Split the bill or not?what would you have done?

[user1471888857]

So I met up by myself with a friend and her 3 children for lunch.
I ordered my food and a drink which in total came to £10 exactly.
My friends food was £10 and for the 3 kids it was £22.
The bill came for £42 and my friend said "so that's £21 each"
I was kind of flustered and didn't want to come across greedy so I just paid the £22.
What the hell..surely she knew her share was more with the 3 kids.

I would love to say that I would have spoken up but I know I wouldn't because I had an incident quite like this the other day! Went out for lunch after a work event with three work contacts (so a network-y rather than fun trip, but on my own dime). They picked somewhere where the only vegetarian thing on the menu was a large mixed salad, which I think cost about £8. I had that and a lemonade. End of the meal: 'oh, we owe £35 each'. To my shame, I said nothing and handed over the whole extortionate lot! I was surprised that no one else spoke up, though - there had been a slight palaver over me ordering so they all knew that I was just having a mixed salad as my lunch while they tucked into steak and chips. So, OP, let's both promise ourselves that we'll be braver and less ripped off next time?!

I'm all for splitting the bill usually, just to make things easier, but only when its fair to do so. Paying for half of her kids meals really is a bit much. Unless you specifically offered.

I think that it was cheeky of her.

Chalk it up to experience & look on it as it being nice to treat her kids.

agree with other pp

only fair if theres a coujple of pound in it not 20 quid

shes a pisstaker

Margaret-100% we will
I need to be more outspoken.
Everyone walks all over me.

That is beyond cheeky! I have 3 kids and wouldn't in a million years make this assumption and if a friend offered to go halves, I would more than likely say don't be daft.

I think even if you made the initial invitation it would be wrong to make the assumption.

That's a fucking cheek. Ok to split the adult meals but kids' meals should be paid for by their attendant adult (unless agreed beforehand obviously). Kids might have cheaper meals but when you add on drinks and so on they tend to cost nearly as much as an adult, no way would I expect someone to subsidise that! In fact if I go for a drink with someone and have kids in tow I won't let them get me a drink because it's not fair that they'd feel they have to get the DC bloody fruit shoots or orange juice which costs £££!

The fact she got "her share" out then scurried off to the loo.... Was she that ignorant or clearing off so you had no choice do you think op?
Sadly there seems to be some people around who expect you to feed their children.
I went to an arranged picnic the other day, a friend turned up with her 3 children and no picnic, yes my kids and I left hungry!!!

I'd split the bill but, each to their own

Oh I hate situations like this op.

Your friend is out of order. I'm like you though I wouldn't say anything, just seethe in silence.

She massively took the piss. I'd not meet up again tbh.

Next time find half a dozen kids to take with u (can easy lend u 6!)and still split the bill 50/50!!

She always pulls tricks
A few weeks ago we went to the cinema (I had my two nephews) and bought them a pic a mix and she said she couldn't afford any for her kids so I bought theirs too ..I wasn't going to leave them out when my 2 had sweets.
Then bought them all a hot dog each.
The next day she's writing on Facebook saying she's online shopping and takeaway night.

user1471888857
Sorry sweetie but this "friend" is rinsing you for all she can get, dump her.

Oh, ffs! user, she's not a friend. She's a pisstaker chancer. Get a spine and tell her to do one! Just don't meet up with her at all or anywhere that requires money spending. She takes the piss because you let her. And you fall for it every time.

Just make sure you're never in a position like this again with her. She's a user.

People like this get on my nerves. Your friend took the piss and will keep doing so unless you get brave or stop going out with her. She totally planned that, dropping her money down and disappearing

With people like her, don't wait until the time comes to pay. Sort out arrangements upfront so she knows exactly what she'll need to be pulling out of her purse later.

If you're doing activities with her, agree with her what you'll both get for the kids before you let them run off and get snacks - if she hasn't got the money and you don't want to be feeding her lot then you'll just have to agree that the kids have cheaper snacks, or none at all (while whispering to your family that you'll stop for sweets / hotdogs / ice cream on the way home).

This person is not your friend, she's using you.

Stop being a mug. Avoid her like the plague.

I've got 3 and I'd never do this! What a cheek!

Ditch this "friend" she's a cheeky bitch. How bloody rude!

Did she include your nephews in the hot dog round?

Omg she is taking the piss seriously . So next time at the cinema I would go to (local supermarket) and buy a couple of bags of sweets either the 3 for £1 or a big family bag so when you get there your Nephews have sweets - hers look all sad because she says she can't afford it - you smile and say that's a shame perhaps you should have popped into (local supermarket) on the way like I did.
If you go out with her again deliberately leave your cards and just take enough cash for yourself so when she tries that trick again you can say oh how did you work that out ? Oh dear I didn't think MY pizza/burger/pasta would be as much as that I only brought £x (I've whatever you had calculated your share to be plus a bit extra) and I didn't bring my cards.

Why make excuses like this? Just tell her, 'No, that's not fair. I'm paying for mine and that's it.' She scurries off, so what? You just approach the wait staff or counter and say you're paying for what you ate.