Do you expect stuff you bring for an informal gathering to be returned at the end of the evening or the "bills" to be split equally?

Do you expect stuff you bring for an informal gathering to be returned at the end of the evening ?

Do you expect stuff you bring for an informal gathering to be returned at the end of the evening or the "bills" to be split equally?

Do you expect stuff you bring for an informal gathering to be returned at the end of the evening

in regard to going out, by your thirties, you should be be grabbing the bill for the entire table, and someone else should try to beat you to it the next time.

If I bring beer or something like that - no, you don't expect to get it returned, nor should you. I decline it if I'm offered it back at the end of the night...and only take it back if it is insisted upon a couple times.

I try to treat it as a gift for having me over...whether it is family or friends. I think it is the polite thing to do.

You don't have to pull down six figures to be a Handsome Man, Doug.

I also said that one shouldn't be going out so often that it would be a problem.

That's why I said "by your thirties", because, in your twenties, you go out so much and make so comparably little that that is not the proper etiquette.

I would never start itemizing a bill at dinner and splitting it up that way. If someone did it to me, I'd likely not go out with them again. However, if I had six Johnnie Walker Blues and you had a single MGD, I'd either pick up the check or make sure I threw in a bunch more dough. I'd expect that my friends would do the same or at least make the offer.

I would never start itemizing a bill at dinner and splitting it up that way. If someone did it to me, I'd likely not go out with them again. However, if I had six Johnnie Walker Blues and you had a single MGD, I'd either pick up the check or make sure I threw in a bunch more dough. I'd expect that my friends would do the same or at least make the offer.

Maybe you need better friends Spaulding.

Exactly, I agree.

You should just know better and be more self aware.

Now, itemizing a bill at dinner in your professional years is pretty weak. If 4 couple had dinner you throw in your cards/cash and split it even. I don't care if you had another 2 beers compared to me or your entree was 15 dollars more. If you do start caring and bitching, just expect to never be invited out anymore.

Sorry, Panther, outside of a business meal setting, picking up the tab for others of the same age/economic status comes across as showing off to me.

Sorry, Panther, outside of a business meal setting, picking up the tab for others of the same age/economic status comes across as showing off to me. I usually win the battle for the check with either my Dad or Father-in-Law these days, but even then once in a while they beat me to it, and I'm OK with that. But, I sure don't want one of my buddies paying for my wife and I on a Friday night friendly. Separate checks really is no big deal, nor does it come across as cheap. (and I am 20 years past my 30's )