One person asked for advice on the Reddit platform after refusing to pay a larger portion of the bill for a smaller order.
The Reddit user claimed he went out for a nice meal with a group of five friends, but wasn’t all that hungry.
“We went to a pretty nice restaurant, (and) I wasn’t that hungry, so I just ordered a small appetizer and a drink, which totaled about $15,” the person said.
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“However, most others ordered multiple courses, drinks and desserts, with the cost of their meals adding up to over $50 per person.”
The user said that when the bill came at the end of the meal, a friend at the table suggested that all six of them split the bill.
“That would have meant paying around $50, much more than what I ordered,” the Reddit user wrote.
After noticing that he or she was uncomfortable paying that amount, two of the friends at the table “became upset” and said the Reddit user was “stingy.”
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However, the person responded by standing firm and paying only for his or her specific portion of the meal.
However, the Reddit user later said the situation had come up in the friend group’s text message history.
The user said: “One of them brought it up again and said that I had ruined the mood of the evening by getting in trouble over a few dollars and that friends are supposed to share money.”
The user asked others on the platform if he or she was wrong, saying it felt “unfair to me to pay for everyone else’s expensive meals when I actually didn’t eat much.”
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Other users discussed the matter in the comments – and many agreed with the author, saying that the person was not wrong.
One user wrote: “It’s hilarious that they accuse OP (the original author) of being stingy when they (the friends) are the ones who don’t even want to pay for what they ordered.”
Another said: “Their friends had the chance to do the sensible thing at the restaurant and instead got angry – and then dragged the matter out afterwards.”
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California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told Fox News Digital that if the user was concerned it would cause problems, they should have simply split the bill.
“In some cases, it’s too difficult or inconvenient to split the bill to reflect what you consumed. Pay,” Randall said.
Randall suggested thinking of the fee as “an investment in being part of the group and having fun.”
If you’re on a tight budget, the etiquette expert recommends planning these social outings in advance.
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“Whether it’s just drinks and appetizers or a full meal, if you’re skipping drinks or only ordering a small salad for budget reasons, discuss it with your friends beforehand,” she says.
“Don’t wait for the check to arrive to give it to them.”
She recommended limiting other expenses during the week, refraining from attending events, asking for a separate bill or bringing cash for meals.
Overall, however, she said, “When relationships have a history, everyone gets along and that has many positive aspects. Don’t let an unbalanced split check tear the relationship apart.”
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She added, “Don’t let a few dollars ruin your relationship or put you on the do not invite list.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Reddit user for further comment.