How to split restaurant bill with coupon

[disneysteve]

When we go out to eat with friends, we split the bill 50-50. We don't worry about who ordered what.

Tonight we are going to dinner with another couple but we have a Living Social voucher to use. The voucher was $45 and is good for a 4-course dinner for 2, so our meal is fully covered by the voucher. I'm trying to decide how to settle up when the bill comes.

One option is to just say our meal is paid for and let the other couple pay the difference (we'd put in our share of the tip of course). We'd rather not do that, though. We are happy to share some of the savings from our voucher. So how do we divide the final bill after the value of the voucher is subtracted so that we essentially split the savings from the voucher? I'm good at math but I'm stumbling on this one. Part of the problem is I don't know exactly how much the voucher will save us as I don't know the actual value of the dinner for 2 that we'll receive. I'm guessing it will be in the $80 range meaning we will have saved about $35 with the voucher.

[HappySaver]

Either save your coupon for another time when it's just the two of you, or contribute it to share equally with the other couple. Just subtract $45 from the total and split that amount in half. That's what each party should owe. You can each add your own tip after that.

[Barclay]

Ask the server to split into 2 checks. This is common practice and the other couple doesn't even need to know you have a certificate for your meal.

[disneysteve]

Either save your coupon for another time when it's just the two of you, or contribute it to share equally with the other couple. Just subtract $45 from the total and split that amount in half. That's what each party should owe.

We don't want to save it. We want to use it tonight and share in the savings with our friends.

Let's say the bill before the voucher is $160 or $80/couple. After the voucher it is just $80 as the voucher covered dinner for 2. How do we split the $80 owed so that each couple realizes half of the savings of the voucher?

Ask the server to split into 2 checks. This is common practice and the other couple doesn't even need to know you have a certificate for your meal.

That's true but doesn't answer my question. I'm not trying to hide the voucher from them. I'm trying to share the savings.

[disneysteve]

Let's say the bill before the voucher is $160 or $80/couple. After the voucher it is just $80 as the voucher covered dinner for 2. How do we split the $80 owed so that each couple realizes half of the savings of the voucher?

To answer my own question:

If the voucher reduced the bill by $80 but costs us $45, that means the savings was $35. Split 2 ways, that would be $17.50/couple. So $80 - $17.50 = $62.50. So if our friends paid $62.50, they would have saved $17.50 on their meal thanks to our voucher. We would pay the remaining $17.50 to reach $80. That would mean we spent $45 + $17.50 for total of $62.50, same as the other couple. Bingo. I guess I just needed to write it out. Trying to do it in my head just wasn't working for some reason.

[greenskeeper]

originally sounded like the voucher was for $45 off, not costing you $45 for the voucher.


(total bill $160) - ($80 - $45) = $125 / 2 = $62.50 per couple

[HappySaver]

originally sounded like the voucher was for $45 off, not costing you $45 for the voucher.

Sorry, I thought the same thing. Looks like you've got the answer. It's a nice gesture to split this evenly with your friends.

[disneysteve]

originally sounded like the voucher was for $45 off, not costing you $45 for the voucher.

Sorry I wasn't clear on that.

Groupon and Living Social typically work like this. You pay a particular price for a voucher that is worth more than that. So this voucher cost me $45 and is good for dinner for 4 which probably costs around $80 depending on what you order, so a savings of about $35.

Sometimes the vouchers are for a fixed amount like $20 for $40 worth of food which is a little more clear because you know in advance exactly how much you are saving.

Either way, they are great deals. If you haven't checked them out, I highly recommend it. And it isn't just restaurants. They offer all kinds of discounts. Travel, salons, spas, experiences and events, and more.

[scfr]

Unless this is a couple you dine out with regularly and always split the bill this time, what about just offering to pay for everyone this time? Maybe next time they'll treat you.

[simpletron]

(final bill - 45)/2 = what you should pay, they'll pay what you paid + 45.

[UnknownXV]

Use the voucher for yourselves, and pay a bit of their bill.. if you want them to capitalize on the voucher a bit, seems like the easiest way.

[marvholly]

I a late to the game BUT:

As I see it Steve needs/wants to recover (at least in part) the $45 he paid for the voucher).

considering the TOTAL cost w/o voucher the other couple should be totally responsible for the tip on BOTH meats. That should come close to the $22.50 share of the voucher.

[Mesem]

In short, I believe to keep it simple is best. Trust in the restaurant and tell them what you intend on doing for example: "Hello, may I use this voucher to be split for four people?"