How do we pay this bill?

December 28, 2018 8:52 AM

10 people for a bar. I paid the deposit of $35 each, which goes towards the final bill. 4 people have paid me the $35 back already. Is there any easy way to do the bill at the end? Plus one birthday girl who is not paying.
posted by inevitability to Work & Money (30 answers total)

Can you get the deposit on a separate check from the day-of tab, and then put 9 cards in on the latter? Only works if you’re ok splitting it equally, but if you’re not then I guess you just need separate checks, someone pays for the birthday girl’s check, and then asks for 1/9 of that check from the remaining 8 people.

If you can specify whether you prefer to share the bill equally or not, I can break it out person by person for you.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:57 AM on December 28, 2018

Also does the $35/person include the birthday girl?
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:58 AM on December 28, 2018

Depends on how big the final bill is. The best way to do this is to have the other people who have not paid you back, pay you back. Then you are all in equally. Then at the end of the party, either they divide the check into 9 pieces or one person pays and the rest pay that person back.

The easiest way to calculate it is to have the number of attendees split the final bill equally. The only issue is does the bar take the payment or does one person and pay the bar.
posted by AugustWest at 9:03 AM on December 28, 2018 [2 favorites]

Each person owes the overall total (the final bill BEFORE the deposit was subtracted) divided by 10, minus what they have put in so far. If you end up owing a negative amount, some of what people owe goes to you.

Example:
You put in $35 and have been paid back $14 (3.50 times 4?), so you're still in for $21.

Total bar tab is $200, or $165 left to pay after the deposit.

Everyone should pay $20.

You "owe" $20 minus $21 already paid, or -$1

Those four people (group 1) owe $20 minus $3.50, or $16.50 each, for a total of $66.

The other five people (group 2) owe $20, for a total of $100.

So you collect $66 from group 1 and $100 from group 2. That's $166. You're owed $1 from the pot, so you take it then. That leaves $165 to pay the tab.
posted by salvia at 9:19 AM on December 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: whoever does the math on the final bill gets $10 off
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:20 AM on December 28, 2018 [16 favorites]

Best answer: Easy way is for someone/you to pay the entire bill, and then bill each participant for their share through Venmo/whatever app the kids are using these days.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:27 AM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]

So assuming the birthday girl is also not paying the $35 and everyone is chipping in for that, everyone owes you roughly $39, not $35, to cover the deposit.

However, I'd take the total bill owed at the end, add $350 for the deposit, any tips, and divide by 9. Everyone owes you that much, assuming all are ok with dividing equally. If not, you'll need separate bills and everyone owes that plus $35 + (35+birthday bill)/9. For those that have already paid you their $35, deduct that from their total owing.
posted by cgg at 9:28 AM on December 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: (Yes, birthday girl does not pay the $35, and her drinks and meal-which I am paying. The bill might vary widely per person depending on how much people drink.)
posted by inevitability at 9:37 AM on December 28, 2018

I think you're saying that you paid a deposit of $350 ("$35 each"). That means that each person owes you $38.89 for deposit. That is the $350 deposit divided by 9 people (leaving out the birthday girl). Or you can ask for $35 per person and just pay the deposit for the birthday girl yourself.

As far as individual costs, if you can't get separate checks or have people order at the bar, then you're going to have to tally the bill and have people pay you. Don't forget to include tip and tax in the cost as well.

This type of bill-sharing has been done many many times before, and long before the advent of Venmo. Just use cash. If everyone looks at the bill, and contributes what is fair, that usually works out too. If you end up short, then someone will usually pitch in a few bucks more. Just tell everyone that you can't use cards. Cash is king.

Or use Venmo, Square Cash, and actual cash. Let people know ahead how it will work so they can bring appropriate amounts of cash. Ask them to remember what they're eating/drinking so it's easy to tally at the end.

The $350 deposit should just be a separate line item at the bottom. When all the money is added in, it should pay the total with tax and tip and $350 extra. The $350 would go back to you. And you would then reimburse the people who paid you $35.
posted by hydra77 at 10:01 AM on December 28, 2018

If you are over the age of 25…

Did you not drink as much as everyone else? Was your pasta entree half as expensive as the steak? Did you not get dessert? I’m sorry, but no one told you to be a teetotaler, or to not get the steak, or to not get dessert, you [redacted]. When you agreed to go out to dinner with your friends, you implicitly agreed to the following social contract: “I, (your name), hereby agree that when the bill comes, I will pay my share of the bill, calculated as follows: Total cost divided by # of people, regardless of who got what and how many. I further agree not to publicly complain about this methodology, even if I get a little screwed, because there will be times in the future when what I end up paying is considerably less than the dollar value of what I eat/drank. It evens out over time. Sincerely, (your signature).” Granted, there are obvious exceptions — e.g., you showed up late and really did only order a glass of wine — when no one would expect you to pay a full share, yet even in these cases it’s generally polite to throw in some cash.

posted by General Malaise at 10:16 AM on December 28, 2018 [16 favorites]

Best answer: I highly recommend the Tab app (Google Play | iTunes) for bill-splitting. Only one person needs to have this on their phone, it integrates with Venmo if desired, and it can deal with issues like designating a birthday celebrant.
posted by capricorn at 11:12 AM on December 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

This is a situation where Venmo is really quite good. One person pays the tab on their credit card (or cash, or whatever), which is good because then the bartender doesn't hate you and wish terrible things on you for handing them 9 credit cards when you want to close out, and the person who paid uses the Venmo "Request Payment" to give the amount owed to the various people who owe it. They only have to tap "Yes" on their end, and boom, done. So easy even a drunk person can do it.

I disagree that cash is easier; virtually none of my friends carry cash, certainly not small denominations of cash useful for paying a specific amount down to the dollar (like, people might have an "emergency $20" or something, but probably that's it), and that would just trigger a total shitshow of drunk people trading IOUs and trying to get change from the bar or overpaying and expecting it back later on, and generally doing all the Monopoly-banker wheeling and dealing that you don't want happening at the end of the night as you're trying to go the hell home. Cash is a clusterfuck 100% of the time in my experience. But hey, YMMV, maybe some people still walk around with enough cash in mixed denominations to reliably be able to pay for something without knowing the amount in advance. Not my people, though. (And I'll cop to it, not me either. The only time I have cash is when I'm getting a haircut because the dude doesn't take plastic and that requires a special trip in advance.)

And I fully agree that unless someone is really way ahead of everyone else and knows it, in terms of spending, you just split the amount equally among the N people at the event as [Total / N] less whatever people prepaid you. Or N-1, if you are going to chip in for the birthday person / guest of honor.
posted by Kadin2048 at 11:17 AM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]

If you convince everyone to do splitwise it is an excellent app that does these kinds of things
posted by raccoon409 at 11:20 AM on December 28, 2018

Seconding Splitwise, that's what all my friends and I use for this.
posted by Jairus at 11:55 AM on December 28, 2018

Third splitwise.
posted by Kwine at 12:06 PM on December 28, 2018

Agree get folks to pay the deposit beforehand just to make it a bit easier; if everyone pays the deposit then the total for each is simply (total + tip) / 9. Otherwise the math works out to ((total + tip) - 140) / 9 plus 35 for each person who hasn't paid the deposit. I don't like to let people tip on their own since a lot of folks try to short the pot in that fashion, even if they aren't 85 years old... (tip = total *.2 or total / 10 x 2 which is easier math to do in your head).

Most places by me wouldn't put this on 9 separate cards (which would be total / 9 each person tips as they want), but it's worth asking since then it's all done for you.
posted by love2potato at 12:08 PM on December 28, 2018

One thing to think through: if anyone is a no-show, would you be out their $35 (or could it still be applied to the final bill)? If you'd have to take a loss on that, then definitely make sure that folks pay you the $35 in advance of the event because chasing them down for a forfeited deposit afterwards sounds like a recipe for friendship issues.
posted by mosst at 12:11 PM on December 28, 2018

Response by poster: So, am I not thinking this right? I paid the deposit ($350), but that deposit goes towards food/drinks for people. It’s $35 pp. I’ve gotten money from some folks. But now I’m not sure I can just evenly split the bill at the end. Right? Because some are out $35?

So maybe I just pay the entire bill? Act as bank for people to pay me?
posted by inevitability at 12:56 PM on December 28, 2018

Best answer: This might be an unpopular decision but I think you should make it very clear before hand that the entire bill is going to be split evenly versus everyone being responsible for their own choices.

I was just invited to an expensive restaurant for an anniversary dinner. The host texted us explaining we would be responsible for our own bills. However, they did not request separate bills for each couple but I noticed our waiter took care to note the orders by couple. Several couples splurged and chose the expensive meal specials, dessert plus several alcoholic drinks. Myself and another friend were driving there alone and knew we would only order basic pasta meals and drank water(we'd already splurged on presents ahead of time.)

When the bill arrived, one of the guests (feeling ebullient after several alcoholic drinks) insisted that we'd split the bill evenly. My $30 dinner suddenly became $80. Not wanting to make a scene, my friend and I reluctantly paid the extra $50 each.

Lesson learned the hard way to clarify and agree on payment ahead of time. In this case, the other couples felt their presence was their present for this anniversary dinner. The rest of us put in alot of effort and thought into the anniversary present we gave to the hosts. I rarely drink alcohol and it always bugs me when it's expected I chip in towards other's more expensive meals and bar tab.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 1:01 PM on December 28, 2018 [11 favorites]

Are you personally covering the birthday girl, or is everyone covering her together? Is she included in the 10 people or is she an 11th person? We can't give a definitive answer without knowing these things, but I'm going to assume that the birthday girl is an 11th person and that everyone is covering her in common. We also need to know if the deposit fee is part of the overall tab or if it's a separate fee, but I'm going to assume that it's part of the overall tab—that the group has already pre-paid for the first $350 worth of the night's expenditures at the bar.

Here's what needs to happen: first, you pay the entire bill yourself to the restaurant. Then, subtract $350 and divide what's left ten ways—everyone pays their share. Finally, add $35 to the shares of the people who haven't already paid you back for their share of the deposit. Then it's all equal. Easy peasy.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:19 PM on December 28, 2018

Here's what needs to happen: first, you pay the entire bill yourself to the restaurant. Then, subtract $350 and divide what's left ten ways—everyone pays their share. Finally, add $35 to the shares of the people who haven't already paid you back for their share of the deposit. Then it's all equal. Easy peasy.


I don't think that math works - it leaves the 4 people who actual reimbursed them paying more than the 6 people who haven't chipped in any money yet.

Ideally - get the 35 each from the remaining 6 people before the event. Then the final bill can be split 11 ways with you paying 2 portions (for you and the BDay person) and everyone else paying 1 portion. I'd suggest you cover the final bill and then send people payment requests via Splitwise or Venmo or whatever app is convenient.

If you all are covering the birthday person, just do a 10-way split.
posted by Julnyes at 1:41 PM on December 28, 2018

Best answer: I am a computer scientist, and design algorithms for a living. This is what I would do if we all lived inside a computer. The fact that we don't all live in a computer is why I avoid events with split bills.

Assuming:
- there are 10 people who, when all's said and done, will each have contributed equally to total costs (the birthday person is not one of these 10 people),
- the bill you receive on the evening includes a $350 discount to make up for the deposit, and does not include the amount of the tip,
- you cannot get $35 from everyone in advance

And your goals are:
- the restaurant is paid what they are owed, plus tip,
- you are paid back the $350 deposit,
- the cost to each of the 10 people is equal.

Then, in a perfect world:
0. Write to the 10 people and say we will be paying for birthday person and splitting the total costs evenly.
1. Call birthday person and ask for their support in resolving any dispute. No-one will fight the birthday person.
2. Bring pen, paper, calculator and these instructions to the restaurant.
3. When the bill arrives, with the $350 discount, add the $350 *back on*, then add the tip, if needed, to get the total cost to the party.
4. Divide that total cost by 10. This gives you $X, the total amount each person should be paying.
5. $35 of that $X is going to you. So subtract $35 from $X to get $Y, the amount each person should pay the restaurant.
6. Everyone pays $Y to the restaurant, including you if you are one of the 10.
7. Everyone who hasn't already paid you $35 already now does so.

Step 7 can happen any time; the earlier the better.

In reality:
- People will try to change the agreement to split costs evenly
- People will overpay, including birthday person
- People will underpay
- People will get confused about having to pay you AND the restaurant

All of these will throw off the math, but don't worry too much about it, just write down what people owe vs what they paid. Your priority here is to get your $35 from everyone, to pay your $Y, and to not be seen as the one who is on the hook for making up any underpayment. Everyone else can look after themselves - trust that the tension between the underpayers and overpayers will resolve socially. If you end up with more money than necessary, then keep it; you earned it.
posted by cogat at 2:23 PM on December 28, 2018 [6 favorites]

Is there any easy way to do the bill at the end?

having returned to catch up with this thread, I think the answer is a clear "no"

what you need to do is invite one of those friends who'll just Gordian Knot right through the bill-splitting negotiations by discreetly passing their credit card to the server while you're all constructing an Excel worksheet out of napkins
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:40 PM on December 28, 2018 [3 favorites]

I was assuming that the deposit was going to be included in the final bill but that it had already been pre-paid by you. If it's not included then that's actually easier from a math standpoint, just split everything ten ways and then chase down the remaining six people for the $35 they each owe you. Chasing down the late payers and making them cough up their shares will be the hardest part by far.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:40 PM on December 28, 2018

If the total bill comes in with the deposit subtracted then:

from the people who haven't paid a deposit, collect 1/10 of the bill (including tip) plus $35
from the people who have paid a deposit collect 1/10 of the bill (including tip)

Then pay the total bill (with the deposit subtracted).

If the money you have been given is less than the total bill, you need to pay the remainder (and it was an expensive bill). If it is more, then you keep the remainder (which pays you back the rest of your deposit).

I am assuming that the number in the party is 11 including you and the birthday person, but the birthday person isn't paying.
posted by plonkee at 3:30 PM on December 28, 2018

Speaking from many past experiences: if you're not splitting evenly and you're expecting a group of people to calculate their shares and correctly add tax and tip, you will be disappointed. This goes double if they're drunk. You will be left paying the extra yourself.
posted by sunflower16 at 5:17 PM on December 28, 2018 [2 favorites]

Please, don't split the check evenly. People shouldn't be made fun of for being sober if that's what they need to do, or ordering the cheaper vegetarian entree, or whatever, and people who are going out can usually do some basic bar math.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but this party is at a watering hole, one that is presumably used to dealing with people who are 1) drunk and 2) splitting checks, right? Surely the bar can handle, in the ways that bars are want to do, people going up to the bartender and saying "I'd like to start a tab, here's my card, please?" and in this case, "I'm with Birthday Party, so I should have a $35 head start reflected on my tab"? Unless you've already talked to the bar and they've already said it has to be one check, then this outcome seems the easiest. Give them a call - if they're charging deposits, they've dealt with this before and can likely make it easier than we all are. :)
posted by joycehealy at 8:06 PM on December 28, 2018 [4 favorites]

(and don't forget to get the $35 from everyone before the party if at all possible, otherwise you're going to be chasing around your friends for money forever ask me how I know)
posted by joycehealy at 8:07 PM on December 28, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks all! I marked a few that helped my thinking. Im going to try and tackle tonight, and will report back!
posted by inevitability at 7:56 AM on December 29, 2018

Make up index/business size cards for your 8 attendees (not BDay, not you) that say "I (name) paid (inevitability) $35", and at the final tally, everyone needs to either contribute that card or $35 cash.
posted by aimedwander at 8:56 AM on December 29, 2018