Generally I think it's easier to split equally and if I'm in a group where I know this is the practice, then I tend to order at the same "level" as others. If everyone else is getting a drink, I will too. If everyone else is getting appetizers, then I will too. However, I can afford to pay a little more than my share, so I don't sweat it.

Billr: To Share Costs and Itemize in One

If you have an iPhone and love to eat out with friends, you need this 99 cent app. Billr will calculate what everyone owes for their own entrées (since you know you don’t want to pay for someone else’s lobster when you enjoyed a salad) and split shared items, like appetizers and wine. The app will also add in the tax and tip and even send a copy of the split bill to the rest of the group as a text or email.



Divvy: To Snap and Split

With Divvy on your iPhone, you don’t even have to type anything into your phone. Simply snap a picture of your receipt, drag each item to the person who’ll be paying for it, and you’re done! The app will automatically add the appropriate tax and tip to each person’s portion. Download it for 99 cents.

Entirely depends on the group. But usually we split with most of our friends and then say something like, we have two kids, so you guys throw in $60 and we'll cover $80 if the situation warrants. Or if one person isn't drinking, we'll do the same thing, offer to cover more because we were drinking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a former server, just split it evenly. Separate checks are a nightmare.

One check itemized by person isn't complicated at all, particularly if everyone pays by CC.

Another former server here, and I agree with PP. Unless you have an operating system that allows you to itemize by customer by default - adding items to Seat 1/Seat 2 etc - it IS a nightmare. Giving the table the check to make notes on, creating new checks for each customer and then splitting off each dish from the original check, in addition to splitting wine/Pellegrino/appetizers/desserts four (or more!) ways equally. It takes forever (as OP noted).

Never worked at a restaurant that didn't have that option. Even so, that's part of the job. People shouldn't have to subsidize someone's meal to make the server happy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. I went to a bday party dinner and ordered a salad and one glass of wine because I'm broke. Everyone else had steaks and millions of glasses of wine. My share of the bill was $225. I was so mad.

When money was tight for me, I would either skip this sort of event or discuss my situation in advance.

Yep. We don't go out on these outings anymore.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. I went to a bday party dinner and ordered a salad and one glass of wine because I'm broke. Everyone else had steaks and millions of glasses of wine. My share of the bill was $225. I was so mad.

I don't believe this.

I don't either.

I am glad places like Chili's and Red Robin have a machine right at the table that allow people to split the bill.

No one that has a seven figure income would be posting something like this, so I don't buy that either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a former server, just split it evenly. Separate checks are a nightmare.

One check itemized by person isn't complicated at all, particularly if everyone pays by CC.

Another former server here, and I agree with PP. Unless you have an operating system that allows you to itemize by customer by default - adding items to Seat 1/Seat 2 etc - it IS a nightmare. Giving the table the check to make notes on, creating new checks for each customer and then splitting off each dish from the original check, in addition to splitting wine/Pellegrino/appetizers/desserts four (or more!) ways equally. It takes forever (as OP noted).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split it, evenly, down the middle. Nothing infuriates me more than women who insist on itemizing. "You had the steak but I only had the salad and water ..." AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yes women are so cheap. Split is down the middle.

Women have to be cheap because they earn less than men do. In addition they typically order fewer food and drinks as well. Over years of splitting evenly they end up screwed.

When I was poor, I usually calculated exactly how much I owed (since I don't eat much and always got the cheapest thing on the menu). Now that I'm better off financially, I don't care whether we split the check or pay for our own meals. I make more than my friends, so I don't mind subsidizing a portion of their meals.

I have friends who want separate checks, friends who like to split the check and friends who will offer to treat. Given the choice, I prefer to split it.

https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-genius-apps-for-splitting-bills-with-friends

I like the splitwise app - but there are others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split it, evenly, down the middle. Nothing infuriates me more than women who insist on itemizing. "You had the steak but I only had the salad and water ..." AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yes women are so cheap. Split is down the middle.

Why aren't you getting that it isn't about cheapness -- it's about the fact that some people are on a budget. Maybe since you make millions, you think those people should never go out anywhere. But sometimes people can afford to go out and spend a bit and they want to hang with their friends -- so they go and expect to grab a bite to eat and maybe 1 drink and don't necessarily plan on having to subsidize your lobster and 5 drinks.

I have a feeling the 2 newcomers are about to get dropped from this group for being cheap and/or having a lower HHI. Probably better for them. Who wants to spend their free time and money on a half dozen snobs?!

This. OP left pertinent info out of her post. And she can try to pretend all she wants that the newcomers were so uncouth or whatever, but it seems to me if you make millions a year and have a personal, strong feeling that the bill not be split, then you should just offer to cover it rather than trying to shame someone else into subsidizing you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split it, evenly, down the middle. Nothing infuriates me more than women who insist on itemizing. "You had the steak but I only had the salad and water ..." AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yes women are so cheap. Split is down the middle.

Why aren't you getting that it isn't about cheapness -- it's about the fact that some people are on a budget. Maybe since you make millions, you think those people should never go out anywhere. But sometimes people can afford to go out and spend a bit and they want to hang with their friends -- so they go and expect to grab a bite to eat and maybe 1 drink and don't necessarily plan on having to subsidize your lobster and 5 drinks.

I have a feeling the 2 newcomers are about to get dropped from this group for being cheap and/or having a lower HHI. Probably better for them. Who wants to spend their free time and money on a half dozen snobs?!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. I went to a bday party dinner and ordered a salad and one glass of wine because I'm broke. Everyone else had steaks and millions of glasses of wine. My share of the bill was $225. I was so mad.

I don't believe this.

Why wouldn't you? This has happened to me too.

Yes, this happens ALL of the time if you are in a big group and split the check evenly. One of the first lessons I learned at one of my jobs was to just order what I wanted - I was going to pay for it anyway. A co-worker once ordered a $2 and a water - her share of the bill after tax and tip was $20 after she subsidized everyone's drinking. It was usually the men that wanted to order a ton of food, several beers and then were the loudest about splitting the check down the middle. For the person that posted the original, if that included paying for the birthday person's food/wine/dessert, I can see that happening.

That said, I HATE dickering over the bill. If I order lobster and you ordered a salad, I'll just pick up the check. You can do it next time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split it, evenly, down the middle. Nothing infuriates me more than women who insist on itemizing. "You had the steak but I only had the salad and water ..." AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yes women are so cheap. Split is down the middle.

Stop replying to yourself.