+1. Although I am married we face the same problem with our friends ordering fancy wines and big steaks. When the bill comes we take it, add up our expenses, and put sufficient cash on the table to cover our food, tax and tip. The other couple often takes the cash and pays the entire bill by CC. The only drawback is I don't get miles and they get double.C40 wrote:This is crazy... My initial reaction would be to say something like: "hey if I'm going to be subsidizing your dates like this, I'm gonna need the girlfriends to come over a night or two per month"Gilberto de Piento wrote:March 2014
6. The restaurants category is high. I'm starting to notice a problem I need to watch out for at restaurants. My friends are mostly couples and I'm generally flying solo. At the end of dinner people usually put in one card per couple and have the waitstaff divide the bill evenly. Between this faulty math and the fact that I don't order more than one drink with dinner and don't order meat I'm usually subsidizing other people's meals. I appreciate being invited but if this happens a couple of times per month it adds up.
If they aren't close enough friends to say that to, maybe try this: when the bill comes, put cash on the table covering your meal and tip. The waiter can divide the remaining balance for the credit card users. Problem solved.
I do wonder a little about those friends, because often our friends offer to pay for their extra expenses and that solves the problem also.