Hey, there is always another side to the story, so can I have a second to tell what happens when the pendulum swings to the other side?
My best buddy and I would go for beers, and I picked up the cheque. Not that he was poor and I was rich, more like I was loaded and wanted to pay the whole thing. He got really nervous and frustrated.
I then noticed that when we would do the couple thing (me and wife, him and girlfriend) that when the cheque would come they would go dutch.
He was absolutely crazy when it came to sharing with him, and I eventually called him on it: "Dude, what is the big deal? You and I make the same money, we know each other like brothers, we WORK at the same place, why not take turns with the bill once in a while?"
"I wasn't raised that way. I can't take something that I didn't pay for..."
And now, although awkward sometimes (try splitting a 5 hour beer tab when I drink approximately 1.57904 times as fast as he does) I have come to accept it.
We went camping last summer and he had the communal costs split down to the quarter. I laughed, he laughed, I paid him, and then we had a good time.
Sometimes I would just like to take him out for the most expensive meal in town and then tell him it's on me. I think he would stroke out.
