Paying for a meal

**Bilby** · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 07:36 PM

The subject on talk back radio today was, if you went out with girl friends for a planned meal and one of the friends there had no money to pay, would pay you for their meal no matter the cost?
(This girlfriend went knowing she had no money to pay.)

BuddyBeanieBaby · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 07:46 PM

Well I don't know...if this friend knew that she could not pay for the meal she should have said she couldn't go...but then I guess I would pay for the meal...

Smiles & Hugs...

**Bilby** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 09:31 PM

From what I can gather from the conversations on the radio it was a pre organised lunch among girlfriends, one turned up, ate, then stated she couldn't pay. (she would have had time to cancel if her funds were not enough).
Should the other friends have paid
Should she have expected them to pay
Should she have said something from the get go
Should she have had minimal food and not just eaten what she liked then stated no money?

Personally I would have said we could have all put in a few $ at the start if fore warned, but it would annoy me to have it announced at the end and have it expected.

HAPPY6 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 04:17 AM

If this is my friend I would pay. I'm sure this friend would pay me back when she had money or treat me to lunch one day. I do think the correct thing for my friend to do would have been to tell she had no money from the start.

barbszy · #5 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 07:16 AM

I agree that it should have been stated up front so the others there could all agree, we'll kick in a few bucks to cover yours.

Is this a habitual thing with this person or was it a one-time only?

**Bilby** · #6 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 12:09 PM

Not sure Barb they didn't say (sometimes those talk back things can be so ambiguous, didn't say a once only)

I guess it all depends on your own funds as well, if I had enough money on me .... could have been at the end of the week and I'd just saved enough money for me to go out or ....

KSJEn6891 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 06:43 AM

If I had the extra change to buy her meal and mine yes. If not I would ask the other girls to help chip in. In these times it would be understandable if a friend didn't have the extra change to go out... A lot of people put pride over simple pleasures, who are we as friends to invite, but not help carry the load?

If you know the friend does this more than the one time, you will know to either not invite her, or have the extra funds up front when you all get together. If she agrees, and an unexpected emergency arises she has the choice to cancel or not - most friends though already know what their friends needs are, and would pay anyway.

stekim · #8 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 05:39 PM

I would pay for it & ACT like it didn't bother me - then, would come home & tell my husband & I wouldn't go the next time :-)