Either don't carry cash, only a credit card, and use that as your excuse for getting a separate ticket or lay down enough to cover your own expenses. (and maybe a portion of g o h, if that's the case).  For someone to try and shame you for not paying more than you spent is vulgar.  I would also hand my tip to the waiter personally so that it doesn't get mixed in with someone else' portion.    

If your "friends" expect you to help pay for their evening out then they are really selfish and self centered. expecting you to pay for spending time with them, and maybe you should move on or they are financially strapped and should have ordered cheaper themselves.  You should never spend more than you yourself can afford to pay!  

But I guarentee that you are not the only one at the table who will feel this way and once someone has the guts to stand up and say "NO" others will follow right behind.

I regularly dine with a regular group and we always ask for separate checks. It's understood.  It's by family and we have one family with 4 kids and one with one child and the rest have two each.  My family does not drink sodas and I don't drink alcohol.  Usually, one person will offer to buy a pitcher of sangria, or bottle and puts it on his tab. If we order appetizers, it's for our family. But I think we're pretty much on the same page.  On the other hand, my sister in law and her alcoholic boyfriend always go all out (because they can afford to) and just want to split the bill. Why should I pay for their hard liquor and their appetiziers and desserts when I'm perfectly fine with tap water and a simple meal?

It is tight for most everyone these days. I think everyone should pay for what ever THEY eat and drink and not have to split the bill, unless those were the plans ahead of time.

This might be taking this scenario to the extreme, but several years ago, a group of 8 of us (4 couples) went out to dinner about twice a year.  The check was always split evenly, regardless of whom ordered what.  There was one couple who always ordered, the appetizers, most expensive entree, and usually a bottle of champagne. After a about two years of this, after the aforementioned couple placed their order, I told the waiter that we would all have the same thing, soup to nuts.  When the bill came, wouldn’t you know it the one couple that always ordered the expensive meal, didn’t have enough to cover their portion of the bill, and I got lambasted for putting them in this embarrassing spot. They got so used to everyone else supplementing their meal, that is what they expected to happen all of the time.  We have not seen them in several years

I agree with John. I waitressed for years and having individual checks in no harder than one big check. As long as someone lets the waiter/waitress know who is picking up the group appetizers and desserts. With computers these days it is not hard to split things up. I also agree that if a restaurant won't do it then go to a place where they do and maybe they will get the hint. It is not being cheap but if you don't drink your bill can easily be an extra $25 plus paying for others to drink. I also am aware when I am drinking and splurging that if someone else is not they certainly should not be paying for my extras.

I can't believe the number of people that think the writer was a cheapskate because he didn't want to subsidize other guests' meals and drinks.  Especially since it was twice what he actually owed. I do not mind paying my share or even a little more than my share, but to be asked to pay for others along with the guest of honor.  Where is the fairness in that?  

I can only assume that those that think Mike is just being cheap, are the ones that take advantage of the split check by ordering expensive meals and drinks knowing that someone else will be paying for their share.

I've been on both sides of this.  I have a friend who always wants to argue the bill to the penny and then leaves a crappy tip.  Guess who I don't meet for dinner anymore?  And I also have friends who are used to spending a lot more than my husband and I can afford when eating out.  Now we invite them over for pasta or potluck.  With everyone else we split the bill and consider a few dollars either way unimportant.

calculate what your meal cost and add that to the pot or ask for a really big order to take home for later.  They will be verry glad to take what you added.  This was a setup right from the gate

For large parties its always easier to split the bill - its quicker to calculate and most people feel their share is close enough to that amount that it's not worth breaking out the calculator. But, If you feel your share of the bill is significantly less, be in charge of paying and collecting and most importantly calculating everyone's share and I don't think anyone will mind.

Why would one order what they can afford-sacrificing what they would really want-and, then end up helping to pay everyones bill?  I let everyone know that I'm there for the celebration and that I will pay my own bill and tip. I do not care if the waiter has a problem with this. The employer should be paying his wage, not me. If I get good service, I will tip. I OWE the waiter nothing! I would share the cost of the honoree's meal and tip, also. Sharing the whole bill equally is a good way to spoil friendships. If there is someone that thinks this is being a cheapskate, they're probably the ones that ate steak and lobster, while I shared an appetizer and drank water. If they want to have one bill, I would gladly figure my portion and contribute what I owe. What negative criticism this might generate is the problem of the person that is criticizing-probably the one with the biggest bill!