Pick up the check, or Split the Bill?
By ladym33
@ladym33 (10979)
United States
January 6, 2009 5:37pm CST
When you go out with other people to restaurants are you the type that normally asks for seperate checks, or do you always pick up the bill? For me it will usually depend on who it is, and what the occasion is, or if it is someone who we have picked up the check for before and they never return the courtesy, that kind of person I would prefer to tell the wait person to do seperate checks. Most of the time I don't mind picking up the check, but we have a friend who never picks up a check and eats here at least once a week and sometimes twice a week, and he never picks up a check, my husband will always pick up the check for him when ever he is out with us. It is pretty darn frustrating. But that is a different story.
So when eating out with others do you tend to ask for a split check, or do you just offer to pay for it all?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@regal_aeros (2605)
• Singapore
7 Jan 09
like you say it depends on who i'm with..
with my close friends.. one of us would pick the tab first and then we'd split it later on. There is no need to make the poor waiter stand there and watch us dig our wallets right..
but if i'm with people i don't know.. i'd calculate my share mentally and when the tab comes i'd just put forward my share.. that's it.
1 person likes this
@ryzach (1544)
• United States
7 Jan 09
Most time when we are out with friends we split the bill. Most times it works out about right just to split in half. We don't go out that much anymore so it isn't much of an issue. when we do go it is with some good friends and everyone pays their share or if we pick up the tab, then the next time they do. Just recently I went out with friends at work for Christmas and I chose to pay separately for my drink as with so many people it can get really confusing and someone always gets away with not paying. Many years ago we used to have a friend who either wait till everyone put out their money and pay the bare minumum never leaving his part for the tip or he would wait for someone to offer to pay. Very annoying so I know what you mean.
1 person likes this
@sutan74 (1112)
• Philippines
6 Jan 09
When I go out with my friends we often split the bill or have separate checks prepared for us. If it's a special occasion like birthday, farewell party the one who invited us gets to pay the tab. But sometimes I don't mind paying if I'm with a friend and it's just the two of us. Coz they're are some people who would really take advantage of the goodness of other people so I would prefer having separate bill if I'm with friends. 
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
7 Jan 09
everyone pays their own in my circle unless it is somebodies birthday then everyone chips in to pay for that person's meal.
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@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
7 Jan 09
We usually split it, unless they're my kids and have no money I expect them to pay their share. We have some friends who always ask for extra money when we go out, we end up paying their bill and they get the extra money. I told my wife we are putting the kibash on that one. I would tell your hubby to quit feeding this guy, or, buy him some groceries.
1 person likes this
@baileycows (3665)
• United States
6 Jan 09
Well we usually go with my parents so I always hesitate a little to see if my father is going to pick up the tab or say separate checks. I know I am cheap, but they buy us dinner all the time when we eat out.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
7 Jan 09
My friends and I take turns when we go out for lunch. When we go out as couples, we split the check, which usually works out quite well because we often order similar things.
I've heard people complain that they order small things, and their friends order expensive drinks, and then the bill gets split 50/50, but at restaurants around here, they bring you an itemized bill - everything is divided up by person. So you just find your order and pay that amount plus tip, if people ordered very different things. It's very convenient.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
7 Jan 09
When we go out which has been a lot of years ago we always discussed this before we even went into the restaurant. That way it is clear before we even go in and eat.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
7 Jan 09
H[i]i ladym,
It depends. When eating out with in laws, my hubby will always pick up the check and sometimes they will insist not to but hubby will do it! But with friends, we just split the bill not unless we are inviting them for special occasion!
Hubby told me also that he has an old friend who will never pick up the check before and will just wait that someone will pay it! truly frustrating if this is always![/i]
@thedaddym (1731)
• United States
7 Jan 09
I tend to pick up the check a lot of the time. I am not comfortable when people pay for me. I also hate the hassle of having to divide up the check. I would rather just pay for it. It is worth it to me to not have the hassle or confusion with having seperate checks or having to divide up one check if they refuse to do two.
@camomom (7535)
• United States
8 Jan 09
For us it depends on the person/people and the financial situation at the time, for us and for them (if we know what theirs is).
