"Shall We Split The Bill?"

Digital solution to the rescue!?

Many people feel awkward about splitting the bill with friends or family at a restaurant. Do you divide a bill equally among four people? Do you pay for what you eat? Do you include a tip in the amount? Restaurant etiquette suggests that you should ideally pay for what you eat. But what happens when you snack from a friend’s plate or share a mezze platter with everyone around the table??

It’s never going to be easy to put your hand up at the end of a meal and announce that you ate less of the appetizers or that you didn’t order the bottle of sparkling water. There’s a fair amount of social anxiety you will have to grapple with in such situations. So, here are a few tips to make sure you don’t sweat before the bill arrives:?

1. Set some ground rules?

No matter who you are dining with – friends or family – make sure you have an established code when it comes to bill payments. If you spend evenings or nights out with the same group of people, it’s easy to set a few ground rules. Ensure that one person doesn’t ever pick up the tab - unless they are feeling particularly generous! Insist on the amount being fairly split among all around the table.??

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2. Pick a place that suits everyone’s pocket?

It’s a Friday night and you would like to get together with your friends over a meal. Make sure you pick a place that everyone is comfortable with. Be honest - “I feel like getting a cheap meal tonight, would you like to get together at xxx?” Or, “It’s been a rough month, I feel like celebrating. Does anyone feel like splurging on a nice meal at xxx?”. This is much better than having someone stare uncomfortably at a bill that was way out of their price range.?

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3. Be transparent??

We may act like money doesn’t matter – but it does. People hate spending money on something they haven’t enjoyed, for example, dining out with office colleagues and sharing a bill for drinks you haven’t had. In such situations, it’s best to be straightforward right at the start and make it clear that you are there for the company, not the food or drinks.?

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4. Use technology to simplify payments?

Many digital wallets like PayBy have a very convenient ‘split-bill’ function. What this means is that you don’t have to nervously glance around the table when the check arrives, or spend time calculating how much you have to pay for your meal. PayBy calculates the split automatically and generates QR code and link to collect money from others. With PayBy, you can also track your transactions and manage your expenses. The best part is that you don’t have to carry physical cash, just your smartphone.??

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So, the next time you step out for a meal with friends, dine stress-free. What’s more – studies show that people tend to spend over 30% more when they know the bill will be split equally. So, it’s a win-win for both diners and restaurants.?