Countdown to Financial Fitness: Let's Split the Check

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Let's Split the Check: Although more and more restaurants are now willing to accommodate large groups by preparing separate checks, sometimes it makes sense to as...

Let's Split the Check

Although more and more restaurants are now willing to accommodate large groups by preparing separate checks, sometimes it makes sense to ask for a single bill.

For example, if the meal is family-style, or everyone's main course costs approximately the same, and there are shared items like appetizers, bottles of wine, and/or desserts. Or perhaps many of the diners are children or honorees.

Inevitably, you'll encounter that friend or relative who will order the most expensive item on the menu, appetizers, dessert, and several cocktails, and then suggest, "Let's just split the check. It will be easier for the waitress." And others will agree, even though there is someone who only ordered a salad and a glass of complimentary ice water. If you're that person, do you protest and be labeled a cheapskate, or just suck it up and subsidize the others as a cost of friendship?

And then what about the tip? Does everyone chip in equally? It seems like, whenever a group splits the check, the server either gets stiffed or ends up obscenely over-tipped, because everyone wants to appear magnanimous, unwilling to pull anything back from the pile of money, even after realizing they put out too much.

I had a friend in Houston—nice guy, always short on cash—who loved going out with the group, and of course, splitting the check. He'd often be the only one to order an expensive appetizer, and if he let someone else taste it, would consider it a shared expense for the entire group. And when the bill came around, he didn't have any money left for the tip, or even his beers. "Thanks for covering me," he'd whisper. "I'll treat next time." Only "next time" turned out the same as last time.

And what about the sister who suggests taking Mom out to dinner? Sister orders a cocktail and a glass of wine—which you can't do because you're driving—as well as the most expensive item on the menu; her portion is over half the entire bill. But you split the check in half, and both of you get credit for buying Mom's dinner. Oh well, Mom loves you both the same anyway.

My husband, a flight attendant, experiences a lot of group dining situations on layovers. His favorite is a restaurant in Germany, where at the end of the meal, after the tab is requested, the waitress goes around the table, points at each person, and announces a number. Everyone pays his fair share: nothing more, nothing less.

How do you handle group dining? I'd love to hear your comments.

Sharon Marchisello is the author of Live Cheaply, Be Happy, Grow Wealthy.

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Extreme Water Conservation

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Extreme Water Conservation: The Friday before Labor Day, my husband discovered a gushing leak in a pipe under the house, and he shut off our water. Good luck getting a...

Extreme Water Conservation

The Friday before Labor Day, my husband discovered a gushing leak in a pipe under the house, and he shut off our water. Good luck getting a plumber to come out on a holiday weekend.

I haven't been camping since I was a Girl Scout, and I never liked it that much. Now I was forced to camp out in my own home.

I never realized how many times a day I normally wash my hands. Hand sanitizer just doesn't feel as clean.

Those airline packages of refreshing moist towelettes came in handy as a substitute for face washing. And I found some old cotton balls and astringent under my sink, left over from an abandoned three-part facial plan.

Brushing your teeth doesn't require the faucet to be running. Moisten the brush slightly, slather on the toothpaste, and do a cursory rinse afterward, holding the brush over the sink for double duty. I made one small bottle of water last several days.

Sponge bathing is not ideal, but hey, in some cultures, people don't bathe every day. When I lived in France as a student, I only bathed about three times a week. Of course, it was winter, and my apartment was so cold, I didn't like shivering when I took off my layers and layers of clothing.

We had food in our refrigerator, but cooking was still a challenge. I make a lot of different pasta dishes, but no way was I going to use that much drinking water to boil noodles. I have a habit of washing every spinach leaf when I prepare a salad, but since the bag said the spinach was already triple-washed, I decided to trust it.

Fortunately, we had recently done laundry and run the dishwasher. Otherwise... that's why they have Laundromats and paper plates.

When out running errands, we made use of the public restrooms. First and last stop. We can afford to buy bottled water, but balk. It costs as much per gallon as gasoline!

We have a decorative fountain surrounded by a pool in front of our house, and the pool was brimming with water from recent rains. We figured out we could haul five-gallon buckets from the pool to fill the toilet tank. I felt like I was living in a village in Africa, drawing my water from a well. And we used well water to rinse our dishes, too.

No one should have to live like this long-term, but unfortunately, some people in this world have it much worse, on a permanent basis. From this inconvenient situation, I learned I can get by with a lot less water in an emergency.

Now that we are blessed with indoor plumbing again, I'm going to go take a long, luxurious shower.

Sharon Marchisello is the author of Live Cheaply, Be Happy, Grow Wealthy.

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Saving Money on Pet Ownership

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Saving Money on Pet Ownership: Pet ownership can be rewarding and therapeutic; I highly recommend it. But pet ownership can also get expensive. Some pet owners spend more...

Saving Money on Pet Ownership

Pet ownership can be rewarding and therapeutic; I highly recommend it. But pet ownership can also get expensive. Some pet owners spend more at the veterinarian than for their own medical care.

With today's advances in veterinary science, many injuries and illnesses are now treatable, when in the past, euthanasia was the only option. Pet insurance can help, but it, too, is expensive, and it usually doesn't cover the basics.

I can't offer advice on life-or-death decisions for an animal who has become your best friend or even a full-fledged member of your family. But here are a few general suggestions to keep pet ownership more affordable:

Adopt your pet from your local shelter or an animal rescue group, rather than buying from a breeder or a pet store. Some pet stores acquire their animals from puppy mills where conditions are often unsanitary and inhumane, resulting in health and behavior problems down the road. For a modest adoption fee, many rescue groups will provide you with a healthy animal that has been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and micro-chipped, and they will often take the animal back or exchange it for another if it turns out not to be a good fit (usually minus the adoption fee). But you want a pure-bred, not a mutt? Did you know that approximately 25% of dogs in shelters are pure-bred? And if you can't find the breed you want in your local shelter, check out breed-specific rescue groups.

Research the breed you want before adopting your pet. The reason so many pure-bred dogs end up in shelters is because pet owners did not know what behaviors and traits to expect, and fell in love with a breed that was not a good fit for their situation. If you buy a dog from a breeder and then have to surrender it later, you stand to lose a sizable investment, not to mention the emotional loss.

Get your pet spayed or neutered, or soon you will have many more mouths to feed. Cat and dog overpopulation is rampant. Contrary to popular belief, cats and dogs can have their first litter at four months of age—when they are still kittens or puppies themselves! Millions of healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are put to death in shelters every year, simply because there are not enough homes. Don't be a part of the problem by assuming you'll be able to give away your pet's offspring. If you balk at the price of surgery at a full-service veterinarian, check out a low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter clinic or mobile vet. Spaying/neutering helps your pet live a longer, healthier life, because it reduces the risk of cancer and eliminates much unwanted behavior associated with mating, such as roaming and fighting, which can result in expensive-to-treat injuries.

Keep your pet's vaccinations up to date. This is especially important if you have your pet groomed or need to board it, thus exposing it to other animals. Preventive care—including flea treatment and de-worming—can help avoid expensive vet bills later. Some veterinarians are now offering "wellness plans" that encourage pet owners to bring their pets in for regular check-ups. This is the same concept now being applied to humans; many insurance companies cover annual physicals and certain screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, at 100% to encourage people to get preventive care.

Feed your pet a high-quality diet. Tempting though it may be, most animals should not eat table scraps. Watch for sales and use coupons to buy the type of pet food recommended by your veterinarian. Some brands can also be purchased online for a discount.

As with any product recommended to you by a financial planner, contractor, or doctor, question major, costly treatment plans that your veterinarian may suggest. Certainly, you want the very best for your furry friend. But what is the return on investment? What are the consequences of doing nothing? Are there less expensive alternatives that might work as well, and/or provide a good quality of life? Don't let guilt force you to throw money at a problem that might not be fixable.

What are your thoughts on the costs of pet ownership? I would love to hear your comments.

Sharon Marchisello is the author of Live Cheaply, Be Happy, Grow Wealthy.

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Managing Credit Cards

Countdown to Financial Fitness: Managing Credit Cards: Several times in this blog, I have talked about the advantages and pitfalls of using credit cards. Credit cards offer convenience, purchase...