I think it just depends on who I'm dining with.

If it's a surprise birthday dinner, then I definitely expect guests to pay, but if they didn't I wouldn't throw a fit or anything. Otherwise, I don't have a problem paying for myself.

My bf and I ALWAYS chip in for the birthday persons dinner...I think it's jsut polite!!! But yea, when OUR birthdays roll around, we pay for each other because everyone else is too cheap! I mean come on, $5 each is not going to break your bank. If it is, maybe you should have considered not coming to dinner!

It depends..now just about anytime I attend a birthday dinner I feel obliged to pay on behalf of my friend..or split the costs between the guests..it is their birthday after all!

I expect to pay for my dinner (actually in my culture you're supposed to pay for yourself AND EVERYONE ELSE you invited - it's considered SO rude not to!) but my dinner has been paid for when I've been out for my birthday each year. It makes me uncomfortable and I want to just pay for myself!

I expect my husband to pay for it...hehe. And it had better be good.

Depends on all kinds of things. In general if I invite ppl, then I pay... if I am invited or taken out to dinner, they pay.

I dont expect anyone to pay for me ever, birthday or no birthday, but I am always very greatful and touched when someone does. I would hate to feel like someone thinks they HAVE to pay for my dinner if they choose to hang out with me on or around my birthday. That's just sad. Hopefully, I have surounded myself with friends and family that actually want to be around me, and if they end up paying, then that is wonderful of them. And if they felt they were only paying because they were obligated, then I would hope they had the balls to at least opt out and just stay home.

Yeah my boyfriend or my BEST friend will pay for it. They have always done it in the past.

it depends on who it is. but normally i'd think people would all just chip in and pay. some people are so cheap though.

I agree on the chipping in...regardless I don't think anyone has done it for me...my bf ALWAYS pays for my birthday dinners (and pretty much every other dinner!)...

I usually split the check with other attendees at the dinner, not expecting the birthday boy or girl to pay. The last bday dinner I went to we were in Vegas celebrating one of my close friend's bdays as an entire bday weekend. We went to eat at Sushi Roku and when the check came everyone paid for themselves and no one offered to split the check and exclude her from it. I felt bad, so I covered both her and myself as a treat. It was so yummy!!

I do not expect it but my friends always take care of it and I do the same for them. It's not like I invite the entire world to the dinner it is my closest friends. I have been to parties where they were huge and out of control and unfortunately there is always the one couple that does not step up and pay their fair share even though they ordered a ton of top shelf drinks.

if i am dating someone they can treat me haha but no i don't expect to pay for it. sometimes my friends do- sometimes they don't- depends on the sitch! last night i went out with 2 friends for my b-day and i paid for my own, but they brought me presents! tonight i'm goingout with a gorup of 10 for my b-day so we'll see what happens but i always go with the intention of paying for my own!

To me it depends on who invites and how the invitation is worded. If someone says "let me take you out for your birthday" then I would expect them to pay. I don't invite people out for my occasion because I feel weird about that -- I would definitely expect to pay for myself. I would feel awkward about asking people to spend money to hang out with me. For that reason, my husband and I usually have people over to our house to celebrate things --- it's cheaper than hosting a party at a restaurant and our friends don't have to spend any money to come over (though they usually bring wine or something).

I never EXPECT anyone to pay for my anything, I'm a grown woman. However, when someone else invites you out for your birthday, I think it generally implies they plan to pay anyway.

Guests at the table don't usually pay for my breakfast meal (unless it's my mother-in-law who ALWAYS pays for everyone) but my hubby will usually pay my meal. I don't think I've really paid for my own birthday meal on my birthday.

*birthday meal. Not breakfast! LOL

My hubby and I have a friend who always does this. He picks a super expensive restaurant that he wants everyone to take him to and then we are all supposed to chip in and pay for his meal.
It ends up being around $80 to $125 per person!

I would not have such a problem with it if he didn't expect it every year and he didn't pick such pricey places.

I never go anywhere planning someone to pay for me. There are certain times where I expect that they might a little more (like if I'm out to dinner with my dad and his girlfriend; they always pick up the check), but I have no qualms about paying for myself.

It's nice if someone wants to do, but it doesn't always happen and don't expect them to. In my little circle of friends, everyone pretty much pays their own way with the occasional treat here and there.

Redegg, it sounds like your friend is really taking advantage of your generosity! Ugh.

I always chip in when I attend a friend's birthday dinner and my friends do the same for me. It's nice. Thankfully, most of my friends don't have such expensive tastes like redegg's friend!

I hate imposing upon people. Instead of suggesting a birthday dinner, I prefer going for tapas/appetizers and drinks a little later on in the evening. This sort of event lends itself better into going out afterward for those that wish to do so. Last year I picked up the tab for my friends and I during this part of the night. This year my boyfriend paid, though. But it's okay because I took him out for a super nice dinner on his birthday.

It depends on who organizes it. If I call everyone and pick the restaurant, everyone usually pays for their own food. But if my friends and family call me and pick the restaurant, they usually pay for our meal. It's never really been a big issue because we don't usually choose very expensive restaurants or anything.

Most of my friends also have October birthdays, so we have one big party with everyone chipping in equally.

I expect my boyfriend to pay for my birthday dinner, but if he's not there, then no. I always try to pay for my dinner. Although, usually my friends don't let me.

i think that it depends on the situation of the dinner. i've someone's organized it and i'm just invited to a party for me - then i kind of expect others to pay but if i'm coordinating it, then i don't have that same expectation

me and my group of friends always 'treat' the birthday girl/boy, and it works out because we all pretty much go out for each others bdays, and we all pitch in for the bday person so on our bday everyone else pays lol.. its a great system actually

I would never expect anything...w/my friends we all chip in extra so the b-day person doesn't have to pay for their dinner/drinks. It's fun to be treated on your birthday!!

I usually don't do anything for my birthday because it is very close to a holiday, and people are usually hanging out with their families around then.

This year I am inviting friends to a concert. Everyone pays for their own tickets. If they cover my dinner, that's great. I don't expect it though.

In Spain, the norm is that you invite everyone. You chose the place and the number so you can control the check. It's not a bad system since later you are an invitee.

i never expect anyone to pay for me, but it's nice when someone offers.