My Colleagues Always Made Me Split Bills Even Though I Didn’t Eat That Much, So I Found a Way to Put Them in Their Place

Sydney was eager to fit in at her new job and joined her colleagues for weekly Friday lunches, where the bill was always split evenly. However, while she ordered simple vegetarian meals, her teammates routinely chose expensive meat dishes. This meant Sydney was subsidizing their lavish orders, straining her tight budget. When she first suggested separate bills, her concerns were dismissed. Frustrated but determined, she began ordering extra food she wouldn’t eat—ensuring her share of the bill increased. Eventually, her colleagues noticed the imbalance and agreed to separate bills, finally allowing Sydney to pay only for what she consumed.