Friends birthday meal...I'm paying and she picked expensive place ,aibu ?

[beeleecc]

It's my friends birthday tomorrow and we are going into Manchester for shopping trip /lunch.
It's around 2 hours away and I paid for the train for us both(as it's her birthday )
I bought her a gift that was £65 and I said I would treat us to lunch at a pub.
So in my head I'm thinking £40 max.
Anyway she said she wanted to go somewhere nicer than a pub.
Anyway she was showing me the menu to a Thai place and it's gonna cost around £80 -£100 depending if she orders 2 cocktails or just 1.

Aibu to think it's a bit cheeky ?
I can't not pay now as I said let's do lunch and it's my treat.
I told her a few nice pubs and she said no to them all.

I wish I was rich 😂
I've been saving so I could treat myself in Manchester to some new clothes.
That's why it was only a £40 lunch budget

She is cheeky, your gift is already incredibly generous. The thing now is to get around her cheekiness without it marring the day. Can you say that her suggestion looks lovely but is a bit out of your budget, how about a different Thai place?

Has anyone heard of Rosas Thai in Manchester or any of the branches?
The food isn't too expensive
Your looking at £14 for a meal

Did she get you a present (as well as the discounted lunch)?
Why do you feel you have to pay for the train, buy a present and pay for lunch too? Will she not go with you otherwise?

She is your friend :)
Be honest
Just say:sorry love . Aint got that kinda money .😇 Lets go to insert other place!

Rosas thai is nice.

Id just book that and say the expensive place was fully booked when you called.

She is very cheeky though.

If she’s such a good friend that you will pay for a train fair, £65 gift and lunch out on, why can’t you be honest with her?

She actually sounds like a bloody cheeky person, not a close friend to me.

billy1966

Why on Earth is the OP making a fool of herself??

@Lastqueenofscotland

Just say sorry that’s a bit out of budget but happy to go and pay halves or pick elsewhere

This. Simple, truthful and doesn't make you look tight.

What did she get you for your birthday? A gift set of products from an MLM company she works for?!

@beeleecc

Does that make me look tight?

What a stupid thing to say 🙄

I've been to Rosa's Thai before (London not Manchester).

@AnybodyAnywhere
Presumably because she is spending a lot of money on someone who is taking the piss.

@beeleecc

Does that make me look tight?

NO, it's very reasonable!

YANBU definitely! There are plenty of nice places to eat in Manchester that are cheaper though:
Try Thai does three courses for £10.95 12-4 every day: trythai.com/menus/
Viet Shack (admittedly it’s Vietnamese and not Thai but the food was lovely and not too expensive when I went) also has a lunchtime menu, I think! www.vietshackrestaurant.co.uk/menu

It depends really how many courses/ cocktails you’re planning on really, if you’re looking at three courses and two cocktails per person that’s going to be over budget pretty much everywhere!

She’s a grabby fucker.

Just out of interest, how much where the train tickets?

Not Thai but Viet Shack in the Arndale is excellent & more like 6-7 quid for a main. It’s a bit more relaxed.

[quote TooMuchPaper]@AnybodyAnywhere
Presumably because she is spending a lot of money on someone who is taking the piss.[/quote]
Ah yes, you’re probably right.

Sorry billy1966 I read it as you thought OP looked foolish for not coughing up for an expensive meal!

@SpiderVersed. That’s exactly what you should say

I’d say. “I think you must have miss understood I said a pub lunch.”

I don't understand why you're spending so much if it's not in your budget. An expensive gift, travel, lunch, that's a lot unless you're well off. Why? Is that the norm between you?

Thai food can be as cheap or expensive as you like and expensive doesn't necessarily mean nicer/better. Some of the best food can be found in casual street food type places that cost a fraction of swanky over decorated venues in expensive locations, where the food might not actually be any nicer.

Is Rosas her suggestion, or your more budget centred alternative?

I would say to her suggestion “LOL, looks great…. If your brother’s discount stretches to cover it. Seriously if that’s the place you fancy, let’s do it but my budget is running low and we’ll need to split the bill. Or, if you fancy Thai (yum) Rosas has a good reputation? Link…”

@beeleecc

Does that make me look tight?

Well she’s looking entitled and doesn’t seem bothered about it so don’t worry about looking tight - which you most certainly aren’t. We’re all having to budget more so just be straight with her.

I’ve never been to Rosa’s Thai I’m afraid but another thought is that the Slug and Lettuce in Castlefield used to do 2 for 1 cocktails all day and the afternoon tea there (which used to include two cocktails - not sure if it still does) is good for the price and would probably be within your £40 budget if that’s something you think she would be interested in, you could sell it as a ‘special birthday afternoon tea’ maybe.

She should be embarrassed she chose somewhere expensive.. Either say a cheaper place or she pays her own.