Just been reading a post in MN about stingyness in a restaurant and so funny the poster's comment regarding thunderclap. Do read it.
I can recall 2 occasions of my own.
The first was a big family birthday at a restaurant where there were about a dozen of us. Some had starters and main and others had main and dessert. All had drinks of some sort not all had alcohol as driving. At the end of the night the bill came and was handed to my SIL's dad. Instead of dividing the total by the number of people which would have worked out roughly the same for all he started trying to work out what each person had but it all got so complicated and embarrassing when there was no need. I'll never forget it.
The second time was someone I've known for years who messaged me on FB for a while during Covid. He usually did his shopping at one of the cheaper supermarkets but as he couldn't go out his daughter did his shopping for him at Morrisons and delivered it to his doorstep. He complained bitterly to me that he had paid more than enough for a tin of tomatoes that he would normally have got for 12p. I thought you ungrateful b*****d. I never said anything but I thought back to when I knew him from years ago and he was mean then.
They ought to be, cheeky monkeys. 🙊
My friends and I always buy our meals separately
I know what it's like too to be stung when having to watch pennies , recently had the experience of a woman splitting it 3 ways 'for ease'. -- Hard to believe how she didn't consider I only had a soup and water lol (upset tummy) she had full roast dinner, pud and soft drinks x 2. 🤷♀️. Any thoughts!?
FindingNemo15
A while ago we went out for lunch with another couple. At the end my husband paid for it by card and the other couple started to count out their cash.
It did not end there because they both counted out their quarter of the bill.
It was so embarrassing.
I do not get how it can be embarrassing to expect people to pay for what they have. Why should they pay for what they have not had. People actually take advantage when they know in advance the bill will be split even, the order the most expensive on the menu, if they know they have to pay for what they consume they often order the cheapest on the menu. I see it all the time. I ran a group and arrange all our outings. We pay for everything in advance and obviously order in advance too, because of big numbers.
I happened to me only last months. Went out with some cousins I had not seen for years and years. They have recently inherited a huge farm and everything which went with it. They enjoyed a 3 course meal and pre and post meal drinks plus a bottle of wine. I had water and a salad nothing else, my payment came to close on £ 75 as it was split with the number of people there. I did not want to cause a scene, but will not be dining with them again without having a few words first.
Totally agree with you. We just split bill by no of people no matter who got what...I have a group that I occasionally have lunch with and they do it to the last penny what exactly everyone owes....ridiculous.....
Honestly, I can't understand people who think it's OK to split the bill equally -
When a menu comes it has the prices - I keep in mind the cost of each dish, the price of the drink, side dishes etc. Plus a tip - done.
I have a friend that organises trips and the chancers I've encountered! One guy tried to take over at the first dinner with his "we'll split the bill equally" - one lady had had two starters and wine, my organiser friend had one starter and water, etc - I pulled him up straight away (which he did not like, eye roll etc). The next meal I put down 35Euro, he took charge of the bill and kicked off when it was 6Euro short .. there were only 4 of us, each interrogated as to what they'd had (mine was 30Euro with 5Euro tip), on and on ... then he blurted out "oh, I've forgotten my dessert"!
Another one of my friends trips a few of us went to a very attractive restaurant (organiser went elsewhere) - when the bill came we each paid for our own dishes and I remarked they hadn't included the bottle of wine that I and one of the others had shared. Well, her eyes lit up, and I had to put her straight, I wasn't going to not pay for the wine! Goodness sake!
Most places now if you tell them you are paying separately will let you pay one at a time with you telling them what you had.
I was stung a long time ago (in my late teens) when I was invited to a birthday dinner, friend’s work colleague. I was persuaded to drive them all as I’d just passed my test and taxis were hard to get and buses not convenient (probably why I was invited, on reflection 🤦♀️)
Not only did I end up paying for their copious G&Ts, wine and Irish Coffees but they split the bill 3 ways and because they didn’t have enough for a tip, they made me add a couple of quid on top!
Ever since I’ve always taken lots of notes and change with me and made it clear at the beginning that I’ll pay for what I consume. Whenever a split is suggested, I always mention that I don’t want them paying for my expensive tastes in food - most back down at that stage!
As for the embarrassing long winded divi up when the bill comes? Seriously, how difficult can it be to do a quick calculation as you order from the menu - starter £6.99, main £15.99, pudding £5.99, wine £5.99 x 2…so £45 in notes on the table, tip included!
I would say pick your friends a bit more carefully. I go out occasionally with a group of friends and we always split the bill. Having said that if someone is driving we leave her off the drinks bill, if someone wants something more expensive they just throw an extra £10 in . No one tries to rip anyone off. I couldn't be friends with anyone who would do that.
It may be very "stingy" of me but I have never had the slightest trouble in calling out people who dont pay their fair share of the bill or shafting others.
This happened to me once on holiday in Greece with a group meal. My companion and I put down our share and the total was short. Then my companion said under her breath that X had not paid her share. I immediately called out X who admitted sheepishly that she did not have any money. I told her that I did not sub out scroungers and she would have to sort it out with the restaurant, as neither of us was paying a penny estra. We then left. I dont know how the remainder of the party settled matters or whether X was made to pay up. Not my circus or my monkeys.
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