Split Checks?

[shoney]

I haven't asked for a separate check since we were teenagers.

I also do not carry much cash, but if I were meeting friends for lunch/dinner, I would stop at the ATM. With my parents, we alternate....sometimes we pay and sometimes they pay, so the CC works!

We have always just split the bill unless it was a special occasion and someone was treating. It really wouldn't matter who ordered what. If I ordered the lobster and a friend ordered a cup of soup, I would put in more money. I would never figure it out to the penny!

I am on vacation now. Last night we went to one of the taverns at Williamsburg for dinner. We are with our 2 boys and my parents. My husband asked for the check and the waitress asked him "how would you like it?" He looked confused, so I had to jump in and said "all in one". Honestly, we have never had a server ask us that before.

 

[Hannathy]

With one group of friends we just divide by how many are at the table. Doesn't matter what was ordered.

With friends near me, who we rarely go out with, they go down to the penny. It's not regional it's cheap vs not cheap.

Why is it cheap to only be responsible for what you actually owe? That isn't being cheap in any stretch of the imagination.

I don't understand this thinking?

If we don't have separate checks we still only pay for what WE have eaten and drank, everyone looks at the bill and pays for that amount.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Why is it cheap to only be responsible for what you actually owe? That isn't being cheap in any stretch of the imagination.

I don't understand this thinking?

If we don't have separate checks we still only pay for what WE have eaten and drank, everyone looks at the bill and pays for that amount.

I agree with this poster. Let's say two people go out to dinner. One person orders a $7.00 salad and a water. Another person orders a $15.00 steak and a glass of wine. There are people out there who honestly see the second person as cheap for only wanting to pay for their share of the meal, but wouldn't see the second person as cheap for not wanting to pay for all of their meal and expecting the first person to pay for part of it? Seems to me, the opinion of who is cheap is a bit off.

 

[SaraJayne]

I'm amazed by the check-sharers just because of all the cash they must carry around! When I opened my first bank account at 17, it came with a visa check/debit card. I've really never been in the habit of carrying cash my entire life. I'd say it was a regional thing, but my friends were the same back home in NJ as they are down here in FL, so maybe it's more of a generational thing.

I very rarely have cash on me. I use my debit card almost exclusively.

 

[CaFeeney]

I have to admit I am really surprised at all of the people asking for split checks. I kind of associate that with little old ladies going out to lunch.

In my opinion (and the OP asked for opinions) I would find it cheap if one of my tablemates asked for separate checks and I would be a bit embarrassed. I guess I don't get what the big deal is - most of the time it comes within a few dollars. When we go out for dinner with others it is to enjoy ourselves - not to worry about if I paid $4 too much because I didn't eat dessert.

If I had a more expensive meal or ordered a drink that others didn't - I just throw in more money. Basically that is what the people I go out with do anyway. I guess if it was way out of proportion like I ordered a small salad and water then I would just speak up and say I was only putting in $10 or something towards the bill.

I live in Massachusetts if that makes any difference, and NOT in a fancy area!

 

[mhsjax]

Well, I'm just relaying what is done in my area. For whatever reason, people here tend to carry a lot of cash (think sopranos or NJ housewives). Some of my friends do not use credit cards, at all. I never heard of more than one person using their credit card to pay the bill - really, it's just not done here. If someone didn't have cash, everyone else would give their cash to that person, and he or she would cover the bill with the card.

Where do you live that homes cost that much? I don't think it can be around here (just guessing, since no one does separate checks here).

I love in NE Florida, towards St Augustine. Houses aren't that much now, well yes we do have quite a few that are, but before the housing crash you couldn't get a 4 bedroom with any type of space for under $500,000. Sorry, but you sound like your area is the only place with houses that much. They are everywhere.

 

[DawnM]

I pay for mine. I hate it when people want to split it evenly. I don't order alcohol or appetizers. I typically order a low to med priced item.

We went out last week when I was in San Antonio on vacation. My two friends ordered $25 meals each. I ordered on that was $10. I also had water.

I would have been very upset if they had suggested I pay for their shrimp and margaritas while I had Chicken tacos and water. Fortunately, we asked for separate checks the entire weekend.

 

[Planogirl]

OK, I've never been a server, so this is coming from total ignorance... they do?

Isn't everything on a computer? If they write each order on a separate page on their note pad, put in one sheet on the computer, total, second sheet, total, third sheet, total, etc.

I'll agree if they're doing everything by hand it's more.

They also have to go back and run three credit cards (my friends) and sort cash (for me). You are right in that it depends on the restaurant. In some there are other people that handle all of this for them and systems differ too.

When I say I tip generously, I don't mean that I double the tip or anything. I just throw in a little more than I usually do.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

With our group of friends we always do separate checks and pay our own ways. I think we've only ever encountered one place that couldn't split the check. Otherwise, usually one of the first things we get asked at a restaurant is whether it is one check or separate. I live in Central Texas and also this is not fine dining type places. We have like 1 or 2 of those here so this is casual dining, local eateries.
No one has ever suggested splitting evenly or just one couple paying. Our friends like to drink when they eat out, we don't. I don't have any interest in splitting things evenly and paying for some of their drinks.

 

[BlovesC]

My husband asked for the check and the waitress asked him "how would you like it?" He looked confused, so I had to jump in and said "all in one". Honestly, we have never had a server ask us that before.

Servers very commonly ask that down here. When we're out in a group of 10 or more, it's pretty automatic. But we've even been asked that when it's just DH and me, which always amuses me.

I'm still thinking this might be a generational thing. I wonder what percentage of those of us who think splitting checks is normal were born in the 80s and 90s? I'm sure my father never really split checks in his life, but that's just how I've grown up.

 

[mhsjax]

I have to admit I am really surprised at all of the people asking for split checks. I kind of associate that with little old ladies going out to lunch.

In my opinion (and the OP asked for opinions) I would find it cheap if one of my tablemates asked for separate checks and I would be a bit embarrassed. I guess I don't get what the big deal is - most of the time it comes within a few dollars. When we go out for dinner with others it is to enjoy ourselves - not to worry about if I paid $4 too much because I didn't eat dessert.

If I had a more expensive meal or ordered a drink that others didn't - I just throw in more money. Basically that is what the people I go out with do anyway. I guess if it was way out of proportion like I ordered a small salad and water then I would just speak up and say I was only putting in $10 or something towards the bill.

I live in Massachusetts if that makes any difference, and NOT in a fancy area!

See to me, nothing says cheap like a bunch of people, and yes for us it is a bunch, throwing in cash to pay for a bill. I know it isn't, it just looks cheap to me.

 

[Bob NC]

Holy mother of god people, this is a POLL.

It merely asks what you do and what region of the country you are in.

Why would people respond to a POLL time after time and argue about someone else's response?

In my state, any restaurant you go into is going to ask if you want separate checks. That's just a fact. What does your finding that "strange", "weird", or anything else have to do with MY situation?

The serial high and mighties are out in force on this one....LOL.

 

[sam_gordon]

They also have to go back and run three credit cards (my friends) and sort cash (for me). You are right in that it depends on the restaurant. In some there are other people that handle all of this for them and systems differ too.

When I say I tip generously, I don't mean that I double the tip or anything. I just throw in a little more than I usually do.

I would think servers would WANT separate checks. I know when I figure my tip, I'll calculate the 15-20%, then round up to the nearest dollar. I don't know of others do that or not, but the 'rounding up' would be more beneficial on multiple bills than on a single bill. I would think. I've been known to be wrong once or twice.

 

[ZachnElli]

Separate checks here. Usually, as soon as we order the server asks and then asks who is with who. I've never heard of splitting checks evenly. We do not carry cash at all and I have teenagers, if I have even a dollar they smell it on me! Lol! I don't get how separate checks is considered cheap. I've had to go in on presents with Dh's siblings for their parents, that one of his siblings picked out asked us to pick up (and pay for) only for all the siblings to be "short" and couldn't pay. I stopped that practice after a couple of years, I'm certainly not splitting a check at a restaurant with them!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Holy mother of god people, this is a POLL.

It merely asks what you do and what region of the country you are in.

Why would people respond to a POLL time after time and argue about someone else's response?

In my state, any restaurant you go into is going to ask if you want separate checks. That's just a fact. What does your finding that "strange", "weird", or anything else have to do with MY situation?

The serial high and mighties are out in force on this one....LOL.

I think that people are just getting bothered because they will say that they ask for separate checks and then someone will respond that they split the bill evenly because separate checks looks cheap. No one likes to be told that they are or look cheap.

 

[Planogirl]

I would think servers would WANT separate checks. I know when I figure my tip, I'll calculate the 15-20%, then round up to the nearest dollar. I don't know of others do that or not, but the 'rounding up' would be more beneficial on multiple bills than on a single bill. I would think. I've been known to be wrong once or twice.

You would think. One of my friends is a lousy tipper though and another calculates the percentage down to the penny.

Maybe the problem is cheap friends rather than too many checks.

 

[design_mom]

I think that people are just getting bothered because they will say that they ask for separate checks and then someone will respond that they split the bill evenly because separate checks looks cheap. No one likes to be told that they are or look cheap.

I agree.

I just can't see how paying for what you ordered could be considered cheap. It seems like the only way *anyone* would be "cheap" would be to order on the expensive side, then suggest splitting the bill evenly.

 

[cornflake]

Separate checks here. Usually, as soon as we order the server asks and then asks who is with who. I've never heard of splitting checks evenly. We do not carry cash at all and I have teenagers, if I have even a dollar they smell it on me! Lol! I don't get how separate checks is considered cheap. I've had to go in on presents with Dh's siblings for their parents, that one of his siblings picked out asked us to pick up (and pay for) only for all the siblings to be "short" and couldn't pay. I stopped that practice after a couple of years, I'm certainly not splitting a check at a restaurant with them!

I think that's the reason it comes off as seeming cheap to some people.

I'm not saying people who do it ARE cheap, just that the perception is likely based in the idea that people who do it are doing it because they won't pay a penny more than they owe.

Which, not that someone who ordered a $10 app should put in $25 because everyone else had entrees, no one thinks that. But that it seems more on the 'I'm paying *exactly* what I owe and not a penny more' when the people who tend to just split the check do toss in for what they ordered (like the $10 app person would only throw in like $13), but not to the penny, and it might be $1 over or whatever but no one is that petty to need to know they're not contributing even a cent more.

Like I said, I'm not saying that's the motivation - obviously, it's just convention in some parts of the country - but I think that's the way it comes off as seeming cheap to some people.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think that's the reason it comes off as seeming cheap to some people.

I'm not saying people who do it ARE cheap, just that the perception is likely based in the idea that people who do it are doing it because they won't pay a penny more than they owe.

Which, not that someone who ordered a $10 app should put in $25 because everyone else had entrees, no one thinks that. But that it seems more on the 'I'm paying *exactly* what I owe and not a penny more' when the people who tend to just split the check do toss in for what they ordered (like the $10 app person would only throw in like $13), but not to the penny, and it might be $1 over or whatever but no one is that petty to need to know they're not contributing even a cent more.

Like I said, I'm not saying that's the motivation - obviously, it's just convention in some parts of the country - but I think that's the way it comes off as seeming cheap to some people.

Regarding the bolded... there have been examples on this thread where people have gotten an inexpensive meal and then been asked to split the cost of someone who's gotten appetizer, entree, desert, and drinks. No, it may not have happened to you, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

 

[mjkacmom]

I love in NE Florida, towards St Augustine. Houses aren't that much now, well yes we do have quite a few that are, but before the housing crash you couldn't get a 4 bedroom with any type of space for under $500,000. Sorry, but you sound like your area is the only place with houses that much. They are everywhere.

Sorry, but no, they aren't like this everywhere (and for fun, I just checked, and median home sales in that area for the past 6 months are half of what they were here). Yes, sales are down here, too. A few years ago, you couldn't find a 3 bedroom fixer-upper for under $500,000, on a postage-stamp lot. There is no such thing as a stand-alone 2 bedroom home for under $300,000.