Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

Ok, what is your style.

If you go out with friends and you all order different things in different price ranges-


Do you split the bill evenly or do you pay for what you ate?

I split the bill if we alll ordered within the same price range, however if I ordered a Ceasar and you ordered Lobster- do NOT expect me to split.,

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

we split otherwise it gets too confusing. Most of the time everyone is in the same price range.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

We usually split.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

We just split the bill. It is very rare that one of us orders a salad and the other a steak dinner. I also do not drink alchol (just don't like the taste) so if the other couple is ordering a lot of drinks then they normally offer to pay for their drinks. If we order a bottle of wine for the table though, we just split it equally.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

Amongst our friends we always split evenly.
Then again, all of our friends tend to order in the same price range (lobsters all around ) so it's never been a problem...if I get lobster one night and someone gets salad, there's never been a question in terms of who pays what because even though sometimes they pay more, the time comes that we pay more...it seems to balance itself out in the end and it's easier than adding everything up item by item.

With people I don't know too well, I'll usually throw in more if I know I had more unless they say they want the bill split evenly.
Then again, if I'm out with people I don't know too well, I'm not likely to order the most expensive thing on the menu...

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

Always split. We figure a friendship is more valuable then whatever the difference is.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

we pay for what we ordered (edited to say--- when we go out with a certain couple), otherwise we split.... . We have a couple of friends that will order a $20 meal each with appitizers and 4 beers since he's an alcoholic (when they complain how poor they are and are watching their spending!), and me a $10 since i'm poor, and they'll want to split it. Sorry!! doesn't work that way!!! So since we've been burned too many times, we pay for what we ordered with them only.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

it normally gets split by the number of people...
which a couple of times has been ok, but mostly it ****s for us... me and fiance dont drink, and everyone else keeps the alcohol running.. so our $50 we spend ends up costing us $80(and this was back when we were both in college with little money)... which to us is the price of going out to dinner again... We learned to order the appetizers and desserts to try and keep up with there spending so that were equal.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

If it is a group, we normally just split it. if it is just with one friend, we usually take turns paying for the bill.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

We usually split it evenly to keep it easy. Most of the times it would probably work out that way any way. On the occasions where it doesn't it cant be more then a few dollars and it works it self out in the end.

BUT - last month we went to visit DH's friend in SC. We drove down there (mostly to visit them) brought them baked goods from NY they cant get there as well as a nice gift for there new baby. We all went to dinner and they asked for seperate checks! I was so insulted! I dont think I ever did that, even when I had no money!! All I kept thinking was if it was reversed and friends drove 700 miles to see me, I could at least buy them a meal!

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

definitely split...its so much easier that way...DH eats way more than everyone else...and I usually get something smaller...so that evens out...


but a coworker of mine was once complaining that she doesn't like to go out with this one couple, b/c they like to split and they order appetizers...and she doesn't


I guess you never know...

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

Christine: I would've been insulted also.

We usually split.
But one time, I went to Dominican Republic on Spring Break. There was a total of 6 of us. EVERYTIME the bill came, myself and 2 of the other girls that came got screwed with the bill. The other 2 girls NEVER put in their full share. I was p issed After the 3rd time that happened in DR, I said FORGET THIS and I ended up getting a seperate check for all my meals and drinks. I don't mind putting extra if a friend that doesn't have or treating a friend, but what gets me mad is when people don't pay their share on purpose, even though they have the $$

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

we usually split, but I have one friend that whenever you go to dinner with her, it usually costs $100 per person no matter what you eat so FH doesn't like to eat out w/ her. His friends tend to run separate checks, I'd always rather split it down the middle.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

We alternate. One night we pay, the next time our friends pay. We've never actually 'split' a bill. And we order what we want. None of our friends are mooches, nor do any of us keep a track record.

When we go out with friends that are single, FH always picks up the bill.

Edited to add:
If I'm out alone with friends, I usually pick up the tab. If not, I give more than my fair share.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

We usually just split, but if I order a drink and no one else does, I'll insist on paying more.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

Even split no matter what -

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

The minimum we do is split. If we order excess, such as a lobster and extra drinks, we'll throw in extra money.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

depends on how we're ordering, and whether or not we're sharing appetizers. If people share, then split, otherwise we each pay our own

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

Mostly split. When we go out clubbing FH will buy a round. Then the other couple or couple’s will buy a round. For us it doesn’t really matter. Because eventually the money will come back to us. But if a friend decides to eat a salad and I am having a seafood feast meal and drinks galore, I tell her don’t split I ate/drank more. I don’t feel comfortable asking for more money when I was the one that ate/drank like a beast! If they insist on splitting, I let it go.

Re: Topic Stolen from NW BOARD- Going out to dinner

I idn't see this and JUST made a post on NW board but different question.

We love to order a bunch of appetizers, when it's just us & try & share all different things!

When its with others, we split