Comments on: Does a treat = you pay?

By: Penny

Penny — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:03:00 +0000

I basically agree with everything you just said.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:32:00 +0000

When it comes to friends and money, it’s always a sticky situation. I’ve gone on many a birthday dinner for a friend or family dinner and having had to pay for myself. And I’m OK with that, because it’s assumed and I’m not expecting a free meal, and it gives me the opportunity to see friends and check out new places. And if I want to have a birthday dinner at a restaurant, it’ll be assumed the everyone will take care of themselves and I will take care of myself. Unless there’s a more explicit instruction, I’ll always expect to pay for what I order. When in doubt, ask who’s responsible.

By: Meg

Meg — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:34:00 +0000

See I read her post differently. It was her “guy’s best friend and wife” — so maybe she expected her guy to pay, since it was his friend, and she didn’t expect to have to split the bill w/ her guy. I don’t think she was saying that the birthday people should have paid.

By: Debt Dieter

Debt Dieter — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:46:00 +0000

I believe the birthday boy or girl shouldn’t have to pay under most circumstances.

That doesn’t extend to their partner or kids though, just the birthday person.

By: Lys

Lys — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:36:00 +0000

Ahhhh – how timely this post is. I have to say that when I say “Let’s go out for your b’day” or “Let me take you out for your b’day”, etc., the birthday gal/guy is NOT paying. One of my girlfriends and I trade off lunch – one week she picks up the check, the other I pick it up. I’m rarely surprised by the bill or unprepared for it.

I have to agree with the points you set forth.

By: lacouturier

lacouturier — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:32:00 +0000

i totally agree! i would still offer to split the bill tho, just to be polite =)

By: kokostiletto

kokostiletto — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:09:00 +0000

wow that sucks. i think, in general, that if it is your birthday, you should NOT pay for your own dinner.

By: June Shin

June Shin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:56:00 +0000

If we’re celebrating something for someone, I pretty much think that the guest of honor is not going to pay unless they are the ones hosting/organizing the event. But in a non-celebration situation where a friend asks, “hey, let’s go out to dinner,” then I do expect that we will be splitting the bill. We would have to agree upon a place that we can afford.

By: Oxanna

Oxanna — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:53:00 +0000

Rule of thumb: if you invite someone, you pay. Saying that you’re “taking” someone to dinner implies that you’re paying. If you said, “Hey, let’s go to dinner,” or “Why don’t we go to dinner,” and it wasn’t a special occasion, then you both pay.

For a birthday, if you’re the one broaching the idea, expect to pay.

By: Fresh

Fresh — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Its nice to pay the bill on a friend’s birthday but shouldn’t it be an option instead of a obligation? I always take my friends out for their birthday and I pay the bill but the difference is that they offer to pay whether than just looking at me crazy when the bill arrives at the table. So birthday or not, I think a person should offer to pay!