Latest news with #billSplitting
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Majorca restaurants BAN splitting the bill blaming tourists who want to pay their share for waiter shortages
RESTAURANTS across Majorca are cracking down on the once-harmless holiday habit of splitting the bill, blaming picky tourists and chronic waiter shortages for chaos at the tills. Eateries at the popular Spanish hotspot are uniting behind a simple demand: one bill per table - no exceptions. 7 7 The move, they say, is aimed at avoiding unpaid items, streamlining service, and easing the pressure on overworked staff. Juanmi Ferrer, president of the Mallorca CAEB Restaurants Association, told Ultima Hora: 'Some don't want to pay for the wine, others specifically ask to pay for their own dish. 'This gets complicated for the staff, and there can be items that no one is charged for.' As tourists insist on settling only their share - whether that's half a sangria or a spoonful of paella - waiters are left juggling orders, receipts and card readers, often delaying service and creating discrepancies in the daily close-out. 'It is time-consuming and even more so if the bill doesn't add up,' Ferrer warned. Now, some restaurants are outright refusing to allow separate payments, insisting that diners sort it out among themselves. The only concession? Split the bill equally - if you must - but do it fast. Ferrer recommended tools like free mobile payment apps to simplify things. He said: 'We understand that the bill should be split among everyone, but there are much easier and more convenient methods, such as Bizum, which is free for customers and is automatic.' Moment hardcore anti tourist mob surround Brit tourists in Majorca chanting 'go home' & telling Brit ex-pats to 'go to hell' And while tourists may find the policy change frustrating, restaurant owners say they're simply running out of staff to cope. 'Since the pandemic, restaurateurs have had a hard time finding workers,' Ferrer added. Many businesses are forced to offer only one lunch shift, as they don't have enough staff to open midday and evening.' He insists the issue isn't about money. In fact, Majorca offers "the best hospitality agreement in Spain", with a minimum net salary of €1,700 (£1,475) a month. The real problem is getting enough hands on deck during the short but intense tourist season – especially in beach resorts. 7 7 Tourism tensions The clampdown on splitting the bill comes as anti-tourism protests flare up across the Balearics and mainland Spain. Tourists – especially Brits – are finding themselves increasingly unwelcome, with some now being lured to 'fake beaches' as part of a growing guerrilla campaign. In one viral video, a local revealed how some residents are making up names for non-existent coves in dangerous areas to mislead visitors and keep them off popular stretches of sand. 'These are not beaches, they are dangerous places that you should avoid,' she warned. Meanwhile, beaches have been barricaded with boulders, fake 'Beach Closed' signs have popped up across Majorca, and one protester was even spotted wielding an axe. The protest group Caterva claimed responsibility for recent 'symbolic closures' of secluded coves like Cala Varques and Cala Petita, insisting they're 'for residents' use and rest' only. 7 7
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
My money rule to avoid arguments with my housemates and girlfriend – it's fair but not everyone will agree
THERE'S nothing more British than the silence at the end of a meal in a restaurant as you wait for someone to say how you'll split the bill. With my mates and girlfriend there's an unwritten rule that we always split the bill equally based on how many of us there are. 1 Of course, this can get tricky if someone hasn't had booze or a much cheaper meal, as it can feel like they've got a raw deal. On the other hand, there's always one in every friendship group who orders an extra side and pudding. I can't help but feel a bit resentful that I'm funding their extra indulgence. So I wasn't surprised to hear that the number one issue that couples row about is money, according to Royal London. It gets even more complicated when you go on holiday. I've often found myself in scenarios with mates where people have taken umbrage at having to split the cost of a night out the day after. Other times people have kicked up a fuss about splitting the cost of off the cuff activities. The bill splitting app I swear by A few years ago on a weekend away with University mates where we play sport, including football, cricket and rounders, one of my friends suggested we use Splitwise. We were trying to figure out how to share the cost of all the food and drink we'd bought when one friend recommended using the app. It's free to download off the Apple App Store or Google Play and couldn't be easier to navigate. There's also a Pro version which costs £3.99 a month or £39.99 a year, letting you add an unlimited number of expenses and scan and add receipts to a running your running total. Once downloaded, you create a new group (of friends, family or between you and a partner) and can allocate a "type" to that group. For example, you can make it a "trip", "home" or "couple"-based group. Once you've done this, you add any expenses to the group and can decide how it's split between the members. The options are: you paid, split equally you are owed the full amount someone else paid, split equally someone else paid and is owed the full amount Once you've added any expenses, they are added to a grand total which tells you whether you owe money, or are owed it. How it has made my life easier Splitwise has easily become one of my most-used apps, especially since moving in with my partner a year ago. We use it to split the cost of the weekly food shop, monthly utility bills and takeaways. You might ask "why would you need a bill-splitting app" for these basic expenses, but in reality it's a lifesaver. Her job involves shift work and I work occasional weekends meaning we can sometimes go days without having a proper conversation. So being able to quickly add a little Tesco Express basket of food or a holiday car rental cost to the app in a matter of seconds, and know how much each person owes, makes for a much more efficient way of tracking our shared expenses. Using the app for trips abroad with friends has been incredibly helpful as well, especially with larger groups. I've used it on stag dos where costs can quickly add up and various members of the group have different budgets and need to track how much they've spent. Putting everything through the app can avoid awkward conversations where you ask for a few quid back. It might seem stingy that I'm quibbling with my girlfriend and mates over a couple of quid - but it can quickly add up and it really helps us all feel like things are fair. Other apps you could use Unsurprisingly, Splitwise is not the only bill-splitting app out there. There is also Settle Up which also comes in a basic free version and works similarly to Splitwise. You can also pay £3.99 a month for Premium which comes with no ads, charts and lets you scan receipts. The app comes with a 4.8* rating on the Apple App Store, compared with 3.8* for Splitwise. Splid is another option which comes with no ads even in the free version. You can also choose to add expenses in 150 currencies while on the Apple App Store reviews show it with a 4.9* rating. Then there's acasa, which unlike Splid, Settle Up and Splitwise, lets you pay bills like council tax directly through the app. It's free to download and comes with a 4.5* customer rating on the Apple App Store. How to avoid finance-based tension in relationships WE spoke to Vicky Reynal, financial psychotherapist, who shared her tips for avoiding arguments over money: Don't assume that everyone has the same money values People have different views when it comes to money: what's frugal or excessive, what's too risky vs. responsible, what's reasonable or petty. We can't assume that others will see what's right or fair the same way we'll see it come up all the time because we all have different views on what money is for and how it should be used. When conflict comes up, be curious not attacking When couples or close friends clash over money, the most powerful thing they can do is create a safe space for honest conversations - free from blame. Instead of trying to convince the other that they are wrong and you are right, try to be curious about why they might be seeing things their way and share how you feel about it. It can be helpful – particularly when couples have very different ways of handling money – to ask: 'What are the downsides of my approach to money?' and 'What are the upsides of theirs?' As an example, your caution might protect your future, but your partner's spontaneity might help you live more fully in the present. Once you begin appreciating each other's perspectives, it becomes easier to blend approaches and make collaborative financial decisions. Common sources of conflict I see involve informal financial arrangements among loved ones: 'I thought it was a gift—now they're asking for it back.' 'I thought we were splitting the cost evenly'. The real issue usually lies in the lack of clarity from the start. People often avoid being specific because they don't want to make things 'weird' with someone they care about—but it's precisely because you care that it's essential to set clear, unambiguous expectations. Use financial tools and apps thoughtfully Apps like Splitwise or Monzo's shared tabs can be great tools for transparency but it's best when they are introduced early and used consistently. If you bring them in after tension has built, they can sometimes feel accusatory. Frame their use as a shared effort to be fair, not to keep score or place blame. If conflict persists, look at the bigger picture What I mean by this is that sometimes money conflict is not about money at all. Sometimes a friend making a big deal about £7 you owe them could actually be feeling owed a lot more (has she felt you have been a neglecting friend lately?). A partner who is uncomfortable because you spent 'too much' on a gift might be feeling they don't have enough to give you emotionally in the relationship. The point is: ask yourself whether there is a different message that you or the other are trying to convey through this financial conflict.
SBS Australia
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
MiniPod: Ep 3 Splitting the bill English on Repeat (Easy)
This lesson is designed for easy-level learners. In this episode, we practise saying the following phrases: How much do we owe? Shall we split the bill? It's my shout. I'll pay half. This episode is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Credits: Host: Shannon Williams Written by: Sonia Saraullo Graphic Design: Yudai Urushima Sound Design: Mickey Grossman Music Composition: Adam Hulbert Produced by: Josipa Kosanovic
