Drama Ensues As Woman Refuses To Take Up The Bills At Her Family-Planned "Birthday Get Together"

To what extent do you believe that families eating together are essential? You see, most of us spend the day in the community, interacting with individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Our kids are learning about the world from a variety of sources, frequently without the guidance or filter of their parents. People do their own thing even when everyone is at home.

The dinner table is arguably the only time of day when people can converse with one another. Having family meals together is a crucial way parents can foster and preserve connections.

In the OP's case, they are all grown, have their own places, and pay their own way in life. The OP's family consists of her grandparents, her mom, her dad, her little sister, and her boyfriend.

The OP is well-off, but her family is all poor. They work multiple jobs, struggle to get by, and can't really afford nice meals.

Sometimes, they go out to eat, like a few times a year. It's always planned by OP's mom as a "birthday get-together," but every time the bill comes out, she's always the one paying.

It can lead to a one-sided dynamic and anger if you are the one who constantly pays. The OP got tired of it, and it was all drama on the one occasion she decided not to pay for everyone.

Find out all that transpired as you read the full story below.

The headline

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The story begins...

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The OP's well off

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OP's mom plans it

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Ordering a decently priced steak

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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:

I ordered a nice steak while out to eat, and everyone else ordered cheap stuff because, since I wasn't willing to pay for everyone, they couldn't afford the nicer stuff. Should I also order cheaper stuff?

And the comments roll in...

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It's not showing off

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Adjusting the OP's attitude

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Picking up the tab

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Being taken advantage of

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It's the OP's birthday after all

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Pay for your own meal

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The OP even had to specify

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Additional clarity/context the OP forgot to include

I had told my mom last year I don't like doing dinners for my birthday and earlier in the month, when my mom tried to plan a dinner, I had said no because of low funds. The plans were changed to apple picking. My mom and sister made the reservation for the restaurant while we were at the apple farm. I tried to say I didn't want to go because we already ate, but was told to "just come and order a drink". So before we even left to go to the restaurant is when I said people should pay on their own. (Every other time I just sucked it up and paid, but similar things happen - I get invited and then stuck with the bill)

That's two different things

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Splitting the steak

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OP's not planning it

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That's on them

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Pay your own way

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Being real with her mom

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Paying for your own meal

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Deciding how much to pay

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Why eat out at all?

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She'll push back

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Some people in the OP's shoes would want to see how others respond and they do this by being transparent about money, establishing new standards, or stop paying completely. The correct course of action depends on your particular circumstance and the parties involved.

The story got a "not enough info" verdict. Drop your thoughts about this story in the comments section below and don't forget to share as well.