Splitting The Bill Vs. Separate Checks
POV: you’re enjoying yourself at a birthday dinner and the check comes around. While everyone’s trying to figure out how to pay the bill, the birthday person suggests splitting it evenly amongst everybody.
Now people are arguing because they’d rather pay for what they ordered— (to be fair, they did only order a salad).
So what’s the best approach to paying the bill? Should everyone split the bill evenly, or should everyone only pay for what they ordered?
Calculators ready
If you’re out to eat with 18 people and the bill comes out to $4000, it may not make sense for you to pay around $200 if you only ordered a salad while someone else ordered a steak (especially if you don’t know the person).
Paying for what you bought is the fairer option, and it allows everyone to cover what they already expected to cover. Just make sure you take into account tax and tip for your total.
Depending on your beliefs, an easy option to this approach would be to pay for your own food order and tip, and contribute your share to the birthday person’s dinner.
We’re all in this together
If you got it like that, and everyone’s comfortable with it, split the bill. Splitting the bill is an easier way to pay the check, and it avoids the, “I thought you had the calamari!” conversations.
Now if you decide to split it evenly, don’t be that person to order a surf and turf platter because you know it’s going to be cheaper.
discussing options beforehand
Whether you believe in paying your share, or splitting the bill, I think it’s important to address expectations beforehand.
Whoever said ‘money is the root of all evil’ wasn't playing, because people’s true colors come out when it’s time to discuss money. So to avoid the, “If you broke just say that” people, have an open and honest conversation ahead of time.
Make sure everyone is on the same page about handling the bill. If you’re celebrating someone else’s birthday, is everyone paying for the birthday person’s food in addition to their own? Answering these kinds of questions can make paying for the bill a smooth and painless process.
