https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 04:32:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083421 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:50:21 +0000 Bao 2083421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks guys! I think we will do the appetizer plan! :) sounds fair to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083335 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:01:21 +0000 LuLu Mom 2083335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I would just say "hey since you guys picked up our portion of pizza last time lets order a couple appetizers on us so we can pay you back" and then that to me makes it clear that the appetizers are your contribution/pay back and that their dinner is on them. </p> <p>I don't think they can expect a $10 pizza tab to be the same as a nice set down restaurant. I would just make it as non-awkward as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083328 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:57:18 +0000 Charm54 2083328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like @blackbird's suggestion of ordering some appetizers for the table. </p> <p>10$ pizza should be a non issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083327 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:56:51 +0000 californiadreams 2083327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I was the cousin and had paid $10 for your pizza the last time i saw you and tried to repay by paying for my $50 meal, i would swat your hand away and say don't be ridiculous, it was just pizza! but i guess there is a risk that the cousin will take you up on if you do offer to pay. </p> <p>I would not do anything about paying for their bill but maybe ask the waiter to put one or two of their drinks on your tab? (or all drinks if not too much). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083326 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:55:55 +0000 MaryM 2083326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it the kind of place where you'd order a bottle of wine? Can you begin the meal with saying "What kind of wine would you like? We'd like to order a bottle to share since you picked up our tab last time"</p> <p>Then I feel like the exchange would be pretty even, plus I think it sets the expectation that the meal will be split without you having to ask them to pay for their half. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083325 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:55:25 +0000 Mamaof2 2083325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I actually think @getjazzy: has the best idea! I would say hello , how's it going and then "oh before I forget here is the $10 we owed you for the pizza - thanks again!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083320 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:52:15 +0000 Bao 2083320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rarely see this particular cousin so there likely won't be many more opportunities to keep taking turns picking up the bill and hope it evens out. We definitely don't have $40-$50 for their tab and then ours unless we just got an appetizer to share and that would likely be awkward too. </p> <p>They don't come this way often so they really want to go to this restaurant. We could offer pizza, I just don't want either of us to be put in an awkward situation. I want to make it right but honestly feel like that's a lot for them to assume we will pay for their entire meal.</p> <p>I like the idea of offering $10 and they can use it how they want, but some mentioned that would be weird so I'm torn haha!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083317 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:50:25 +0000 yoursilverlining 2083317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@getjazzy: I really like this idea. </p> <p>We usually just split tabs evenly, or pick up completely and trade off on doing that, but don't really keep score. So I think just giving them the $10 and then starting fresh and just having 2 checks is a fair and non-ackward way to do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083305 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:44:33 +0000 MaryM 2083305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless you're seriously strapped for money, I'd just pick up the tab wherever you go. Or if you get drinks somewhere or something like that, pick them up and if they push back, say "Our treat since you picked up last time"</p> <p>With DH's friends, people just randomly take turns paying because it's easier than splitting checks. But everyone is well off enough that no one "keeps score." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083284 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:34:21 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2083284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would offer to pay for the whole meal. I'm not the type to keep an exact tab of what someone spent on me. If someone picked up a meal for me, I return the favor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083280 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:31:06 +0000 jetsa 2083280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The pizza I wouldn't have even worried about for $10.</p> <p>We'd probably just pick up the tab bc I think it'd be akward trying to pick up part of the bill. You could suggest a cheaper restaurant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083279 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:30:58 +0000 getjazzy 2083279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the appetizer idea above. I would likely just bring $10 cash and before you start the meal say "Oh here! Before we forget, the money we owe you for the pizza" and then move on as normal for ordering and paying for your meals separately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083240 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:00:50 +0000 yellowbird 2083240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: if their meal will be 40-50 I'd offer to leave the tip for them in that situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083237 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:58:56 +0000 blackbird 2083237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: I agree. For pizza, we would've just picked up the tab and called it a day over $10!</p> <p>What if you mentioned that you owe them for the pizza and get some appetizers for the table? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083234 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:58:03 +0000 Banana330 2083234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I believe things eventually balance out. Unless it's an ongoing issue where they order expensive things when you pick up the tab and they pick up the tab at cheap places, I would just pick up that meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083230 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:56:42 +0000 lawbee11 2083230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would either pay for their entire meal or suggest a different (cheaper) restaurant. I think it would be awkward to just pay a portion of theirs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083228 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:55:36 +0000 mrbee 2083228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you counter with an offer for pizza - either at a restaurant, or ordering in? Maybe pizza and a movie or something.</p> <p>Could maybe just say that you're on a budget, and suggest the pizza as an alternative! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083227 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:55:21 +0000 Mamaof2 2083227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH would pay the whole bill</p> <p>I think I would offer to cover the tip as a "pay back" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083223 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:54:41 +0000 mrsjyw 2083223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With our close friends and family, we just take turns picking up the tab. We regularly eat out with the same couples, etc.</p> <p>In that scenario, I would've (in cousins' shoes) picked up the tab and would not have even mentioned "paying me back next time." The bill seems so nominal. I would just do separate bills and throw them a 10$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-owe-someone-a-meal#post-2083217 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:52:36 +0000 Bao 2083217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few months ago DH's cousin picked up our half of a pizza tab. The total for all of use was $20 maybe, so our half was about $10. We ate 5 pieces of pizza total (my family) and they ate theirs and kept the rest. We offered money but she said to just pay them back with food when they come into town. </p> <p>This Saturday his cousin and husband are coming into town and suggested we go to a certain restaurant down the road from our house. So my question is, since it's "our turn" to pick up the meal tab, do we owe them whatever their total tab is or just put $10-$15 towards it since that was about what they paid for us? I don't want to make it awkward or have anyone assume anything but their meals/drinks could easily hit $40-$50, plus we would have our own. </p> <p>Thoughts? I want to be fair but don't want to come off cheap either....help! </p>