How do you split checks when you go out?

[Anonymous]

When I go out in a group, we almost always just split it evenly. I’m not a big drinker so I’m often the loser when splitting checks since I drink the least. I don’t care and totally fine splitting the bill.

I recently went out and ordered a drink, an appetizer and an entree. I ordered the appetizer but everyone had a piece so we basically split the appetizer. When the bill came, I got charged for the appetizer. I don’t know why this bothered me so much.

How do you split checks when you go out? What do you prefer?

[Anonymous]

It varies…. I will split sometimes if just a friend and I go out and we’ve had similar ish items. In a large group if it’s just me I’ll either make sure I have cash or ask for separate checks. If we are out with another family we ask for separate family checks.

[Anonymous]

I would swallow it the first time but then the next time say loudly, "Do you guys want to share an appetizer?" That is their cue that the appetizer cost will be split.

I'll generally split the bill evenly unless I'm with a friend who drinks a lot more than I do. Then we'll ask the waiter to split it differently or they'll get the tip, etc. If eating in a group, we'll often ask for separate checks from the get-go.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the SES of the people I’m with. Usually just split evenly or we pay for it all.

[Anonymous]

we go out with four couples once a week. we get separate checks. if we get an app, the waiter splits it onto all four checks.

i kind of prefer this. if i see that this even bill split is coming, i will try to make sure to order similar to everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Split it evenly.

[Anonymous]

Pre-covid, we went out with a group, total of 3 couples, about 2x/week and even traveled together. I by far drank the least, ate the least, but DH and I always just split the bill three ways. But the other two couples entertained in their homes a lot more than we did. So somehow it all evens out.

[Anonymous]

Refuse to do it. It’s just annoying. I would rather pay the whole check than listen to people discuss for 20 min and wait for the server to run all of the cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we go out with four couples once a week. we get separate checks. if we get an app, the waiter splits it onto all four checks.

i kind of prefer this. if i see that this even bill split is coming, i will try to make sure to order similar to everyone else.

Really? Your waiter has time to split an appetizer 4 ways?!

[Anonymous]

I want to pay for what I ordered, not your extra's. If you offer others your appetizer, then that's on you and you should pay for it. Otherwise, don't order or don't offer.

[Anonymous]

I split it evenly or we break out a calculator and do it down to the penny. None of this “my entree and drink were $57 so put $60 on my card.” And if people insist on the latter I never go out with them again.

[Anonymous]

Either way isn’t an issue to me now because I have enough money that I wouldn’t notice the difference, but I also rarely go out with groups other than my immediate family. I did when I was single and had to be much more careful with my money. It caused me great anxiety to go out with my single lawyer friends who thought nothing of racking up a large Bill and then expecting me to split it when I’d sipped water all night and ordered the cheapest entree and nothing else. Because of this, unlike some of you, I have a lot of EMPATHY for people in the same boat and if someone wants to get out a calculator and calculate their exact share (or tell the waiter in advance they need split checks) then I understand and support that.

[Anonymous]

Split evenly. I really don't care if my friends order expensive food and drinks and I gotta pay more. Like, who really nickels and dimes their friends to death? No one friggins cares about a measly extra $40, 50, 100 with a friend..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Split evenly. I really don't care if my friends order expensive food and drinks and I gotta pay more. Like, who really nickels and dimes their friends to death? No one friggins cares about a measly extra $40, 50, 100 with a friend..

Some people care quite a bit about those amounts. If you’re the one ordering expensive stuff, keep that in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Split evenly. I really don't care if my friends order expensive food and drinks and I gotta pay more. Like, who really nickels and dimes their friends to death? No one friggins cares about a measly extra $40, 50, 100 with a friend..

^this is what it looks like to be out of touch. For the average American a 'measly' extra $50 or $100 is a big deal.