"I Ghosted My Friend After She Asked To Split Her Birthday Bill. Was I Unfair?"
A 2024 Thortful report found that 71% of cash-strapped Brits have skipped a friend's birthday party because they simply can't afford it.
And with the cozzie livs showing absolutely no signs of relenting in 2025, it doesn't seem like the trend will reverse any time soon.
Which makes Redditor u/Quick_Aioli6466 ′s recent post to r/AITAH (Am I The Asshole Here) seem even more unfair.
The 30-year-old poster said she felt blindsided by her friend's seemingly self-serving (and misleading) birthday party payment plan.
So, we spoke to Dr Pamela Walters, a consultant psychiatrist, about what's fair to ask of your guests financially.
The original poster (OP) felt misled
The Redditor said that a friend of hers ('Megan'), who owns a restaurant with her partner, 'Dave,' chose to hold her birthday in the couple's 'popular' venue.
'They invited about 40 people' to their restaurant, the woman added.
'They closed the restaurant for the night just for the event... it was a private party with only their intended guests.'
At the beginning of the night, OP says Dave raised a toast to Megan and beseeched the guests to order 'whatever you want.'
So she and multiple other guests were pretty surprised to receive bills the following day from the business owners, many of which ran into the hundreds.
'Everyone kind of assumed it was being hosted, or at the very least subsidised,' she continued.
She reckons the hosting couple profited to the tune of about £3,750, which left her feeling 'icky' and suspicious of a 'cash grab.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brits are most likely to say ‘yes' to new opportunities at the age of 27
Brits are most likely to say 'yes' to new opportunities at the age of 27, a study has found. A poll of 2,000 adults found 69 per cent admit they 'play it safe' in life, with 39 per cent determined to say 'yes' more often. And the average adult typically turns something down as often as twice a week. It also emerged just 26 per cent of over 35s feel they are more likely to say yes to opportunities now, than they did 20 years ago. Of those who felt the opposite, being settled into a routine (41 per cent) was considered the biggest barrier, while others blamed life being more complicated now (35 per cent), being too tired (33 per cent) and wanting to plan things in advance (33 per cent). The study was commissioned by Halfords, which is partnering with 'Yes Man', Danny Wallace, to highlight the positive benefits of being open to new experiences this summer. Danny Wallace said: "Twenty years ago I decided to say 'yes' to whatever came my way… and it led to the best adventures. '
New York Post
18 hours ago
- New York Post
Cheesecake Factory slammed for ‘sad' new portion sizes on its signature item: ‘This makes me mad'
Are they serving slimmer slices of this fattening fave? Foodies with a hankering for hulking hunks of cheesecake are calling out the dessert's eponymous restaurant for allegedly skimping on its serving sizes amid the 'shrinkflation' crisis. 'The last couple of times I got a slice of cheesecake it was about half the size of the usual slice,' wrote a Cheesecake Factory whistleblower on Reddit, emphasizing their outrage with a pic of a 'sad' to-go piece of what appears to be the eatery's Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple delicacy. Advertisement 5 A Reddit user claims the portion size of their dessert from the Cheesecake Factory is noticeably smaller than usual, while its calorie count remains the same. Reddit/Fancy—Wolf 'What is more disturbing is that the calories per slice listed on their website have not changed,' the Redditor ranted, 'which would make one assume they should be getting the same size of slices.' For folks with a sweet tooth, receiving a skinny slab of cake cuts deep. Advertisement But, unfortunately, peewee portions aren't limited to after-dinner indulgences nowadays. 5 McDonald's, PepsiCo and more have been accused of shrinking goods without decreasing their prices. JR-50 – From tampons to toilet paper, from McDonald's sandwich patties to Costco cookies, everyday items are shrinking in scale — but not in cost. Shrinkflation, a pox that has most recently plagued society since the pandemic, is a sneaky form of inflation that sees businesses reduce a product's size or value, yet offer it at the same retail price as its former glory. Advertisement Imprints such as PepsiCo, Arby's and Kleenex have also been called out for reportedly committing the 'deceptive' downsizing. And now, apparently, it's the Cheesecake Factory's turn in the hot seat. The Post has reached out to the restaurant chain for comment. 5 The Cheesecake Factory is the latest brand to be blasted for offering customers 'shrinkflation'-sized goods. Christopher Sadowski 5 Stunned social media users were incensed by the Redditor's tiny slice of cake. morozov_photo – Advertisement 5 Online critics claim the serving sizes at The Cheesecake Factory have become smaller and smaller in recent years, Facebook/Cheesecake Factory 'This makes me mad. Like WTH,' a ticked commenter roared beneath the Reddit post. 'That sucks.' 'All serving sizes at Cheesecake Factory have gone down,' another declared. 'That slice is way smaller than it was 10 years ago. Probably also costs nearly double.' 'Remember everything is a transaction. They don't care about you specifically, they want your money,' carped a complainer. 'I remember getting massive slices and not being able to finish them in one sitting and having to split it up over a day or two,' said another. 'Now, they're all gone in a matter of minutes! Kinda disappointed.' 'They have been getting smaller since COVID,' a bellyacher agreed. 'And the price goes up.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Faro Airport opens e-gates to British travellers in time for summer
Faro Airport in Portugal has started the rollout of e-gate access to British arrivals, the UK Government has announced. Downing Street expects British holidaymakers will be able to use the technology in their 'millions', after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer struck an agreement with EU leaders last month. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, whose brief includes EU relations, said at the despatch box on Thursday that the deal 'makes life easier for holidaymakers'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Yesterday, Portugal opened e-gates at Faro Airport to British citizens, which will mean millions more Brits going to the Algarve will be able to use e-gates in time for the summer holidays.' He added: 'We're obviously continuing to work with other countries and other airports to ensure Brits can use more e-gates as soon as possible and that work continues. 'It's obviously good news to see a very significant airport, I think for British holidaymakers, opening e-gates to British citizens yesterday.' When he unveiled the deal last month, Sir Keir said that 'for holidaymakers wanting to get out this summer, they will want to know that they can do so easily and without delay and chaos'. The Prime Minister called on 'all EU members states to help make this a reality without delay'. Since Brexit, UK nationals have been unable to use e-gates in most Schengen area countries. Passengers from the UK face warnings that passport controls on arrival at Portugal 'may take up more time, as the passport will have to be stamped and there are additional questions that may be asked by the border control officers', according to the Faro Airport website. The Government has said the deal will smooth over 'legal barriers to e-gates use for UK nationals', once a new stamp-free biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) launches, due in October this year. Taking a question about steps 'to improve relations with the EU', Mr Thomas–Symonds told the Commons: 'The historic deal that we signed with the EU on May 19 is in our national interests – good for bills, borders and jobs. 'It slashes red tape and bureaucracy, boosts British exporters and makes life easier for holidaymakers. 'Indeed, I'm delighted to confirm this morning that Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this week.'
