Abby Connolly
If you have enough money in your bank account to pay for multiple meals at once and can wait a day or two for people to pay you back, it can’t hurt to volunteer.
When you’re going to someone’s home where they’re hosting a group dinner, you shouldn’t have to pay them, as you’re not the host.
However, it would be very kind and polite of you to offer to help the host and see if they need you to pick up something to bring to the dinner.
If your friend is spending hours in the kitchen to make a memorable night for you and other friends, the least you can do is bring over a bottle of wine or a nice cheese.
If you are hosting a dinner, you should be prepared to pay for all the food on your own. But don’t be afraid to ask for help within reason. You can ask people to bring their own drinks or a few snacks to keep things a little more communal.
Now, if it’s someone’s birthday and you’re going out to dinner for their special day, ideally, you and everyone else at the table will cover the birthday person’s meal. Guests should split the meal and add the special person’s meal to it, even if it was their idea to go to dinner.
And voila! Now you have a quick guide to paying for group meals. Don’t forget to be generous with your friends while also protecting yourself and your wallet. As long as you’re honest about how much you can spend, you’ll be fine. Have fun!
