Split the bill equally or just pay for what you've eaten?

I came across an article on The Sun (no judgement pls it was a one off) that claims a woman on Mumsnet has been branded 'joyless' when she refused to pay more than her share of the bill when having a meal out.

Which made me think...

If you're out for dinner, do you think it's acceptable to only pay for what you've eaten?

Or, do you think it's good form to split the bill down the middle?

I'm usually a pay-for-what-I've-had type of gal, unless I'm with my besties or I'm rolling in the $$$$.

If I'm only having a main, there ain't no way I'm funding someone else's cocktails and three course meal

How about you?

Everyone apart from him, me, my work colleagues, family and friends.

If you want to divide it up then go somewhere like Nandos so everyone can order separately.

Adults don't sit around splitting bills. That's embarrassing. Start working and go out with colleagues at a meeting over lunch, normally one person pays because that's an admirable and professional gesture, or everyone pays their own way.

Yes if only I were Mr High Society like you and 'Bang Outta Order' perhaps I'd know better how things were done; until then I guess it's Nando's for me.

Most people round up a bill and split it evenly. If you're going out regularly with the same people I get taking turns to pick up the bill; apart from that it would be sort of weird to assume that one person is just going to pick up the bill.

I came across an article on The Sun (no judgement pls it was a one off)

I don't see why taking it in turns to pay to bill would be considered high society.



I think you again need to look at the age group responding here. Teenagers/young-adults tend to go out in large friendship groups which, you're right, would be likely to want to just pay their own.

Older adults tend to go out either as work groups or couples and so will take it in turns to foot the whole bill. That's the point Bang is trying to make.

Just don't do this...

[video="youtube;aSKbDTig42Q"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSKbDTig42Q[/video]

If you actually read through the thread, no-one is talking about what they do on dates. That's a whole different thing.

edit: And there really isn't money over the place or 'long division' if you split the bill evenly. It gets as complicated as, there are four of us and the bill is £108, let's call it 30 each and there's a tip in it. That's literally all that's needed.



Tbh it would be reasonable for the higher disposable income friends to make adjustments to where they're going in that case. Personally I'd feel pretty bad if I were sat there ordering all sorts of food and drinks and I was aware that others present couldn't afford it. I'd probably either not order extras myself, or just end up sharing my stuff.

And actually in general I think there's something of an expectation that you keep your consumption vaguely in proportion to everyone else's. Like if people are just having one course and a soft drink you don't make everyone sit there and watch you have four courses, wine, coffees, and digestifs. You're just not meant to do that. On the other hand if it's just you not joining in with a lot of what others are having I already said I wouldn't expect a full share from you, that's just unreasonable.

I guess what's important is just that you're all on the same page, but still if I personally went out with working, adult friends, had similar meals, and one insisted on getting his calculator out I would find that kind of annoying.

I'm not trying to be judgemental but you just sound like someone who has never been the 'poor friend'. I've been in this position and know others who have too and no one wants to tell their 5 friends who are excited about goign to a nice restaurant 'sorry can we just go to pizza express I can't afford it'. What they'd probably do is insist I come with them and say they'll chip in some money for me. I don't want to be freeloading on people. But if I refused that offer they'd go to pizza express and have a meal they don't enjoy so much and I'll spend all night feeling like I ruined their meal. So I'll probably check out the menu and decide if there's something I'll enjoy which isn't too pricey and tell them I'm training/busy/etc in the morning so I'm not drinking. That way my friends have fun, I have fun and no one ends up feeling bad about it.

Literally no one gets a calculator out. As I said, it's not hard to add up a few bits and bobs. Any adult should be able to do that in their head quickly. And if the meals are similar then I completely agree, I'm not going to bicker over a few £.