Comments on: Who Should Pay For A Birthday Dinner?

By: Johnnie Byrn

Johnnie Byrn — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 01:13:20 +0000

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By: Student Scrooge

Student Scrooge — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:44:26 +0000

I agree with the consensus that the first strategy really is the way to go — split the check, cover the guest. Figuring out how to split is the hard part; personally, I generally think the easiest way is to ask anyone that spent *significantly* more to chip in extra (like the $100 tab in Doctor S’s example) and then just split it down the middle… otherwise splitting gets too difficult. But yeah, the birthday person’s dinner should be on the group (especially if its a big group).

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:37:39 +0000

For me, it makes me angry when the birthday guy/girl organizes his/her own birthday bash, then expects people to pay for him/her. He/she usually picks a place nicer than normal. If I had wanted to take him/her out for a meal, I would have invited him/her myself.
Maybe I’m being selfish, but if you’re HOSTING something, you’re expected to cover the costs (or at least your own costs).

By: Doctor S

Doctor S — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:23:33 +0000

Wow. What a great topic that happens to anyone who has friends! I like the first option where everyone splits the bill and covers the birthday party person, however, I have been out a few times where people totally abuse this setup and order drink after drink after drink after drink! One person may have consumed $100 worth of service while everyone else splits the entire bill.

So I really think that every pays for whatever they ate/drink and then throws in some extra for the birthday party person. it makes sense, you pay for whatever you bought. Great practical post b/c it happens all the time!

The bill comes out and there is always someone yelling “But I only got an appetizer!!!” Haha . Be easy.

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:23:53 +0000

I agree with Sallie’s Niece that everyone should pay for their own meal and then split the cost of the meal for the birthday girl/guy. It’s the only fair solution in my book.

If the dinner is something put together by the birthday girl/guy then I might bring a nice gift instead of paying for their meal (though I will chip in if others still want to pick up the tab). In this situation it seems they don’t care for the cost of their meal, they just want to be around friends and family. You can’t put a price on that.