When we go to dinner with family or friends, we often decide to split the bills down the middle in order to make things fair, or at least to help avoid that always-awkward argument about who’s paying this time around.
It turns out that’s not always the best way to do things, not if you’re looking to have the best experience possible for everyone at your table.
Basically, it comes down to one essential truth: equality and equity are not the same thing.
You have to know, roughly, how much income everyone in your life/at the table in order to make this work – because how much of the bill(s) you foot should be related to how much you’ve got to spare.
It’s just money, and these are people you care about, right?
Because you never know when it’s going to be you that needs the hand.
Your loved ones will be there to pick you up when you’re down – it’s called having a village.
This is so important. When I could, I paid for the car, my rent, groceries, and most of the dinners out/things like that. Then I got laid off and my partner stepped in and immediately started covering the bills. It’s hard but I’m so grateful for someone who thinks like this.
— childish gambaby (@DezireeBrock) June 29, 2021
If your friends really want you along, no one will mind.
And if they don’t want you along, are they really your friends?
I always tell people if I make plans and it’s above your price range, just let me know and it will be covered. Growing up dirt poor, there were so many things I never got to do because of money being scarce. If I really want or need you there, I’ll make sure it happens.
— David B. (@DPB0101) June 29, 2021
It’s basically like a flat tax rate.
https://twitter.com/badwolftx/status/1409618912841551878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1409618912841551878%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fmeganeliscomb%2Fequitable-split-vs-even-split-tweet
This guy on Reddit didn’t get the memo, and man, people have a lot of thoughts about this one.
How do you feel about this concept? Would you be willing to pay more if you were out with people whose income levels was significantly less?
Do you think this could cause resentment? Or that the person with more money would want more control over decisions?
Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!
