The Art of Going Dutch

We all love those dinner dates whether it's a couples night or a bunch of girlfriends, these are the evenings that make the long week bearable.  Who doesn't look forward to spending memorable moments at a fabulous restaurant and having a wonderful time of food, friends and of course drinks!  But let's be real, there's always a bit of tension and possible animosity when the waiter arrives with the bill.  Who's going to pay what amount?  Do we pull out a calculator and individually tell each person what they owe down to the penny?  Do we allow each person to calculate their amount and add in a tip?  Or do we just make the whole process easier and split the bill evenly by the number of people?

Me and the hubby at a fundraising dinner.

1950's style.

Chances are most people won't have enough cash on them to cover their share of the bill and of course that means we are giving 4-5 credit cards to the waiter.  Just envision that annoyed look of the waiter while they swipe each card...and then the other question...how much do we tip?

Whoever would have thought paying a restaurant bill would be so confusing?  Well, unfortunately people make this  more difficult than it needs to be.  So here are a few tips to help your dinning experience be more pleasant and less stressful.

1.  Be generous with yourself and others.  It is always better to over-tip the waiter, so never try to calculate it down to the penny.  Round up!  20% tip is about average amount.  However, if the service is bad then it is understandable that your level of generosity may have decreased....by a lot!

2. If everyone at the table at eaten relatively the same amount of food and ordered about the same number of drinks, then it might be easiest to split the bill down the middle based on the number of people.  Sauce of Life Tip:  If you do this, make sure to add in the tip because telling the amount owed by each person.

3. Always bring cash!  No, $20.00 is not enough to cover appetizers, an entree, dessert and drinks for one person.  Plan ahead.

4. Never expect someone else to pay for your meal.  That is presumptuous  and extremely rude!  Pay for what you eat: be responsible.

5. If you don't have the money budgeted to go out to dinner, then you need to pass on the invitation.  Yes, it would be nice to have a night out with the girls, but arriving without the necessary funds and then expecting other people to cover your portion may result in no future invitations.

6.  Let's repeat #1.  Be Generous!  Tip the waiter well, this may be their only table for the night.  Good work deserves good pay.  If by the off chance a close friends forgot to bring cash, then it may be best for you to offer them money to stop any form of embarrassment.  Always think of others first.

7. Enjoy the night!  Have a fabulous evening and leave the stress at work!

"You Can't Take It With You"

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie)

Those of you who are lovers of old movies I'm sure the title of this blog post brought back memories of Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore and of course the amazing Director, Frank Capra, but for those of you who haven't seen the movie (or play) go rent it!  No excuses just because it's in black and white, that's what makes it even more endearing. 

"The film is about a man from a family of rich snobs who becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family." ~Wikipedia

The moral of the movie is to learn that life is short, do what you love, enjoy what you do and money isn't the be all end all.  Somehow we always make it through, the good times and even the bad times!  Unfortunately, so many of us waste too much time worrying about money and only focusing our energies on material items, which in the end doesn't make us happy or fulfill those empty voids.

How much do we rely on material items, instead of time with family, friends and experiences?

Do we work only to provide extravagant items, or do we work because we have a passion, a love for what we do? If you don't have that passion, or enjoy your career, then find one you do!  You may be surprised how much more successful you will be at something you love, because now you put your whole heart and soul into it!

Now I'm not saying that beautiful items are not fun to have and enjoy, but don't let them be your undoing!  Because in the end, "you can't take it with you".

When was the last time you told your parents you love them?
How often do you give your children hugs and kisses instead of yelling?
When was the last time you held your spouse's hand? (you better not say since you were dating!)
Are you generous with the material gifts you have been given?  Would you give the coat on your back for someone in need?
When was the last time you took a family or couple vacation and spent quality time together?
How often do you volunteer your time at a nursing home, church, a homeless shelter or to a friend or lonely neighbor?

So, Word To The Wise... Love life, do what you love, care for others and be generous, because remember, "You Can't Take It With You"!