AITA for not ordering any food so I wouldn’t have to split the bill?

A Redditor shared their frustration with two friends, Susan and Greg, who consistently order the most expensive items at group dinners and then expect others to foot part of the bill.

When invited to a dinner with the two, the Redditor decided not to order any food in protest, only ordering a drink, so they wouldn’t have to contribute to the inflated bill.

However, when the check came, Susan and Greg tried to split it six ways, leaving one of their friends, Dan, with a hefty bill. The Redditor’s actions caused a stir, with Susan, Greg, and Dan all upset. Read the full story below to see how this situation played out…

‘ AITA for not ordering any food so I wouldn’t have to split the bill?’

I(27M) have been apart of a small friend group, around 8 people total, basically since college. For some background, 2 people from the group, Susan and Greg, are just absolute leeches. Going out for lunch?

Expect them to order the most expensive on the menu then feed you some sob story about their finances and then dumb half the bill on you. Last weekend, Dan, one of the people from the group, told me about a casual dinner . I told him how if Susan or Greg were there I wouldn’t be able to come.

He tells me that they would be there but I should just put my opinions aside and come just once. This is kind of where I might be an AH. I agreed with him and told him I would be there. I show up and we all get to talking. Everyone began putting in their orders, most of them spent about $40.

There were only about 6 people there. When it gets to Susan and Greg, they both order expensive dishes, around $200. When it was my turn to order, everyone looked at me, but I just pick up the menu and point to the $4 Miller Lite and sent the waiter away.

Dan asked why I hadn’t ordered anything and all I said was that I lost my appetite. The other 2 friends got up as well to cancel their orders and just have drinks. After the main courses came out, I saw Susan and Greg picking at their food. The waiter then brings over the check.

Greg then grabs the waiter and asks him to split the check 6 ways. I stand up and correct him saying the check was to be split 3 ways. Greg looks at me confused and asks why since we “always” split the bill. I reminded him that 3 of us had not eaten any food so we would just be paying for our drinks.

So basically at the end of the night, Dan, who probably only ate around $50 worth of food, was stuck with a $146.98 check at the end. (Yes, I remember the exact number.) I swear I saw his jaw drop when he picked that receipt up.

I slid a $10 towards the check, said goodbye everyone, and walked out. The next morning, I found my phone full of texts from Greg and Susan telling me I was an AH for not ordering any food and forcing them to pay more than they had accounted for.

I honestly laughed because the steaks alone were more than what they had paid but to each their own right? I also got a lot of messages from Dan saying that I could have just not came instead of pulling that stunt and getting him stuck with an outrageous bill.

Check out how the community responded:

SamSpayedPI −  NTA. Is it not possible to ask the waiter for separate checks—i.e., everyone gets their own check for what they ordered—ahead of time? While some people think this is a *little* tacky, it’s not anywhere near as tacky as ordering a meal that costs five times as much as anyone else’s, and expecting them to cover it.

Pale_Needleworker924 −  Even if you were actually not hungry, I would still say NTA. They clearly premeditated this whole event and expected others to take the financial fall for their lifestyle. Hope Dan opens his eyes, but right now, they seem superglued shut. Good for you though.

Auntie-Mam69 −  NTA. I thought what you did was brilliant. You started by saying you would not attend if the leeches were there, your friend Dan wanted you to come anyway, so you did, but on your own terms.

The moment you ordered only a beer, that was a signal that every adult at the restaurant should have recognized—especially because the bar bill is separate from the food—that you were not eating, two others were not eating, thus obviously not splitting a bill for dinner. I bet Dan will not be so quick to include Susan and Greg again.

Apart-Ad-6518 −  NTA
“The next morning, I found my phone full of texts from Greg and Susan telling me I was an AH for not ordering any food and forcing them to pay more than they had accounted for.” Dan was the one who told you to put your opinions aside & just come, right?

Well handled. Your friends must’ve thought so too because they followed suit. Dan got caught out. What I’m wondering though is why any of you continue socializing/being friends with people who not only constantly leech off you but *openly admit* to doing so.

Brainjacker −  I should just put my opinions aside and come just once. I could have just not came instead of pulling that stunt and getting him stuck with an outrageous bill.

Dan needs to make up his mind lol. What he means is, you should have come and paid for Susan and Greg’s food even though you were clear from the jump that you wouldn’t. NTA but time to stop hanging out with these people.

Bullfrog323 −  NTA. People saying YOU stuck Dan with a big bill are probably just like these two users ordering outside of their means.
I had friends that did this when I was in college, working 2 jobs, technically 3, just to scrape by. I was living on ramen but they would insist I go out.

I’d get a free glass of water and nothing else. I sometimes could’ve ordered the cheapest thing, but they always split the check for both food and drinks and tip (America so asking to separate the checks is normal and done at many places here). So I just refused to partake.

They complained after a couple times and I was like hey you all know I’m broke so is it my company you’re wanting or what little money I have??. I no longer talk to any of them. IF you go to the next outing, call them out. Ask if they have enough to fully cover what they’re gonna order and if not to please order something else

RMaua −  NTA
My only quibble with this is you could have ordered an Aussie beer instead of an American beer. Is a Coopers not good enough for you? But I don’t drink beer so what the hell do I know.

Loisalene −  Wait, Dan knows how these people are, talked you into coming even though you didn’t want to, and then got mad when he got stuck with the big tab?. Is Dan an i**ot?. You are NTA

moreKEYTAR −  INFO: Why hasn’t anyone tried telling Greg and Susan that they repeatedly order expensive meals and make everyone pay for it? Why not confront the freeloaders? How many times has this happened?

theothermeisnothere −  NTA. I had a co-worker like that. If the company was picking up the tab or if he knew it was a “split the bill” meal, he took full advantage plus ensured he could take a doggie bag of at least half his food home.

Once, he only ate the appetizers they ordered at a company lunch and took his whole meal home. I can’t stand people like that. I did, however, have a friend group for a while where we took turns picking up the entire tab.

No one took advantage of the situation and if one person had significantly more than the others, that person chipped in. We even discussed who was picking up the tab before we sat down so it was clear. That was a good group.

This Greg and Susan are not friends. Never were. You used the word “leeches” accurately. And, Dan? Dan is an enabler. He pushed you into going while knowing how Greg and Susan would act and how you felt about it.

Dan is not a friend either. There are times in our lives when we have to leave ‘friends’ behind. It’s not always easy but it needs to happen. I know I’ve had a hard time with that in my life. NTA.

Do you think the Redditor was justified in not ordering food to avoid paying for others’ extravagance, or was their approach too extreme, especially considering their friend Dan’s situation?

How would you handle a similar scenario with friends who constantly take advantage of group dinners? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation!