If you go out to dinner with other couples

[disykat]

Each person/couple pays their share. If seperate checks are not allowed, one person pays and everyone gives him cash. This is the way it's been done with everyone I've ever dined. I never drink anything but water so it would have really added up over the years.

 

[dcgrumpy]

we always divide it evenly

 

[mrsstats]

We vacation with my brother and sister in law and eat out with them every Friday. We always split the bill, my brother does all the figuring. If it doesnt split even, one time I will pay the extra, next time he will. We never worry about who orders what as over the years, it works out down the line.

When we used to travel with him and his 2 kids, we would divide the bill by six and we would pay 2/6 of the bill.

 

[Planogirl]

We just throw in our portion or treat. But then everyone's portion works out to be about the same.

 

[4greatboys]

We normally get separate checks. Just makes it easier.

 

[Mishetta]

Considering what your portion of the bill came too, I would insist on separate checks next time!

That's what we do anyway, since we normally don't order anything alcoholic & that can really drive up the bill too!

You know though, I have to say....if my DH & I go out with another couple for dinner & we forgot to ask for separate checks & our dinner cost considerably more...I would NEVER let the other couple "split the bill" with us!! I would insist on us paying the extra amount! What kind of friends do you have??

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by Lisa F
For us, it depends. If we are really good friends with the couple and go out with them a lot, we either split evenly or more often than not one of us will just pick up the entire bill. We figure that it evens out over time. If we are out for some reason with people that we don't spend a lot of time with, we generally figure out how much each couple owes.

Ditto!

We do dinner every Saturday with the same couple....at our home for Trading Spaces after my kids have gone to bed. We usually get take-out. Since this is an every Saturday sort of thing, we just alternate weeks. We buy and pick-up one week, they do the next. Buyer always has the option to cook if they want. Sometimes we'll do steaks and then the next week they just buy sandwiches, but then the next time it's their turn we get something fancy...so it all works out.

Everyone else...we get separate checks or figure out our portion if the restaurant won't do separate checks. DH usually eats cheap (sandwiches) and I hardly ever drink, so we would lose money every time!!

Can't believe your friends stuck you like that! I'd sure make sure to get separate checks next time!!

Katie

 

[TINKTWINS]

We split the bill. Id pay almost anything to get out of the house!

 

[gina2000]

We split the bill....it usually evens out. If someone orders alot more or drinks alot more ....they usually know it. If they're stiffing you on a regular basis, they're not much of a friend.

 

[Ronda93]

I've discovered the easiest way to do this is when they ask together or separate, say together. When the bill comes we use plastic (debit cards - I track my spending so much better with it). I jot on the bottom of the check this card, this much, that card, that much.

It must be easy for the waitstaff to do, becasue we've never gotten even an eye-roll doing this. It's easier than trying to get cash right for all parties.

As for the OP's bill. Wow, that wasn't V&A's, was it? I'd have to say separate with that group.

If you've got a pattern with people splitting is fine, but three glasses of wine usually equals a nice entree.

Ronda

 

[browneyes]

We ask for our bill to be split, or we itemize our own expenses and pay that way. Unless we go out to eat with my brother and he thinks he should act like a big brother and pay our bill, which he does if I'm not quick enough to be a mean little sister and pay his bill or start spouting off who owes what.

 

[momm2four]

My husband and I have been out to eat with lots of different couples/groups and have never evenly split the bill. When the waiter says, "Is this all on one check" , it's always separate, and if they don't ask, we've just figured out what each couple owed. That's funny that so many people on here evenly split the bill b/c that's something that I've never even considered doing. I don't think it's ever even been brought up by anyone that we've eaten with.

That's not to say that we don't treat people to dinner or that we haven't been treated. In that case, the waiter says, "One check or separate checks?", and the person who wishes to treat has said, "Just one please". If I ever hear someone say that, I assume they are paying as that's what we (and everyone I have eaten out with) have done.

Lori P.

 

[HappyMommy2]

We get separate checks, unless it's a special occasion and one couple is treating the other for some reason.

Once while overseas my military DH and about 6 of his buddies went out to dinner at a nice restaurant and then played "credit card roulette"--they all put their credit card into a pile and the waiter randomly picked one card to pay the ENTIRE bill! Of course my DH "lost" and we were out $300. DH has strict orders (from me, of course) to try to avoid playing credit card roulette in the future!

 

[battricia]

We always pay for just what we ordered, either by getting separate checks or splitting it up by item. We don't eat any meat, which means our meals are usually less than most meals with meat, and I only drink soda, and my boyfriend only drinks water, and a lot of times if we go out with others they get alcohol, which is usually more than a soda, so we don't split the bill evenly.


tricia.

 

[Rajah]

We'll either do separate checks, or will pay one or the other for what we spent. Unless we ordered the same things, we don't just cut the bill in half.

 

[Kallison]

I always split with anyone, and I usually order way less. Just went out with a bunch of co-workers, they all ordered entrees and alcoholic drinks. I had soup and soda. For me the few dollars saved isn't worth the quibbling.

 

[robsmom]

even at lunch with co-workers splitting is the norm around here. I agree that it usually works out. In our case if there is really a disparity, usually people are aware of that and will do something to adjust. For example, last weekend my sister and her boyfriend both had 2 glasses of wine so he offered to throw in an extra $20. I looked at the bill, however, a realized that we might actually owe more than they did because my son was with us and had a meal and dessert and then my entree was a more expensive choice. Husband gave him back the 20 and offered another $20 which he turned down.

 

[CyranoJones]

We go out with one group of friends or another almost every weekend and we divide the check evenly unless we are treating. When we go on vacation with friends we each pick up the check on alternating nights.

 

[wdwnutze]

We just split the check in half. It all works out in the end.

 

[Kitty 34]

We usually split the bill unless we're doing something special for that couple!