The bill when going out eating with friends

The bill when going out eating with friends

Author
Discussion

Vyse

Original Poster:

1,224 posts

124 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
What if the person that is having the "works" isn't playing game and doesn't offer to chip in extra. Do you leave it, do you give that person a hint or do you leave that to someone else in the group? I guess it can be difficult to talk sense to some one having the works as they are usually hammered.

Japveesix

4,480 posts

168 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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Can't believe all you tight fisted, penurious and anal losers who split the bill evenly at every meal. I just pay the whole lot everytime, makes no difference who I'm with or what we're eating and drinking. If I'm out to enjoy myself it's with people and not with the wad of 50s in my wallet!

I pay everything and we all go home happy, you niggardly idiots can go on being "fair" and "reasonable" about things if it makes you feel like a better human being but I always say "those who won't pay the lot aren't worth a jot".

Cheese Mechanic

3,157 posts

169 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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otolith said:
Some of my friends are the kind who, if you don't keep an eye on them or get in there first, will sneak off to the loo and pay the whole bill on their way back. I am glad I don't know anyone who gets the calculator out.
Which is the name of the game. Boorish clowns with calculators , argueing over who had one Prawn cocktail more than the other , are just that. A meal out is a social occasion, not an accountancy lesson. Cannot cope without being able to stand your turn, don't play, its beyond your means, or even your perceived means.

Basically, pick ones own company, pretenders, tightwads, etc, stay away.

Flibble

6,475 posts

181 months

Monday 13th October 2014
quotequote all
Vyse said:
What if the person that is having the "works" isn't playing game and doesn't offer to chip in extra. Do you leave it, do you give that person a hint or do you leave that to someone else in the group? I guess it can be difficult to talk sense to some one having the works as they are usually hammered.
I wouldn't care, if it's people I'm willing to go out for a meal with then I'll happily subsidise their largess to the tune of a fiver or whatever the difference works out as. Really there are better things to get worked up about than who spend £1.50 more on the meal because they had a different starter.

I rather like the one person paying for everything approach though; it's a lot less hassle.

Philplop

342 posts

174 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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I'm all for splitting it if you've eaten roughly equally, a few quid here and there is nothing to worry about. There is a difference between penny pinching to the exact amount and putting in roughly what you owe plus a couple of quid on top to be sure.

Saying it's only a fiver difference and it's a social occasion is fine, but it's not always like that.

Four people out for a meal. One has £7 pasta and a £3 Coke. The other three have £20 steaks and a couple of £7.50 cocktails. That works out to about £30 each. And the people that had steaks and cocktails would be willing for the te person who ate a tenners worth to chip in that for their meal?

When this is a very regular thing, that can really add up. But you'd rather say that they weren't welcome with you because of it?

SeanyD

3,375 posts

200 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Saturday night, 6 of us for a meal and drinks, bill is £102. Simple, £20 a head, sorted, no calculators needed.

waterwonder

995 posts

176 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Well this thread has brought out the crass, richer than you cock sockets.

As I'm not a bellend I will happily share dinner with people who can't afford the whole tab or more than their fair share.

Listen to yourselves.

Jesus has the world gone mad?

P.s. Personally I don't care either way as long as I don't have to work it out.

Hackney

6,828 posts

208 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Philplop said:
I'm all for splitting it if you've eaten roughly equally, a few quid here and there is nothing to worry about. There is a difference between penny pinching to the exact amount and putting in roughly what you owe plus a couple of quid on top to be sure.

Saying it's only a fiver difference and it's a social occasion is fine, but it's not always like that.

Four people out for a meal. One has £7 pasta and a £3 Coke. The other three have £20 steaks and a couple of £7.50 cocktails. That works out to about £30 each. And the people that had steaks and cocktails would be willing for the te person who ate a tenners worth to chip in that for their meal?

When this is a very regular thing, that can really add up. But you'd rather say that they weren't welcome with you because of it?
This.

ascayman

12,748 posts

216 months

Monday 13th October 2014
quotequote all
Philplop said:
I'm all for splitting it if you've eaten roughly equally, a few quid here and there is nothing to worry about. There is a difference between penny pinching to the exact amount and putting in roughly what you owe plus a couple of quid on top to be sure.

Saying it's only a fiver difference and it's a social occasion is fine, but it's not always like that.

Four people out for a meal. One has £7 pasta and a £3 Coke. The other three have £20 steaks and a couple of £7.50 cocktails. That works out to about £30 each. And the people that had steaks and cocktails would be willing for the te person who ate a tenners worth to chip in that for their meal?

When this is a very regular thing, that can really add up. But you'd rather say that they weren't welcome with you because of it?
Damn right I would, its completely unacceptable.......what sort of cretin orders a £20 steak then washes it down with a cocktail rather than a nice bottle of red! i'd never speak to them again.

waterwonder

995 posts

176 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Japveesix said:
Can't believe all you tight fisted, penurious and anal losers who split the bill evenly at every meal. I just pay the whole lot everytime, makes no difference who I'm with or what we're eating and drinking. If I'm out to enjoy myself it's with people and not with the wad of 50s in my wallet!

I pay everything and we all go home happy, you niggardly idiots can go on being "fair" and "reasonable" about things if it makes you feel like a better human being but I always say "those who won't pay the lot aren't worth a jot".
I hope this is tongue in cheek but it sadly wouldn't surprise me if it was a serious post.

AB

16,975 posts

195 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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waterwonder said:
I hope this is tongue in cheek but it sadly wouldn't surprise me if it was a serious post.
But the last saying is a belter laugh

RizzoTheRat

25,140 posts

192 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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I went out for a meal once with a bunch celebrating passing their PGCE. Table full of newly qualified maths teachers who'd only just finished the course so weren't earning much money. You've never seen such a detailed calculation of who owed what biggrin

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

186 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Normally I'm an advocate of just splitting equally, but once I lost my rag with someone when we did this.

On a stag do about ten years ago, about eight of us went for lunch in quite a nice restaurant in Edinburgh that did a fantastic lunch deal for a tenner. We all stuck to the lunch deal as agreed, except one guy who the rest of us didn't know.

He ordered oysters and a lobster or something like that, total food bill ~£40. Then refused to pay any more than the rest of us. I refused to have anything to do with him for the rest of the weekend because of this.

On an unrelated point, he looked like Laurence Llewelyn Bowen with herpes.

Japveesix

4,480 posts

168 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
waterwonder said:
Japveesix said:
Can't believe all you tight fisted, penurious and anal losers who split the bill evenly at every meal. I just pay the whole lot everytime, makes no difference who I'm with or what we're eating and drinking. If I'm out to enjoy myself it's with people and not with the wad of 50s in my wallet!

I pay everything and we all go home happy, you niggardly idiots can go on being "fair" and "reasonable" about things if it makes you feel like a better human being but I always say "those who won't pay the lot aren't worth a jot".
I hope this is tongue in cheek but it sadly wouldn't surprise me if it was a serious post.
I run a Suzuki Ignis as my only car, I can barely even afford my own sandwiches let alone paying for everyone elses meals! smile

21TonyK

11,513 posts

209 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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The thread says "eating with friends". That being the case we normally take it in turns to pick up the bill knowing full well next time round someone else will.

Its a running joke that sometimes someone gets off lightly and another hammered depending on where we are eating. Over the years it all works out and if it doesnt, who cares, they are friends and money is not an issue with friends. If I was short someone else would pay and vice versa. Thats what friends do.

Now... if it was a work colleague or a group of unknown then a fair and reasonable split of the bill would be in order. Although its always me that suggests a couple of extra quid each for a tip!

Philplop

342 posts

174 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
But what if one of your friends doesn't drink and isn't a big eater? Whilst the rest of you have polished off two courses and a few pints each? Still fair to take it in turns?

Not aimed at you, just in general.

RWD cossie wil

4,310 posts

173 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
waterwonder said:
Japveesix said:
Can't believe all you tight fisted, penurious and anal losers who split the bill evenly at every meal. I just pay the whole lot everytime, makes no difference who I'm with or what we're eating and drinking. If I'm out to enjoy myself it's with people and not with the wad of 50s in my wallet!

I pay everything and we all go home happy, you niggardly idiots can go on being "fair" and "reasonable" about things if it makes you feel like a better human being but I always say "those who won't pay the lot aren't worth a jot".
I hope this is tongue in cheek but it sadly wouldn't surprise me if it was a serious post.
Cheapskate, I pay for the meal then give everyone £50 for turning up, as it's nice to treat mates to a meal out and I don't expect them to have to pay for fuel or wear & tear on their car etc..

Flibble

6,475 posts

181 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
RWD cossie wil said:
Cheapskate, I pay for the meal then give everyone £50 for turning up, as it's nice to treat mates to a meal out and I don't expect them to have to pay for fuel or wear & tear on their car etc..
You let them drive? I send my man round to pick everyone up so they don't have to drive themselves.

21TonyK

11,513 posts

209 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
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Philplop said:
But what if one of your friends doesn't drink and isn't a big eater? Whilst the rest of you have polished off two courses and a few pints each? Still fair to take it in turns?

Not aimed at you, just in general.
Just need to pick your friends, make sure they can keep up at the bar wink

TBH when we go out we just order a few bottles of wine and then everyone picks two or three courses, maybe some bits while we are waiting for food. If anyone was regularly out of pocket we would notice before they did and adjust accordingly.

RDMcG

19,139 posts

207 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
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Take the long view. Of course there are occasional variations, big eaters, small eaters, teetotallers, big drinkers, but over a large number of meals it does not matter. Split equally and get on with living.

Of course, if you are taking people out, make sure this is known in advance; equally, if you have been invited as a guest, accept gracefully and don't abuse the hospitality.