splitting dinner bills - ideas?

[Anonymous]

Once a month we dine out with our family friends. We usually share dishes - family style. Kids range from toddler to preteen. It the past we split the check based on the dishes the family ordered. I'm looking for other ways to split the bill. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Op here. Our next gathering is at a Chinese restaurant where we will be ordering a set dinner meal. I'm trying to figure out the best way to split the bill. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

If these people are good friends, why not just split it down the middle (two families) or into thirds (3 families)?
I have never been a fan of totaling up the cost of each meal per person and figuring out the amount the family needs to pay.

[Anonymous]

Take the square root of the age of each person eating. This gives you the key for the proportions which each family should pay.

E.g. one family has two 49 year olds, a 9 year old, and a 16 year old. Their total is 21. The other family's square root of ages sums to 19. The first family pays 21/40 of the cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If these people are good friends, why not just split it down the middle (two families) or into thirds (3 families)?
I have never been a fan of totaling up the cost of each meal per person and figuring out the amount the family needs to pay.

When we go out with friends we always just split it evenly. It's not perfect, but I feel like it evens out over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these people are good friends, why not just split it down the middle (two families) or into thirds (3 families)?
I have never been a fan of totaling up the cost of each meal per person and figuring out the amount the family needs to pay.

When we go out with friends we always just split it evenly. It's not perfect, but I feel like it evens out over time.

+1 Same here. Or, we pick up the bill one time, the other family does it the next. It all works out in the end.

[Anonymous]

Split it. I wouldn't be sitting there and calculating who had what to every dollar. If the difference is over $50 or so, have the person tip more or all on their cc receipt.
I'm asked to split the checks according to who had what all the time for and the difference is usually under $5. Amazes me that they couldn't just have it split ( which is easier for the server) and then work it out by adding the tip (maybe already included also) or by giving your friend some cash to even out the bill.
Also, if it is split and you are good friends and know what each is going to tip, please add the same amount. If not, the likelihood of the server putting in the wrong amount just went up.

[Anonymous]

Credit Card Game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these people are good friends, why not just split it down the middle (two families) or into thirds (3 families)?
I have never been a fan of totaling up the cost of each meal per person and figuring out the amount the family needs to pay.

When we go out with friends we always just split it evenly. It's not perfect, but I feel like it evens out over time.

+1 Same here. Or, we pick up the bill one time, the other family does it the next. It all works out in the end.

+2

[Anonymous]

We pick up the bill one time, they pick up the bill next time. Usually the person not paying offers to leave the tip.

[Anonymous]

gum under the table, the family that picks the red gum pays.

[Anonymous]

gum under the table, the family that picks the red gum pays.

[Anonymous]

You should have each person weigh in prior to eating. Then everyone weighs in again afterwards. You would have to bring a scale to the restaurant but they make travel scales. Then determine each persons portion based on weight gained from the meal. You would have to weigh the food before and after too. Then weigh the leftovers and divide that by the number of people and spilt that evenly.

Or you could just, you know, split the bill evenly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Our next gathering is at a Chinese restaurant where we will be ordering a set dinner meal. I'm trying to figure out the best way to split the bill. Thanks.

If you always share the dishes family-style, just split the bill equally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take the square root of the age of each person eating. This gives you the key for the proportions which each family should pay.

E.g. one family has two 49 year olds, a 9 year old, and a 16 year old. Their total is 21. The other family's square root of ages sums to 19. The first family pays 21/40 of the cost.

this is a DCUM classic right here.