Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

mrswask Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:22 PM

Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Anyone else have 'problems' with going out with certain people to eat?
DH and I went out with two other couples last night and as usual, the bill gets split and we end up paying a LOT more than the food we ordered. I know restaurants hate doing separate checks and we never would anyway, because it would seem weird, but I feel like we are often faced with this.

Dh's old roommate and his girlfriend are the worst!!! They are MAJOR drinkers and can seriously rack up a bar bill at the table that's as much as the food! DH's solution is to drink a lot too, because if we're going to have to 'pay' for their drinks anyway, he might as well have a lot too! I can seriously have one drink, tops!
I hate going out to eat with them and try to avoid it at all costs!

Anyone else have these issues? Any advice or solutions?
THanks!

Moehick Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:24 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Yep I had a friend like that....operative word being HAD!! She always weasled out paying less this way. I would always say I have to use my card tonight and get a seperate bill.

Happybride2005 Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:25 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

i agree with you so much on this. i don't think its right if the non drinkers split a bill with the heavy drinkers. some drinks could be 6.00 a pop.

cjb88 Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:28 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

FI's parents go out to dinner often with the same couple... they have a discussed deal that they split the check... i guess they figure that down the line everything will even out... but both couples usually order drinks...

if we were going out with different couples, i think I would just have FI grab the bill when it comes, and tell everyone what they owe! (he's the math teacher)... I dont think people would really argue with that...

BriBri529 Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:45 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

We have had this experience with some people- needless to say we don't go to dinner with them much anymore

TracyInQueens Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:48 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

That happens with us too. We also have friends who will take our cash towards the bill and then put everything on one of their 'cash back' cards, which I think is a little tacky. I am sure it does not add up to a lot, but still.

FTRBRIDE Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:51 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Actually, I hate it when people try to pay for the exact amount that they ate. If you go out to dinner with people, I believe you should fully expect to split the bill and not start picking it apart.

cjb88 Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:53 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

I wonder if there is 'proper etiquitte' written about this topic...

lolita4life Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:55 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

ive never had that problem because we dont split it in half. DH takes the bill figures out how much each owe and says 'just give me $__' or says 'you owe $__'.
we would never just split it down the middle. that wouldnt make sense to me.
we dont do it down to the very last cent, but get an average.
I dont want to pay for anyones meal/drinks and i certainly dont want anyone paying for MY meal/drinks!

OSCARtheGROOM Posted: Mar 27, 2005 08:58 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

I hate when it happens to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mrswask Posted: Mar 27, 2005 09:28 PM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Yeah - it really doesn't seem like there is an non-awkward solution!

Moehick Posted: Mar 28, 2005 12:26 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Posted by mrswask

Yeah - it really doesn't seem like there is an non-awkward solution!

Probably not but if the other couple is going to be rude to make you pay for their drinks than be rude and ask for your own check.....maybe they will get the hint!

eogara Posted: Mar 28, 2005 08:31 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Posted by FTRBRIDE

Actually, I hate it when people try to pay for the exact amount that they ate. If you go out to dinner with people, I believe you should fully expect to split the bill and not start picking it apart.

Ahh, I agree!! There's nothing worse than going to dinner with a bunch of people and when the bill comes having someone say 'Well, I just had a burger...'. Ugh!! It'll all even out over time - one time I'll pay more for what I ordered, another time they will.

RedHead Posted: Mar 28, 2005 08:34 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

No we don't usually have this problem actually. When we go out with friends usually the bill is not split. One couple usually pays for it that time and the other couple will pay the next....Makes this issue mute.!
I think this is just an easier way to handle it

prncssrachel Posted: Mar 28, 2005 08:37 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

We used to have a similar issue with our friends, only they WOULDN'T split the bill evenly. Example...we all went out to dinner to celebrate when JT and I got engaged. We went to a family style restaurant where we just put the food in the middle and everyone ate everything. No one had more than one glass of wine....so when the bill came and my sister just split it evenly between our friends and her, one friend b-tched that he, 'didn't eat EVERYTHING, so why should I have to pay the same amount?' My sister was so PO-ed that she yelled: 'DON'T NICKEL AND DIME ME, WILL!' Let's just say that splitting the bill evenly has never been a problem since

soon2bMrs Posted: Mar 28, 2005 08:52 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Posted by eogara

Posted by FTRBRIDE

Actually, I hate it when people try to pay for the exact amount that they ate. If you go out to dinner with people, I believe you should fully expect to split the bill and not start picking it apart.

Ahh, I agree!! There's nothing worse than going to dinner with a bunch of people and when the bill comes having someone say 'Well, I just had a burger...'. Ugh!! It'll all even out over time - one time I'll pay more for what I ordered, another time they will.

This is how DH and I feel.

SandraLynn Posted: Mar 28, 2005 09:45 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

My DH and I do not drink, and I don't think that if we KNOW we only ordered $50 of food and the bill 150, we should be half of that..my DH's boss has done this to us a few time, he orders bottles of wine, and we have to pay for 1/2 of them, no thanks....I don't think that is proper, sorry, JMO...

Janice Posted: Mar 28, 2005 09:54 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Posted by soon2bMrs

Posted by eogara

Posted by FTRBRIDE

Actually, I hate it when people try to pay for the exact amount that they ate. If you go out to dinner with people, I believe you should fully expect to split the bill and not start picking it apart.

Ahh, I agree!! There's nothing worse than going to dinner with a bunch of people and when the bill comes having someone say 'Well, I just had a burger...'. Ugh!! It'll all even out over time - one time I'll pay more for what I ordered, another time they will.

This is how DH and I feel.

I am with you..I hate when people pick apart the bill, drinkers or non drinkers...I don't understand why non drinkers would go out to dinner with drinkers..someone adding my drinks up for me would def kill my buzz..and really how much beer/liquor is someone drinking..maybe 3 beers with dinner that is only 12.00...so split is 6...I don't want to be picked out over 6.00

TracyInQueens Posted: Mar 28, 2005 10:06 AM

Re: Spin-off to Going out to Dinner Thread

Posted by SandraLynn

My DH and I do not drink, and I don't think that if we KNOW we only ordered $50 of food and the bill 150, we should be half of that..my DH's boss has done this to us a few time, he orders bottles of wine, and we have to pay for 1/2 of them, no thanks....I don't think that is proper, sorry, JMO...

I agree- my MOH and I were once in a situation where a friend of ours ordered wine, dessert, an expensive entree and then wanted to split the check three ways. My MOH is in a PhD program, and on a tight budget. She only ordered an entree and was offended that she was expected to subsidize part of our other friend's meal when she specifically ordered within her budget. Should she not go out to dinner with friends who have full time jobs and more disposable income? With couples it may be different but I think sometimes people are not sensitive to the money issues of others.