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

This.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

+1 Same here.

Depends. Sometimes we do, sometimes they do.

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

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

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.

We generally informally take turns/depends on who invited.

Food court - we might even get our own.

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

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

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).