🍽️The etiquette of splitting the tab; home design tricks

Plus, amp up your 🥗 salad game

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by digital editor Malaka Gharib At my birthday dinner at a sushi restaurant last year, something awkward happened when the bill arrived.  Half the party wanted to pay for my tab. They wanted to treat the birthday girl, they said. But since I organized the dinner, I really had no expectations that anyone would cover me. So I told them, please don't worry about it. I also didn't want to pressure those who didn't offer to pay for me to feel like they had to chip in.  Then began the negotiation. Some people wanted to split the bill evenly. Others wanted to pay for my dessert and appetizer. Some wanted to cover the tip. I stood there helplessly as the party talked over the dollars and cents.  In the end, I let the people who wanted to pay for me pay (and thanked them for their generosity, of course). And I didn't judge the people who didn't ... I just felt bad that they were put in a weird position.  The social etiquette of splitting the tab Malaka Gharib/NPR The birthday dinner incident inspired me to do a Life Kit episode on the social etiquette of splitting the tab.  I asked Kiki Aranita, a food editor at New York Magazine and the former co-chef and owner of Poi Dog, a Hawaiian restaurant in Philadelphia, how she would have handled my situation.  "In this scenario, I would have done exactly what you have done," says Aranita. "I would put down my card not expecting anybody to pay for any portion of my dinner because I set it up. But I think it's really sweet that some people offered to pay your tab."  Read the story and listen to our episode to find out how Aranita would tackle other dining conundrums -- like how to split the bill when everyone (except you!) ordered pricey cocktail drinks. P.S. How would YOU have handled this situation? Email us at lifekit@npr.org and let us know!  Help! How do we split this tab? Newsletter continues after sponsor message Popular on NPR.org Malaka Gharib/NPR Feng shui-inspired design tricks to transform your home. Fall in love with your home again with these simple and effective decorating tips from architect Cliff Tan. They focus on creating an environment that feels happy, harmonious and full of good energy. Read the story here. Listen Sponsor-Free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening AND that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with making a difference. You can also check out loads of other NPR+ podcasts with benefits at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ Letters from our readers Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR A roundup of letters to Life Kit. These have been edited for length and clarity. Thank you for making me feel like 'I belong here' I was just browsing NPR and saw the article featuring the book Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau for Disability Pride Month.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the wonderful artwork from the cover of the book included. There's a picture of a woman who looks just like me! It's amazing -- I have never seen anyone with a body like mine in a story before. It is such an incredible feeling to see it. It was a neat feeling, like I belong here. --Sonnet Fitzgerald My most precious possession: A recording of my parents Many years ago, I videotaped my father and me sitting on a couch and asked him to tell me all about his life. Toward the end of the recording, my mother joined him and also talked.  I miss them both so much and when I watch this, I feel like I’m with them. This video is my most precious possession.  --Kathleen Cairns, in response to our episode on how to capture a parent's hidden story This week on Life Kit Westend61/Getty Images Make a salad you actually want to eat. We could all be eating more vegetables. One fast way to do that: toss them in a salad. Here's how to make nutritious, affordable and most importantly, crave-worthy salads. Read the story here. Scams can happen to anyone -- here's how to protect yourself. New, sophisticated scams are popping up all the time. Experts explain how to safeguard your data and money from being exploited or stolen by fraudsters.  Read the story here. Unhappy at work? How to plan your next move. To find a job you actually enjoy, figure out what's making you unhappy and move forward from there, says Tessa West, author of the new book Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You. West offers practical exercises to help assess your strongest skill sets, your stressors and what you need next from your career. Listen to the episode here. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy