Do you feel uncomfortable splitting the bill with your lunch buddy? Forbes provides these following tips to avoid awkwardness in everyday interactions involving money.
We like to believe that friendship and finance have nothing to do with
each other. But in reality, unmitigated economic differences can cause
awkwardness in the best of circumstances, and resentment in the worst.
Whether you make more than your firends or less, there are steps you can
take to soften the blow of common interactions surrounding money.
Splitting The Bill
If you have more: If your meal costs more, pay
as if you had separate bills. Or, “ if the restaurant happens to be a
little fancier, I say, ‘This is my treat, you’ll get it next time,’ and
I’ll make sure that next time we get lunch at a cute diner around the
corner from your office. So I cover the bill when it tends to be more
and you cover it when it tends to be less,” says Jodi R. R. Smith,
founder of
Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.
If you have less:
"You really want to be conscious of what kind of restaurant it is you
are going to before you go so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises,"
says Thomas P. Farley, a speaker on issues of modern manners at
WhatMannersMost.com.
"If your pocketbook can’s sustain that I would suggests an
alternative." Smith also suggests asking the wait staff for separate
bills. If you ask before they have started entering orders most
restaurants will be happy to comply – split bills generally lead to
better tips.
Gifts For Each Other
If you have more: "Buy exactly what you want to buy and what is
within your budget to buy,” says Lizzie Post, co-author of
Emily Posts's Etiquette 18th Edition.
Just because you have more to spend doesn't mean you must get something
lavish. On the other hand, gifts aren't reciprocal, so don’t shy away
from being generous if you really want your friend to have a certain
item.
If you have less: "A gift exchange is not a barter," points
out Farley. "You should give what you can give and what you feel is not
going to put you in a financial strain." Do your best to show what the
frienship means to you at whatever level you can. Smith notes that as
the gift giver
you get to decide on the budget. Be thoughtful but know you are not obligated to match every dollar that was spent on you.
Matt Sapaula is a recognized financial coach who guides clients in taking charge of their finances and spreads innovative financial knowledge to the masses through various media channels. Start planning your finances here.
Great tip! thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful "Be thoughtful but know you are not obligated to match every dollar that was spent on you. "
ReplyDeleteI like this part "Just because you have more to spend doesn't mean you must get something lavish."
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny! "We like to believe that friendship and finance have nothing to do with each other."
ReplyDeleteOMG! I can really relate to this post.
ReplyDelete