I tend to say something!

paulineb_2

In groups Ive gone out with we have either paid for the meal if its a set menu and then bought own drinks, or we just pay for our own. Its too easy to get stung when some of the group are knocking back bottles of wine and others dont drink. I dont have loads of money and I cant afford to be paying for other people's alcohol.

redfox

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mutley74

paulineb wrote: »

In groups Ive gone out with we have either paid for the meal if its a set menu and then bought own drinks, or we just pay for our own. Its too easy to get stung when some of the group are knocking back bottles of wine and others dont drink. I dont have loads of money and I cant afford to be paying for other people's alcohol.

that's what I cant understand...last week out with a group..knew about half of them others were new friends coming along. some were not in high paid jobs but still did not care..and even said we prefer to split the bill evenly. a chap who is well off had a good few beers but insistent bill is split between all, and even rebuffed when I said its easier if we all pay our own.

laurel7172

Most people don't want to be perceived as the contemptible toad demanding a reduction over the division of the prawn crackers. Which is why it is up to the people who know they have had considerably more to insist on putting in the price of their wine before the split. I would never contribute less than my fair share, but definitely don't appreciate being asked for double or more to pay for somebody else's alcohol.

zerog

The problem with splitting evenly is that everyone doesn't want to lose out, so everyone ends up spending more!

Now I just ask everyone to work out what they spent and put the money on the table, then I take it all and pay the bill with my card

Only very rarely do I end up paying more than I should have, but then I get my points or cashback so it all works out in the end

mutley74

zerog wrote: »

The problem with splitting evenly is that everyone doesn't want to lose out, so everyone ends up spending more!

Now I just ask everyone to work out what they spent and put the money on the table, then I take it all and pay the bill with my card

Only very rarely do I end up paying more than I should have, but then I get my points or cashback so it all works out in the end

or some spend less...if they the one been drinking constantly all night, and their bill is divided with others.
I am not trying to argue over 50p or a £1 here but when its considerably more, its not fair.
just trying to gauge what is "etiquette" with general friends/and some strangers; with family and close friends its a different matter (that's why they are close friends!)
maybe next time I will order pure juice or a few cocktails:eek:

Kayalana99

It really depends on the people their at the time I guess! We have always (no matter who I am with) spilt the bill on what we've had...whether that be me and my friends, my MIL's family and in the other case my Dads side pays for me etc but my cousins dad pays for theirs and what they've had.

*Usually* in large groups on my family's side, we will order separately so their is no hassle - some buy drinks for others etc to be nice. On the MIL's side they will order together and get their calculators out (phones), round up slightly and what ever is left over (as we know in these situations the last person usally pays less so it counters it) is considered a tip.

I think it really depends on how proud people are though - as another poster said people don't want to be seen squabbling over prawn crackers... but my friends untill recently have always been pretty skint my friend would pay to the penny...and the two families are well... family and everyone knows each others financial situation (to a point)

I suppose if you go out with a new group - none of them will want to be sitting their with calculators and it's easier to say just spit evenly...and to go against the grain will probably leave you looking 'poor' so no one wants to.

Next time, if you want to - just say I don't think that's fair really as I havn't drunk as much as you guys so I'll pay for what I've had...work it out and put the money down.

That's what my friend would of done anyway...as she cares more about her pocket then what people think (and so she should really? ) :rotfl:

You'll probally find a few might follow suit..

justjohn

We split entire bill by the number of guests. However seems to be the done thing nowadays to get the calculator out and count how many more/less peanuts you have had compared to the next person.

its not just about booze intake, its about peeps being tight lol .... I was out a few months ago at lunchtime. I seen a crowd of women splitting the bill individually AT the till. Very annoying when you are waiting to pay.