Who should pay for lunch?

[LondonMum0117]

Hi! I was invited to a birthday lunch for my son's bestfriend. It will just be me, my son, his friend and his friend's parents. Who pays for the bill? Thanks!

If I were the parents and I'd invited you, I'd pay. But if you know them well and have an easy going do-it-all-the-time thing, I'd say to share.
How old are the boys?

If I invited you to my birthday lunch then I would pay.

If you invited me out to celebrate my birthday then you would pay.

Might be nice to offer to for drinks ( even soft drinks are amazingly expensive when eating out).

If they said "fancy lunch tomorrow?" then I would expect to go halves.

Go prepared to pay but be expected to be shouted down.

I would go expecting to pay my way.

Should add, if I invited someone out for a meal, I would pay for them. If I suggested we get together and go have a meal, I wouldn't expect them to think I was paying for them. But I would, like I said, go to something arranged by someone else expecting to pay.

It's the only way to avoid a nasty shock

I would expect to pay for myself & my son - or just split the bill.

How old are the children?
If it were me, I'd go, taking money, and offer, but half expect them to refuse to let me pay.
Depends so much on the friendship you have though. Doesn't matter as long as it all evens out in the long run.