Split Checks?

[Janepod]

So wanting to pay for what you consume is "anal"? As has been mentioned, I don't think most people will bother over a couple dollars, but adding $10, $20, or even $50 onto your bill to cover someone else's "mistake" isn't exactly nice.

Separate checks simply eliminate anyone making a "mistake" on calculating their portion. To me, that's much less stressful than having five different people try to figure out their portion of a single bill, and factoring in the tip.

There are plenty of ways to pay for what you consume without coming across as anal. And sorry, to me separate checks seems to be the epitome of anal.

I've never found dining out to be "stressful" and I guess our dining companions just don't make significant mistakes. But if separate checks are the norm for you, great. Have fun and enjoy your dinner, down to the penny.

 

[gwynne]

So wanting to pay for what you consume is "anal"? As has been mentioned, I don't think most people will bother over a couple dollars, but adding $10, $20, or even $50 onto your bill to cover someone else's "mistake" isn't exactly nice.

Separate checks simply eliminate anyone making a "mistake" on calculating their portion. To me, that's much less stressful than having five different people try to figure out their portion of a single bill, and factoring in the tip.

To me, separate checks are faster. Basically I quick scan the bill, pop my cc on top, and hand it to the server. I can continue to enjoy conversing with my friends. We don't stop the flow of conversation so we can discuss how to divy up the bill.

 

[SaraJayne]

There are plenty of ways to pay for what you consume without coming across as anal. And sorry, to me separate checks seems to be the epitome of anal.

I've never found dining out to be "stressful" and I guess our dining companions just don't make significant mistakes. But if separate checks are the norm for you, great. Have fun and enjoy your dinner, down to the penny.

To me, separate checks are faster. Basically I quick scan the bill, pop my cc on top, and hand it to the server. I can continue to enjoy conversing with my friends. We don't stop the flow of conversation so we can discuss how to divy up the bill.

Exactly (to the bolded). We normally have separate checks and I don't find dining out to be stressful at all. I quite enjoy it (depending on our dining companions).

But you can continue to insult those who request separate checks ~ it makes no difference to me.

 

[Acklander]

So wanting to pay for what you consume is "anal"? As has been mentioned, I don't think most people will bother over a couple dollars, but adding $10, $20, or even $50 onto your bill to cover someone else's "mistake" isn't exactly nice.

Separate checks simply eliminate anyone making a "mistake" on calculating their portion. To me, that's much less stressful than having five different people try to figure out their portion of a single bill, and factoring in the tip.

It's the making sure that you pay,your fair share to the penny that comes of as anal.

 

[gwynne]

It's the making sure that you pay,your fair share to the penny that comes of as anal.

But...ummm...isn't that rather judgy? What makes one so certain that I prefer to pay my share to the penny, rather than I prefer to quickly handle the bill and have more time to enjoy my friends?

 

[sam_gordon]

It's the making sure that you pay,your fair share to the penny that comes of as anal.

Than I guess I'd rather be "anal" than to have to rely on who knows how many other people to a) do the math right AND b) contribute the right amount.

I'm glad other people have enough disposable income to pay $10-$20 (if not more) in addition to their meal. I wish *I* could.

 

[smitch425]

It's the making sure that you pay,your fair share to the penny that comes of as anal.

By all accounts, one's "fair" share would be exactly what one ordered. Anything more or less than that would not exactly be "fair".

 

[design_mom]

It's the making sure that you pay,your fair share to the penny that comes of as anal.

I still don't understand this method of thought.

Which of these scenarios are anal?

Scenario 1: I get a separate check for my $12.99 entree, $2.39 soft drink ($15.38 subtotal), plus tax (6.5% here, total of $16.38), and I round it up to $20 for the tip. I have paid what I owe, no mental calculating at the table, no discussion about the bill with table mates, etc.

Scenario 2: I get out my calculator figure my cost at $15.38 subtotal, figure the tax, for a $16.38 total; add 18% tip for a total of $19.33. I scrounge around in my purse for the pennies, so I can throw exactly $19.33 on the table for the combined check.

Scenario 3: I mentally estimate mine at $13 entree, $3 soft drink, add 25ish% for tax/tip, and put in $20 toward the combined check.

Scenario 4: Half the bill comes to $40, and I know I didn't eat that much, so I throw in $30? What about $25?

Which of these are anal? All of them? And do you really know anybody who does #2?

 

[gwynne]

I still don't understand this method of thought.

Which of these scenarios are anal?

Scenario 1: I get a separate check for my $12.99 entree, $2.39 soft drink ($15.38 subtotal), plus tax (6.5% here, total of $16.38), and I round it up to $20 for the tip. I have paid what I owe, no mental calculating at the table, no discussion about the bill with table mates, etc.

Scenario 2: I get out my calculator figure my cost at $15.38 subtotal, figure the tax, for a $16.38 total; add 18% tip for a total of $19.33. I scrounge around in my purse for the pennies, so I can throw exactly $19.33 on the table for the combined check.

Scenario 3: I mentally estimate mine at $13 entree, $3 soft drink, add 25ish% for tax/tip, and put in $20 toward the combined check.

Scenario 4: Half the bill comes to $40, and I know I didn't eat that much, so I throw in $30? What about $25?

Which of these are anal? All of them? And do you really know anybody who does #2?

Great points!
May I add, that personally, scenarios 2,3, and 4 to various degrees remind me of Del Bocca Vista Phase 3 and how they divy up the restaurant bill. Since I'm not hitting the early bird at 4pm, I'm probably a little adverse to the Seinfeld parents and their friends way of doing things.
I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just mulling over why I wouldn't choose it first. Not efficient, and to me...all the discussion about the bill would be annoying.

 

[mhsjax]

Than I guess I'd rather be "anal" than to have to rely on who knows how many other people to a) do the math right AND b) contribute the right amount.

I'm glad other people have enough disposable income to pay $10-$20 (if not more) in addition to their meal. I wish *I* could.

Well that is because you don't live in an area with $500,000.00 house prices with through the roof taxes.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I thought of this thread last night when I went to dinner with my mother & sister at a local restaurant - they didn't take credit cards at all. Cash and checks only. Never carrying cash was a slight sub-topic on the thread.

There are plenty of ways to pay for what you consume without coming across as anal. And sorry, to me separate checks seems to be the epitome of anal.

I've never found dining out to be "stressful" and I guess our dining companions just don't make significant mistakes. But if separate checks are the norm for you, great. Have fun and enjoy your dinner, down to the penny.

A few years ago, DH & I drove down to Charleston to visit one of his friends and her DH so the four of us went out to dinner. I was kind of surprised when they asked for seperate checks because we all ordered about the same thing and, as I stated before, we have always split the bill ourselves (either equally or by portions), so this seperate check thing was completely new to me. They were for the exact same amount. Ha!

 

[denisem]

Eh, I can go either way.

Dining with family and some friends, we're pretty equally matched in our food & drink choices, so we split the bill or take turns.

OTOH, we regularly dine with a retired couple that eat out constantly, whereas for us it's more of a "treat". I don't find it offensive that they ask for separate checks, as we're more likely to order apps, cocktails, desserts, while they do not. Separate checks takes away the whole onus of "ordering down" or splitting hairs in determining who ordered what.

 

[sam_gordon]

A few years ago, DH & I drove down to Charleston to visit one of his friends and her DH so the four of us went out to dinner. I was kind of surprised when they asked for seperate checks because we all ordered about the same thing and, as I stated before, we have always split the bill ourselves (either equally or by portions), so this seperate check thing was completely new to me. They were for the exact same amount. Ha!

I'm guessing
A) They're used to separate checks
And/or
B) When they asked for separate checks, they didn't know what you were going to order, and if they did know WHAT you were going to have, they didn't know the cost was going to be the same.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I still don't understand this method of thought.

Which of these scenarios are anal?

Scenario 1: I get a separate check for my $12.99 entree, $2.39 soft drink ($15.38 subtotal), plus tax (6.5% here, total of $16.38), and I round it up to $20 for the tip. I have paid what I owe, no mental calculating at the table, no discussion about the bill with table mates, etc.

Scenario 2: I get out my calculator figure my cost at $15.38 subtotal, figure the tax, for a $16.38 total; add 18% tip for a total of $19.33. I scrounge around in my purse for the pennies, so I can throw exactly $19.33 on the table for the combined check.

Scenario 3: I mentally estimate mine at $13 entree, $3 soft drink, add 25ish% for tax/tip, and put in $20 toward the combined check.

Scenario 4: Half the bill comes to $40, and I know I didn't eat that much, so I throw in $30? What about $25?

Which of these are anal? All of them? And do you really know anybody who does #2?

#1: nice, straightforward method where money doesn't have to be discussed and no-one can be stiffed or feel like they are racking up the bill for anyone else. However, in an area where separate checks is not the norm, it does need to be discussed which may be awkward.
#2: anal!
#3: reasonable option as well; complicated sometimes by multiple payers, people not having cash, copious amounts of alcohol impairing math skills etc. but can usually be overcome
#4: can be awkward when there is significant disparity between what people order; can be dealt with if all diners are acting fairly and reasonably, but sometimes you get one person in the group who causes things to turn negative i.e. they contribute too little, they insist on equal split even though it's grossly unfair to someone else etc.

 

[sam_gordon]

I still don't understand this method of thought.

Which of these scenarios are anal?

Scenario 1: I get a separate check for my $12.99 entree, $2.39 soft drink ($15.38 subtotal), plus tax (6.5% here, total of $16.38), and I round it up to $20 for the tip. I have paid what I owe, no mental calculating at the table, no discussion about the bill with table mates, etc.

Scenario 2: I get out my calculator figure my cost at $15.38 subtotal, figure the tax, for a $16.38 total; add 18% tip for a total of $19.33. I scrounge around in my purse for the pennies, so I can throw exactly $19.33 on the table for the combined check.

Scenario 3: I mentally estimate mine at $13 entree, $3 soft drink, add 25ish% for tax/tip, and put in $20 toward the combined check.

Scenario 4: Half the bill comes to $40, and I know I didn't eat that much, so I throw in $30? What about $25?

Which of these are anal? All of them? And do you really know anybody who does #2?

My answer to the question is #2.

I have no problem with scenario #1 or #3 (if it all comes in one bill). But again, if you're doing #3 and more than one person wants to pay by card, that adds a complication to it. Or is that one of those things that "never" happens?

 

[cluvsdisney]

I'm guessing
A) They're used to separate checks
And/or
B) When they asked for separate checks, they didn't know what you were going to order, and if they did know WHAT you were going to have, they didn't know the cost was going to be the same.

It was the only time I ever ate out with them so I don't know what they normally do.

They didn't ask for sepatate checks until the waitress brought the total check, so that made it seem like more of a nuisance to request after the fact, especially to me since it was my first seperate check experience. Her DH & I had the same dish and it was easy to see it would be close. I didn't expect it to be exactly the same though. Ha!

 

[Acklander]

I still don't understand this method of thought.

Which of these scenarios are anal?

Scenario 1: I get a separate check for my $12.99 entree, $2.39 soft drink ($15.38 subtotal), plus tax (6.5% here, total of $16.38), and I round it up to $20 for the tip. I have paid what I owe, no mental calculating at the table, no discussion about the bill with table mates, etc.

Scenario 2: I get out my calculator figure my cost at $15.38 subtotal, figure the tax, for a $16.38 total; add 18% tip for a total of $19.33. I scrounge around in my purse for the pennies, so I can throw exactly $19.33 on the table for the combined check.

Scenario 3: I mentally estimate mine at $13 entree, $3 soft drink, add 25ish% for tax/tip, and put in $20 toward the combined check.

Scenario 4: Half the bill comes to $40, and I know I didn't eat that much, so I throw in $30? What about $25?

Which of these are anal? All of them? And do you really know anybody who does #2?

You forgot scenario 5 where one couple buys dinner one time and the other couple picks it up the next time, and people don't get all bent out of shape because one time the bill was 5.00 more than the other time.

Personally, I go with either scenario 3 or scenario 5

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Either we all get out our cards and the waiter runs them through the device at the table (it's all chip and pin so handheld device). We tell him what the amount is per card.

Or we all put down cash

It's divided between us anyway as besides one time everybody I know eats or drinks for the same amount and I'm not making a fuss for a slight difference. Life is too short

I've never had a separate bill with friends only when on business if eating out with other people from different companies as we each are putting it on expense accounts

We also don't have to work out tax or tip which probably helps as all prices that you see on the menu/wine list have the service and vat built in.

ps - The one time that we did make a fuss was when we ate out with a girl who got her calculator out and added up what she had had compared to everyone else Never went out for a meal with that one again

 

[Bob NC]

Or is that one of those things that "never" happens?

 

[disykat]

I find it amusing that so many are still insisting it's rude, or anal, or they've never heard of such a thing - when over 70% of the respondents to the poll have said they'd prefer the separate checks or pay their own way option!

You realize this puts you firmly in the minority and that it's quite possible you sometimes dine with people who are wishing it was done this way?