Comments on: How Do You Split the Bill Among Friends?

By: Red

Red — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:57:05 +0000

I guess I just don't understand the problem people have with eating out in groups. When my family members get together, the waiter asks before bringing the check, "How do you want this split?" Instead of us deciding how to pay when the check comes, we tell the waiter which people want their meals on the same bill. It might be a pain for the waiter, but it's easier than dealing with the kind of problems it seems other people have.

By: Will Pillage For Yarn

Will Pillage For Yarn — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:13:00 +0000

Generally if it’s a shared thing then I will split the check evenly, unless I just can’t afford to do that – in which case I arrange a separate check ahead of time before ordering.

I started doing this after a meal out where everyone ordered steak and multiple bottles of wine and desserts while I ordered a salad and only drank water, and then got told my ‘share’ was $100. Never again.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:09:00 +0000

Isn’t it funny how the one coworker or friend who consistently orders the most expensive items always wants to split the check equally?

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:14:00 +0000

We have this issue when we go out to eat as a department at lunch. One guy in partucular always orders the most expensive thing, plus drinks something other than water. But if our big boss puts it on his card (and we all pay him back when we get to the office), he always splits it down the middle. if my immediate boss does it, however, she’ll only make us pay for what we got.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:53:00 +0000

I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months and only today did I realize that you must live near me. As much as I never want to pay more than my fair share, it’s also awful dining with people who will argue you down to the dollar about paying the check. I remember an awful friend I had in high school and her even more awful mother. We went on a debate-team trip and the mother refused to tip the waitress more than 5%. She was the chaperon so she had way more money than the rest of us (all high school students), but we were so embarrassed that we snuck back to our table and left 15%. There’s frugal, and then there’s just plain cheap.

By: Clever Dude

Clever Dude — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:45:00 +0000

I agree with your thinking (and your dad’s). I’m one to speak up in a crowd and say “I only should pay $10, not $20.” However, not everyone is as outspoken, such as my wife. She’s gotten shafted many times with her coworkers, who love to order appetizers, desserts and drinks. She gets a salad, water and nothing else.