How do you split checks when you go out?

[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..

I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t care about $40, 50, 100.

For us it depends. With family and when we take one or more of our kids, we ask for separate checks. If we’re out with friends who are in similar financial circumstances, we usually we split the bill but if someone orders less than others we take that into account when we do the split and reduce their share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?!

I am guessing the computer system can do this easily

[Anonymous]

Put it on one card and then it’s split evenly over Venmo. It’s never really that much of a difference.

Don’t waste your server’s time with this nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Divide evenly.

[Anonymous]

9 times out of 10 I will split evenly, unless there's a huge discrepancy (like one couple drinks a lot more than the other).

[Anonymous]

We eat out with one couple often and almost always split the check in half.

Until they brought their college son along -- and he proceeded to order literally the most expensive items on the menu for app, main and dessert. He actually asked for a second lobster tail with his surf and turf!

The couple (the man) then tossed his card on the table and told the server "Just split the bill". I was LIVID. I think she saw it on my face, because she insisted they pay the tip. I don't know if that made us whole, but the son never came along on another outing.

[Anonymous]

Also be sure to ask everyone ahead of you want everyone to treat part of group…like a birthday. Don’t put anyone on the spot.

[Anonymous]

This is why I don’t like eating out with groups.

[Anonymous]

We have the opposite problem.. We are always fighting with the others to pay the entire bill..

[Anonymous]

Separate checks for each couple/family. We tend to spend more (DH likes high end booze) and don’t want any hard feelings so we ask for separate checks right at the beginning.

[Anonymous]

Listen up cheapskates: One person pays, one card. That’s it.

These kinds of things even out over time. If you must, everyone can square up over Venmo with a rough approximation of their share later.

Watching a table full of adults slice and dice a check is embarrassing. Nevermind an enormous waste of time for busy service staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This was me in grad school. I budget 20 a week for ONE restaurant meal (in NYC). I never ordered alcohol and always looked at the menu beforehand, so I could figure out what I could afford. Going out with trust fund kids who ordered two entrees, drank a lot and then wanted to split the bill sucked. But I would always say something. I had to advocate for myself. I learned so much financial discipline during those three years. And now I don’t judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This was me in grad school. I budget 20 a week for ONE restaurant meal (in NYC). I never ordered alcohol and always looked at the menu beforehand, so I could figure out what I could afford. Going out with trust fund kids who ordered two entrees, drank a lot and then wanted to split the bill sucked. But I would always say something. I had to advocate for myself. I learned so much financial discipline during those three years. And now I don’t judge.

Op here. I was the poorer grad student so I understand what you are saying. However, I went out with professional women. I don’t think anyone was struggling. I don’t think I can hang out with people who need to itemize a dinner bill.

[Anonymous]

This is also a problem for vegetarians, as dishes are usually cheaper. Used to go out to lunch when I was younger with older (better paid) colleagues. They would split the bill. I started to order an appetizer or something in addition to even it out. It doesn’t bother me now if I pay more than my share, but having been through that I always try not to screw someone else when splitting. It’s not that hard. Just say. “Oh I ordered an extra drink, I’ll put in more or I’ll cover tip, or I will add $30, whatever.”

Whether or not the money still matters to you, make sure you’re not the one benefiting from the split.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?!

+1 absurd.