I’m a 27-year-old guy who’s been part of a tight-knit friend group since college—about eight of us altogether. For context, two of them—Susan and Greg—are notorious for mooching. Anytime we go out, they’ll order the most expensive items on the menu, spin a sob story about being broke, and then somehow expect everyone else to help cover their bill.
Last weekend, our friend Dan invited me to a casual dinner. I told him straight up: if Susan or Greg were going to be there, count me out. He admitted they’d be there but asked me to let it slide just this once. I agreed and said I’d come.
So I show up. There are six of us total. Everyone’s chatting and ordering. Most people picked meals that landed around $40. Then came Susan and Greg—of course—each ordering ridiculously expensive dishes, totaling nearly $200 between them.
When it was my turn, everyone glanced at me. I calmly picked up the menu, pointed to a $4 drink, and handed it back. When Dan asked why I wasn’t ordering food, I told him I wasn’t hungry. Strangely enough, two others decided to follow suit and canceled their meals too—just drinks for them.
Later, when food arrived, Susan and Greg were enjoying their lavish meals while the rest of us sipped our drinks. Then the check comes. Greg quickly tells the waiter to split it six ways. That’s when I stepped in.
I said, “Actually, the check will be split three ways.” Greg stared at me like I’d grown horns. “But we always split the bill,” he protested. I replied, “Well, three of us didn’t eat. We’ll just be paying for our drinks.”
The final tally? Dan—who probably ate $50 worth of food—got stuck with a $146.98 bill. (Yes, I remember the exact number.) He looked stunned. I casually placed a $10 on the table, said goodnight, and left.
The next morning, my phone was flooded with texts. Greg and Susan called me selfish for “ruining” dinner and making them pay more than expected. I actually smiled—those overpriced steaks hit them harder than they thought.
Even Dan messaged me saying I could’ve just skipped dinner instead of pulling what he called a “stunt” and leaving him with the bill. But honestly? I didn’t feel bad. Maybe next time they’ll think twice before freeloading again.