Deciding on whether to split the bill at a restaurant can be super awkward. On one hand, if you've had a main and tap water, you don't want to be contributing to everyone else's three-course meal and cocktails.
But, if you dare speak up, you're at risk of being labelled cheap.
Well, a woman from the US has issued a warning to others after she went to a friend's birthday dinner and was left with an eye-watering $150 (£118) bill to foot.
Advert
The mum has since urged others to 'never sit down' for a group dinner without first discussing how the bill will be split. Take a listen:
Taking to TikTok to discuss the conundrum, Remi - aka @remiandryan - explained that she's a single mum, and doesn't have much in the way of disposable income.
She was invited to her friend's birthday dinner, along with a load of other people she didn't know, and had budgeted around $50 (£39) for the evening.
Advert
"This was a friend who modelled, she made a good amount of money, I didn't know anyone else who was invited but she invited me to her birthday dinner," Remi explained.
After receiving the invite, Remi went online and found a birthday coupon for the restaurant, which was buy one get one free.
"It was $50 upfront, does not include drinks, does not include dessert," she continued.
Remi said that on the evening, they arrived at the restaurant and after a short while, she noticed people leaving, but assumed they'd already paid or had left money with the birthday girl.
Advert
But things took an awkward turn when Remi bit into a fatty piece of meat and had to run to the bathroom to rinse her mouth.
While she was gone, the friend had spoken to the waiter who said he would be happy to compensate her meal.
This led Remi to believe that she would simply be paying $25 for her friend, as per the voucher she'd found online.
But she was wrong.
"They wanted me to pay $150... I just got the basic meal, plus I had the buy one get one free coupon to be used on the birthday girl," she said.
Advert
"But because those people left, suddenly I'm supposed to float this bill?"
The mum explained that she wasn't having any of it, and ended up having to write a cheque to her friend for $50, because she didn't have the money in her account.
It left a lot of tension between the pair, with Remi explaining she came across 'as the bad guy' in the situation.
"Never sit down to dinner with anyone friend or otherwise unless you've already talked about how it's getting split, what your budget is, and if you're all going to split the bill equally."
Advert
Others agreed, with many shocked at what had happened.
One wrote: "Separate checks always. Save yourself the hassle."
While another said: "Always tell the waiter that your check is separate as soon as you sit down. No grown adult should expect others to pay for them."
Do you agree?
Topics: Food And Drink, TikTok
Lucy Devine