Last summer, when I began to read IWTYTBR, I set up my accounts on Quicken. I looked at my checking account… WTF? A 200$ withdrawal? Of course I remembered it. I had to do some second-hand purchases, but finally I ended up with a very good deal, and it cost me 60$ instead of the expected 150$ (I allowed myself a little slack by withdrawing a lot more)

On that 140$, a whole 100$ vanished in the air. I don’t know where, I think some of it went in dinners and beer… oh well, it all went in the Stupid Mistakes category.

If you know that you are paying separate checks, it is always a good idea to ask the server before-hand to make separate checks. Servers don’t like to do so (even when they should be gratefull you brought so many people to the table). But if you ask nicely before dinner it will be easier. The worse they can do is say is NO and you will probably have to split the bill (Although they are looking for lost customers, since I ussually don’t voluntarily frequent restaurants that say no to me regarding ANYTHING reasonable).

But if you have to resort to the issue of paying with cash… Let someone else deal with the issue of too much cash in their pocket. Have some other friend use his/her credit card.

But you are right… send the money to the bank if you end up with the cash.