Dining out with a group and coupons

[kingsrings]

I clip restaurant coupons like crazy because I am always looking to save money as I'm completely broke at this time. Some of these coupons are the 'buy one' get one free' type. My etiquette question is, is it okay to use this coupon when I am dining out with a group of people? The group is anywhere from 10-20 people on a regular basis. Usually when it's just two of us I will share the coupon with my dining mate and then we just pay half and half for the one entree, but it is impossible to do the sharing thing when it's a large group of people. This is coming up this weekend, and I have a lot of coupons for this one dining place, so I want to use them because it's a good deal and I want to save money.

[Chocolate Cake]

If you feel that it would be rude to arbitrarily select someone in the group with whom to share your good fortune leaving the rest to pay full price for their meals, then just keep the coupon to yourself, order two entrees, eat one there and have one boxed "to go" for your dinner the next night.

[Chonsil]

You say you have coupons - plural, right? I suppose my thought is you could share them amongst the group, and then reduce the cost of the overall bill which is then split amongst everyone. Of course, this only works if you are splitting the bill and not getting separate cheques. And it could be the case that you want to keep your coupons for your own use on other occasions.

[kingsrings]

If you feel that it would be rude to arbitrarily select someone in the group with whom to share your good fortune leaving the rest to pay full price for their meals, then just keep the coupon to yourself, order two entrees, eat one there and have one boxed "to go" for your dinner the next night.

I did try that once, picking one person out of the group and offering to share the coupon with her. But she said no, just go ahead and use it for myself, and the rest of the group agreed. I just don't know if they were saying that to get out of a situation they thought was rude or not.

[kingsrings]

You say you have coupons - plural, right? I suppose my thought is you could share them amongst the group, and then reduce the cost of the overall bill which is then split amongst everyone. Of course, this only works if you are splitting the bill and not getting separate cheques. And it could be the case that you want to keep your coupons for your own use on other occasions.

We all get one bill, but pay our separate share of it, or sometimes they do give individual bills. I think I do have more than one coupon, but not enough that everyone would get to use them, and the restaurant limits it to only two per table anyway.

[platys]

It probably depends on the group, but I"d feel pretty funny "piggy backing" on someone elses meal in a large group - mainly, you get free food, and no else gets the benefit.  Those coupons work best in a small group where the joy can be shared amongst people.  Otherwise, it just looks cheap, I think.

[CrayonOutlines]

I wouldn't.  It makes splitting the bill more complicated than it already is.

I agree with the poster who suggested you use your coupon(s) on another occasion.

[DottyG]

I wouldn't.  It makes splitting the bill more complicated than it already is.

I agree with the poster who suggested you use your coupon(s) on another occasion.

"Thirding" that suggestion.  I think it's great that you have the coupons.  But, maybe there's a better time to use them.  Use them when it's a special treat for you and a friend or something like that.

[Sophia]

I think it depends a lot on the group.  How about this?  Bring two coupons.  Before hand tell the group you have two coupons.  That way there will be two free meals.  Offer to pay for half of your meal, since that is what you would normally do if eating with just one person.  The amount equal to 1 1/2 meals can be distributed off everyone else's bill.  There isn't any need to do complicated math.  If everyone pays what they would normally pay, then the worst that could happen is there will be too much money in the pile, and some can be distributed back to people. 

[JudiAU]

The best approach would be apply one or two coupons to the total bill, allow the total bill to be reduced, and then pay an even split as your portion.

I don't know that it is truly rude to not pay for your dinner or even pay even half but it would be extremely ackward and not very gracious. The only way I could see it working out is to explain that your finances are extemely tight and you would probably have to do that to multiple people because some people are going to count or pass the money and notice that you aren't contributing. Personally, I would be unwilling to do that.