I'd never go expecting the host to pay in that situation. If it was a smaller get together with family and a few friends it is sometimes a bit different in that the host foots the bill, but even still I would have my wallet on me and be fully prepared to pay if they asked...
What would you do in this situation....
- Thread starter zootfloot
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I think the main issue is that it simply wasn't discussed prior to the meal going ahead.
Personally, all the parties or meals I've been invited to, It's been one of the first things to be discussed, generally the "host" does the paying.
I would have thought it'd be courteous for them to at least give you a rough indication as to how much it'll cost, for all you know, you're going to a restaurant that's very expensive but you didn't realise that before hand, so have only brought what you thought would be an appropriate amount of monies.
Personally, all the parties or meals I've been invited to, It's been one of the first things to be discussed, generally the "host" does the paying.
I would have thought it'd be courteous for them to at least give you a rough indication as to how much it'll cost, for all you know, you're going to a restaurant that's very expensive but you didn't realise that before hand, so have only brought what you thought would be an appropriate amount of monies.
.. aren't you forgetting a little something called real life? you know things like mortgage , bills , petrol , food. just because someone makes £551 a week doesn't mean they have anything near that to spend.
I don't care, they are my friends. They can tell me that I'm petty if they want. However they are my friends because they do realise that I like to be a bit more frugal, and they accept that they ate more so they pay more - simples. And it isn't really to the nearest fraction, I take what I ordered add 10% for the tip and put it in the pot. Sure I round up to the nearest pound though.
Glad there are others in this thread that agree with me!
I'm surprised the other way!1
I don't think I've ever gone to a restaurant expecting not to pay without being told in advance, one possible occasion was a celebration meal at the end of a project, but even then I made sure I had cash on me just in case. Every birthday meal I've been to I've paid, maybe I just don't know people rich enough to host 20-30 people at £30 a head just for a birthday.
As for the whole splitting the bill thing in general, am I the only person who is completely neutral about the whole issue? If people want to split the bill evenly, that's fine with me. If people want to divide it up by what people had, that's equally fine with me.
As I nearly always drink alcohol with a meal and know quite a few people who don't, I always offer to pay slightly more than my share to subsidise the non-drinkers.
As for the whole splitting the bill thing in general, am I the only person who is completely neutral about the whole issue? If people want to split the bill evenly, that's fine with me. If people want to divide it up by what people had, that's equally fine with me.
As I nearly always drink alcohol with a meal and know quite a few people who don't, I always offer to pay slightly more than my share to subsidise the non-drinkers.
Soldato
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You're not weird - that's called being a gentleman and I agree. I always prefer to split, but it depends who it is. I have a few friends that want to get it right down to the penny.
I think it says a lot about someone that has a meal (say £10 for easy maths) and then objects to paying £2 of someone else's meal who spent £14 in the end.
Agreed, this is exactly how me and my group of friends would deal with most things.
meghatronic, you don't really agree with me though 
You're insinuating that there's somehow something wrong with someone wanting to pay £10 out of a £24 bill. It really doesn't bother me
I know some caring people that would do a lot for their friends, they just don't have a huge pot of money to throw around, which may be partly why they deliberately chose cheaper menu options.
I guess the only thing that does annoy me is when you have large groups of people that don't know each other that well, some people are knocking back bottles of wine and then leave, not dropping enough cash to cover what they had (plus tip). Then you end up with say 8 people lift to cover the remaining £300 of the bill, and they've basically got no choice but to pay it because everyone else has gone and the restaurateur wants his cash. Maybe even with a 10% service charge added say £50 because it was a large group.
You're insinuating that there's somehow something wrong with someone wanting to pay £10 out of a £24 bill. It really doesn't bother me
I know some caring people that would do a lot for their friends, they just don't have a huge pot of money to throw around, which may be partly why they deliberately chose cheaper menu options.I guess the only thing that does annoy me is when you have large groups of people that don't know each other that well, some people are knocking back bottles of wine and then leave, not dropping enough cash to cover what they had (plus tip). Then you end up with say 8 people lift to cover the remaining £300 of the bill, and they've basically got no choice but to pay it because everyone else has gone and the restaurateur wants his cash. Maybe even with a 10% service charge added say £50 because it was a large group.
Soldato
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If this is how it was worded then you weren't even technically invited, you were merely informed that they would be at a restaurant at a particular time and that you were welcome to join them, so you should be expecting to pay.
I don't like splitting bills equally. I pay for what I have, whether that's over or under the average.
Sometimes i'm broke and I want to go out and spend time with my friends, so I order a cheap meal and only drink water. I don't want to have to subsidise someone's alcohol and steak, thankyou very much.
Sometimes i'm broke and I want to go out and spend time with my friends, so I order a cheap meal and only drink water. I don't want to have to subsidise someone's alcohol and steak, thankyou very much.
Man of Honour
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I've had 2 very recent events where even I got a little bit angry about people.
There were 22 of us having an Indian and when the bill came 8 decided to pay for exactly what they had with no tip and 5 decided that they had seen the prices on a circular and they would only pay £8.50 each
The average price was probably around £20 each so we know 13 people who we won't ask again.
The rest of us had to dig deeper to pay for the selfish gits.
Last week there were 15 of us and just before the bill came 3 of them chucked £15 down and said goodbye.
The average was £21 so the rest of us dug deeper to pay their missing share.
There were 22 of us having an Indian and when the bill came 8 decided to pay for exactly what they had with no tip and 5 decided that they had seen the prices on a circular and they would only pay £8.50 each
The average price was probably around £20 each so we know 13 people who we won't ask again.
The rest of us had to dig deeper to pay for the selfish gits.
Last week there were 15 of us and just before the bill came 3 of them chucked £15 down and said goodbye.
The average was £21 so the rest of us dug deeper to pay their missing share.
Heard of a little something called savings?
Always expect to pay, unless its decided before hand. I.E your birthday and someone asks you out to dinner.
I.E my mum
When me and my mates go out, we split the bill. Unless someone doesn't have starters or isn't eating much for some reason or other.
I.E my mum
When me and my mates go out, we split the bill. Unless someone doesn't have starters or isn't eating much for some reason or other.
Didn't need to read any further than this, the first post.
LOL at not taking enough money. life FAIL
Which is exactly what we thought.
To be honest the person in question is notoriously tight, i think he thought he was onto a winner, so he turned up with his wife and no cash (said he had cards on him though)....tight fisted git in my opinion.
If my meal and drink comes to £27, I just chuck in £30. it's easier, and if there is a bit of extra cash then the grand total it goes to waiting on staff if they've been good, if not goes on something to share or another round of drinks. I would never, ever expect to be paid for, and even if I'm told that it's so, I try and give at least a tenner or something to the person. People saying they walk out or leave if told they have to contribute to a bill - the ****? Surely if you think you're being paid for it'd make sense to ask to confirm it anyway, rather than wait and ditch your mates with your part of the bill. It's not like eating out costs a fortune to one person anyway.
Wouldn't waste my savings on buying other people dinner tbh.