Who pays?

[Anonymous]

If you are out with your parent at a mall and need a bite to eat, you stop at the food court, who pays?

When going out to dinner with you parents who pays? (Assuming it's not for their birthday or your birthday).

[Anonymous]

I always pay. I am 47. When my younger sister goes out with our parents they always pay.

[Anonymous]

Our parents always pay. My DH can usually convince them to let him pay for one meal when they visit.

[Anonymous]

We generally informally take turns/depends on who invited.

Food court - we might even get our own.

[Anonymous]

My parents pay (though we pay to groceries if they're visiting).

We usually pay for our inlaws or we split with them. Very occasionally they pay.

[Anonymous]

OP here, we always pay with my family, my parents just expect it.
With the IL's, they always pay.

[Anonymous]

In a food court? We'd probably each pay our own since we'd go to different vendors.

[Anonymous]

Depends. Sometimes we do, sometimes they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends. Sometimes we do, sometimes they do.

+1 Same here.

[Anonymous]

My parents always pay though my siblings and I always offer and try to pay. My dad becomes genuinely angry if we push too hard though.

We pay for my in-laws. Even when they ask us to a specific (pricey) restaut for DH's birthday. Check will come and MIL says "well that was lovely, thanks so much."

Honestly, neither way feels like a healthy dynamic. So help me when my kids are adults we're going dutch.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes me, sometimes my parent. Just depends on who gets to the register first.

[Anonymous]

When my parents are present and we go out to a meal. They always pay. I usually feel bad since they are retired but live very comfortably. So when I dont' want to argue with them at the restaurant, I'll say we are paying ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

We tend to fight for the privilege to pay a bit. Usually we work it out so that we essentially take turns. Generally though I "win" a bit more and cover more of the costs.

I'm happy to be able to afford it. One of the things I loved about my parents were how welcoming and generous they were with my friends so I like being able to reciprocate a bit. But they still try to treat.

[Anonymous]

My parents *insist* on paying for everything and it annoys me. I am an adult! I make lots of money! Would it kill them to let me take them out to eat?? I don't really get it but it doesn't bother me that much so I just say Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, we always pay with my family, my parents just expect it.
With the IL's, they always pay.

This.