Money · Letter 32
I had soup. They had champagne
Fictional launch letter
Dear Duck,
At dinner, my friends always want to split the bill equally. I usually spend much less. How do I bring it up?
— Unequal Portions
Dear Subsidized Celebration,
Say at the start, “I am keeping to my own order tonight.” Ask the server about separate bills where practical, or work out your share clearly afterward.
You do not need to stage a forensic investigation into every olive. You also do not have to finance somebody else’s third bottle to prove you are fun. Friendship is not ordinarily invoiced by the mouthful.
Answered by Honorius HonkYour feelings require a supporting annex.