For a long time, dining out with my mother-in-law (MIL) felt less like a family treat and more like a financial trap. It was the same routine every time: we’d enjoy a nice meal, but the second the bill hit the table, she’d suddenly “need to take an urgent call” or disappear to the restroom. By the time she came back, I’d already paid just to avoid the awkwardness of the waiter standing there.
I was tired of being her “free-meal ticket.” I knew I had to do something, but I wanted to avoid a massive family explosion. So, I decided to play her own game.
The next time we went out to a fancy restaurant, I made sure we both ordered exactly what we wanted—appetizers, expensive entrées, and dessert. When the check arrived, I didn’t reach for my purse. Instead, I waited. Like clockwork, she started her usual act. She stood up, clutching her phone, and said, “Oh, I have to take this, I’ll be right back!”
“No problem,” I said with a pleasant smile.
As soon as she walked away, I flagged down our waiter. But I didn’t pay. Instead, I asked for separate checks. I paid for my own meal, left a generous tip, and then I did the unthinkable: I got up and walked out to the car.
About ten minutes later, she came out to the parking lot, absolutely fuming. She had been forced to stay behind and pay for her own expensive dinner, and she was outraged that I “abandoned” her. I just looked at her calmly and said, “I assumed since you were gone so long, you had already taken care of your portion. I didn’t want to keep you waiting in the car!”
She hasn’t asked me to go out to dinner since, and honestly? It’s the best money I never spent. I’m not a charity, and I’m definitely not her personal bank.
