Stingy People

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.....

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.

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!?

They ought to be, cheeky monkeys. 🙊

I'm fairly happy to split the bill in most situations.
However, I will add that in every group I have eaten with, some over many years, no -one takes note that I don't eat meat ( veggie pasta is often the cheapest item on the menu) and usually order a small glass of wine ( I'm a total lightweight- two glasses and I'm on the table singing songs- from -the -shows)
I think that I am probably in credit for a year of free meals...

silverlining48

Years ago we went out for a curry with a couple we knew a bit, ( dds newish in laws) and were unexpectedly joined by about 10 of their friends none of whom we knew.

I had been ill so only had plain rice, dh had a bog standard curry. Neither of us drank anything other than tap water as we had a long motorway drive back. The rest of the group lived it up ordering masses of food, plenty of beer and wine was flowing. More turned up…hungry for curry etc. I just wanted to go home….

When the meal and jollities ended, bill was divided, our share was £80. We or rather Mr S didn’t like to make a fuss so we paid up. Our bill would have been about £10. Long time now but this thread has reminded me.

They walk among us silverlining48, I wonder if your greedy guts and ours are related 😂

Another curry night tale hownowbrowncow. We won’t be forgetting ours either. (posted earlier).
I never did like curry,

*as Me

I like a drink with my meal and may have several but I would NEVER expect someone who doesn’t drink to pay the same as it …Rather selfish I feel 🙂

LOL there is two sides to this….
The eater of all courses and the drinkers always want to split the bill. That’s totally unacceptable. Of course that’s what they want. They expect others to pay for them.
If I can’t afford or don’t want a course or expensive drink I state when ordering that I would like a separate bill. Saves a lot of embarrassment.

When me and friends go out for meals there’s four of us two of us non drinkers the other two are big drinkers. We all pay for what we have not a big deal certainly nothing to do with being stingy I can’t stand stingy people.

After joining a local church my husband and son, a 17 year old newly appointed apprentice were invited to join the men’s group for curry night. They arrived and sat in the last 2 remaining seats on a table on a table for 4 and ordered what they could afford. One of the guys ordered a ton of food, sides, mains, alcohol and at the end of the night and after having left a lot of what he’d ordered announced “we’ll split the bill” chucked down £10 and left! My husband was furious that this Christian guy so blatantly took the piss and others had to pay for his gluttony. My husband has never been to another meal out with them and my son is now an atheist. A few lessons learned from that an we are not stingy!

I used to eat out regularly with a group of friends. We began to notice that one of the group always picked the most expensive things on the menu and also ordered extra drinks on top of our shared wine (she didn’t drive). We started to think she was using us as a meal ticket so, before we ordered one night, we said that we would have separate bills. Guess what! She ordered much cheaper food and no extra drinks.

When out with my walking group, or with friends, we always say when ordering that we will be paying individually. Never had a problem with this, as pubs and restaurants never seem to mind.

You dont HAVE to split the bill if you are on a budget (or diet) and only eat and drink modestly. What you do is announce at the beginning of the meal that you will be asking for a separate bill. Then everyone will know the situation if they choose to indulge in lobster while you have salad. Or if the separate bill does not materialise you leave the amount to cover what you have paid for and exit the restaurant. Let the rest of the party argue about the bill.

@wellbeck, like I say was naive. But I do think that people who don’t have to worry about money quite often don’t realise how difficult it is for others. And I think this goes for anyone who tends to eat out with others, be aware of the menu prices, can everyone dining with you afford the prices on the menu? Maybe read the room and book a more middle of the road affordable venue if you think somebody might feel awkward.

Babs03, are you sure that your one-time friend had no idea . . .
sounds quite deliberate to me.

Correction - forgotten her purse not cards.

I once met a friend for coffee, waited until she'd ordered as I couldn't afford much, then said, "I'll pay," upon which she said ,"Oh, if your paying I'll have....," a more expensive item. Never again.

When I was much younger and naive I befriended a young woman who came from a well to do background, she had absolutely no concept of money. On a couple of occasions she passed on designer clothes and a bag to me, I was thrilled. But going out was a nightmare, quite often she would insist upon us eating in an expensive restaurant then at the end of meal remark casually that she hadn’t brought her cards so could I get it this time, or she would leap out of a taxi leaving me to pay the fare.
She had no idea. Thankfully she left the country to live with her mother when she finished uni and though we communicated for a while our friendship soon fizzled out.