Stemming from Nadia's post - about guest etiquette

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: Do you all split the bill EVENLY when you go out with friends? We typically do because it's just easier and we usually all share or get close to the same things on price, but I personally get annoyed when my friends who won't split (which is fine at times) get all worked up over just an extra dollar that I owe. KWIM? Money is tight for us too, so I don't expect freebies from anyone, but come on, I feel that I can pay a little extra for a $1.99 soda for my friend, why can't they do it for me? I hate when someone says "you owe 15 cents more than I do".

BUT, on the other hand, my parents were in town recently and we went out with a guy that my mom works with and his wife. It was a REALLY expensive restaurant and DH and I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu, plus we didn't drink. Well the other couple insisted we split the bill evenly!!! They of course ordered the most expensive thing (we're talking elk which was like $38, plus a bottle of wine, two apps each, dessert each, and coffee after dinner drinks EACH!!!!) I so think they did it on purpose! All we had were our entrees. So I don't think that's fair. Luckily my parents were nice enough to pay us back when we got in the car.

Just curious what you all do when you're out with friends.

moped replied: Just depends I guess..........if it is my girlfriends and we are out for lunch we usually just split it evenly, but if it is my best freind and we are out for dinner one of us usually pays for the other...........it depends totally on who I am with I guess.

but I know what you mean about people being all silly about 15 cents!

kimberley replied: we usually just put in for what we ordered. i don't expect anyone else to pay my way nor do i want to put in for someone else's exorbitant meal. i will always add extra if the others dont tip.. being in the service industry so long, my conscience makes me compensate for that lol.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I totally do the same Kimberely! I've been a server for too many years to know what's a good tip vs a bad tip! Especially if it's well deserved.

ions_momma replied: Most of the time, we all have our own bills so that it is easier to keep track of how much everyone has to pay. If it is on the same bill, we pay for what we buy though.

luvbug00 replied: arround here it is getting harder and harder to split bills the reteraunts HATE it and most won't do it anymore. We usually pick who pays and then whoever didn't use thier credit card ( or what have you) pays back the person who did.

CantWait replied:
same here

mckayleesmom replied: We always just ask for seperate checks.

3xsthefun replied: We usually get seperate checks.

My3LilMonkeys replied: We usually get seperate checks. If they won't do that, one person pays the bill and when we get home we divide out the receipt and everyone pays them back.

We only ever go out to eat with DH's family though so it's not a big deal.

Oh, and we are all big tippers - largely in part because my SIL's boyfriend is obnoxious so we all tip extra to compensate for them having to deal with him.

Our Lil' Family replied: This happens when we go out to a sports bar with DH's friends. This one couple always insists that we just split it, with the attitude that it's just easier that way.....well the problem with that is that they keep ordering pitchers and pitchers of beer and DH and I usually have one glass each, two at most. We usually order something light or an appetizer and one entree and split it....well not these people, they order appetizers for the whole table and then each a big entree. Man it drives me NUTS! We've learned to either tell the server that our bill is seperate or just leave before they are ready and get ours totalled up and paid before the bill comes out! It's sad that we have to do that but I'm not paying for them to get drunk! I often wonder if the other couples we go out with feel the same way we do but just don't speak up, like us.

Glad I got that out....that bothers me so much.

coasterqueen replied: Nahh, most times we'll buy and then the next time our friends will pick up the bill. If one bill was bigger than the other the other couple will pick up another meal or something. We don't usually bother trying to divide a bill, if we want to do that we just ask ahead of time for the waiter/waitress to make seperate checks.