Dear Blake,
I recently took a friend out to dinner as a thank-you. We are both retired, and she knows my budget is limited. At lunch she ordered a very expensive glass of wine, two full meals, the most expensive dessert on the menu and coffee. I ordered my meal and a glass of water. Of course, no one could consume that much food for lunch. She left with three bags of leftovers, and I was left with an extremely large bill and a bad taste in my mouth. Is it just me or do you agree this is bad manners? If I truly thought she needed this food to get through the week, there’d be no problem. But this person is wealthy. What should I do?
Signed, Sophie
From New York City, New York
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Dear Sophie,
It’s possible that your friend has no idea how unfair and insensitive her behavior is. The only thing I can suggest, is to turn the tables on that greedy miser. So, here are some options you might want to entertain. When it’s your turn to pay, go to one of the Big Apple’s hot dog stands and eat there. Those things don’t cost that much, and I doubt if your friend will to pack a bunch of wieners on buns into her Gucci purse. If you decide to go to a restaurant, make sure she knows it will be separate checks, by you sitting at a table that’s as far from hers as you can get, and once you sit down, send her a text explaining what you’re doing and why. Another option is if you two sit together, is for you to calculate what percentage of your monthly income you spend on the meal when it’s your turn to treat, and then do that proportionately to her. Whereas you paid for only food, with her income, she might have to pay for your meal, while you’re simultaneously getting a manicure, a pedicure, and a complete makeover of your home. But if she does not have a problem with you paying for whatever is on the bill after your dining experience, then I think this would be the best long term idea, that you will benefit from. The next time she is going to pay, go to a well established franchise. And when she gets the bill and sees it’s about $20,000, tell her she bought you some stock in the successful restaurant. And while you’re getting up and walking away laughing at her, hit her in the back of the head with a rolled up Wall Street Journal. I hope this helps.
Blake