How Did I Get Stuck Paying Most Of The Tab?
By singlemommy
@singlemommy (2955)
United States
June 7, 2009 12:00pm CST
Last night a few teenage girls in town asked if I wanted to go out and eat with them. I told them that I didn't have much money but I was willing to go if we were going to eat cheap. One of the girls wanted to go to Pizza Hut and I said yes that would be fine. I was thinking, we would order a large pizza, split the bill 4 ways and it wouldn't be as costly. Boy, was I WRONG! We got to Pizza Hut and one girl wanted to order a small breadstick, another wanted a small cinnasticks for dessert, and the other wanted a 10 piece hotwings. So, I thought, well this still wont be too bad split 4 ways even if we order a large pizza too. Then they said that they only wanted to pay for what they were ordering and I told them, if we are sharing all of this then we will split the bill 4 ways. They said okay, so that's what we did. Well, we order all this and then it comes time to split the bill, the girls wanted the breadsticks and cinnasticks only wanted to pay for those two items, which was only 5 bucks a piece. Our tab was $35, so that left $25. Now, the other girl gave me $20 but I told her she didn't have to pay for them to eat and I only took $8 from her. So, I was left paying a $17 tab. 
I was really upset about it but I didn't say anything, I realize these are just teenage girls and only 1 of them realized the monetary position I was put in and offered to pay more.
Have you ever been put in a position where you were left with paying for someone else to eat like this?
I was really upset about it but I didn't say anything, I realize these are just teenage girls and only 1 of them realized the monetary position I was put in and offered to pay more.
Have you ever been put in a position where you were left with paying for someone else to eat like this?3 people like this
18 responses
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
7 Jun 09
I would have handed them the portion that you intended to pay for your 1/4 of the pizza and your drink and said, "This is all that I have." No way would I have paid.
Next time, order a personal pan pizza and ask for separate checks. That is what we do when we are paying for our own stuff.
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
9 Jun 09
I have hadthis hapen before. So, now will speak up and mention seperate bills when ordering. It has helped me keep my sanity and my friends can no longer take advantage of. I even had one lady who would d it every wek, than say she had no money. but I knew she did. So, I started saying I only had money for such and suh. She didn't eat but atched me. This happen twice and she had money ever since.
1 person likes this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
8 Jun 09
Well this begs the question. Why would you go out with teenage girls? What do you have in common with them unless you belong to the "Big Sisters" and go out with them in a mentoring role. I am not surprised you got stuck with most of the bill. At that age kids don't have a good understanding of money and the consequences of their actions. They have to figure it out amongs themselves.
1 person likes this
@smartie0317 (1610)
• United States
8 Jun 09
What rude girls. Five years ago, when I was a junior in high school, I was a part of a school related club. We had due and it paid for us to have a kind of night out and the teacher drove us. Well, we went to the resturant and decided, like you had at first, to split the bill even steven. There was about seven of us and a teacher. So, eight people all together, but I might be missing a person or two who came. Well, some people really made pigs of themselves thinking the bill was going to be split eight ways. They ordered a salad or appitizer, food, and dessert. While others justg got a dinner, or dinner and dessert. I only had two desserts and two drinks, Arizona Ice Tea, and it came out to like $16 with tip. While others were raking in meals that were costing about 35-45. One boy went over board and his meal was like 60. So, we decided to have take the check and add up what each person got and they could decide what tip they wanted to leave. That boy didn't even leave a tip.
If I were you, I would have demanded her fair share if she ate more than just those two things.
1 person likes this
@mgraham126 (156)
•
8 Jun 09
my friends would never do that we would split the bill equally, next time say I only have this amount to spend and show them just say after last time at Pizza Hut you dont want there to be any misunderstandings.
mgraham126
1 person likes this
@Jordan8000 (20)
• Canada
8 Jun 09
I can relate to this because I was going to the movie with my friend and he told me that he would pay entrance if I would pay for food and I thought "Okay that's fair"
But then when we got in he told me he wanted a small pizza a large drink, large popcorn and a huge bag of candy(which was about $5) So I spend about $50 and he only spent $20 I was so pissed off at him but I didnt say anything...
1 person likes this
@earning (141)
• United Kingdom
8 Jun 09
If ALL they ordered/ate were the breadsticks and cinnamon sticks, then in their eyes they'd have paid for you to eat pizza.
If they only had $5 apiece, why should they pay for your pizza?
I hate it when the bill is split because somebody will be ordering something expensive.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
7 Jun 09
I guess that was a lesson learned. If you go out with them again, make sure you know how much they were willing to spend. It was a very selfish thing for them to do, but I am finding now days they only think of them.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
8 Jun 09
I've been in those types of spots many times but its been a lot of years. Back in the day, I would have and did do just what you did....let them take advantage of me. Now...I would never do that. You have kids...i had kids....you can't afford it any more than I could of back then. I learned to think of my kids when placed in such a situation.I learned to hold back just like the ones that only wanted to pay for what they ordered. Did they eat the pizza? They should have paid if they did. If I go out in a group like that, we all go dutch. If we are ordering pizza...everyone pays for their cut in the pizza and anything else ordered...drinks, side dishes is on the person that orders it.
1 person likes this
@ketybhagat (4123)
• India
8 Jun 09
Its always better to go dutch, i.e. you pay for what you eat. So each one orders carefully and p ays for it. That way, there is no misunderstanding and no heart burn afterwards. Well freind, we live and learn. Cheers.
1 person likes this
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
7 Jun 09
Well first of all I wouldn't be out eating with teenage girls, and if they asked me I'd be wondering why they were asking me to go..lol. You know that most teenagers don't have a whole lot of money unless they're working, so I'd be sure they all had the money to pay for what they eat, to me it sounds like they used you a little bit, you could of also just ordered something for you to eat by yourself and let them have their breadsticks and hot wings, so that way you would of only paid for your meal. I've never been put in that position but if it ever happened I would say something about it, especially if I didn't have a whole lot of money to begin with.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
7 Jun 09
I have been there and the lesson I learned was to be very clear and firm about the payment agreement. if you think someone will come up short say something before the order is sent in and then adjust the order. This way you keep your friends and you can always grab something else at home if you didn't get enough. Blessings
1 person likes this
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
Yes, I experienced that too. I hate these kinds pf people who renege on their word and on the agreement before ordering. It is just common sense and fair that if all of you shared all the food you ordered, then all of you should also pay the total bill equally. You should have insisted that everybody pay equally. That was what I did when that happened to me. I told my friends that it was agreed beforehand that the bill be split equally. I told them they should not have agreed if they did not want to pay more. If the pay less, they eat less. Haha :)
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
9 Jun 09
I know how that is..I have been in that position before a few times. It sucks! but I just let it roll off me since it was family and hoped that they would realize what they did but it never seems to faze them alot..even knowing that I make the least in my whole family..Not alot that can be done after the fact that it happens. I would seriously not do it that way again and just order what you want..and so be it and not have to deal with them not paying.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Jun 09
Yep. I have been in this situation alot of times too. I am one to figure things up and do not want to spend more than what is planned. Someone always has to have the tip also and it used to be me. I do not let that happen anymore. I order my food only and they can cover their own meals.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
7 Jun 09
I certainly wouldn't go out with those girls again!
I learned a long time ago that if we're splitting the bill, ask for separate checks. A little more trouble for the server but a big savings for the wallet!
I learned a long time ago that if we're splitting the bill, ask for separate checks. A little more trouble for the server but a big savings for the wallet! 
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
7 Jun 09
Hi singlemommy,
I never have alloowe myself to split anything as I know too well waht would happen so always pay for myself and never share.
Tamara
