This isn’t a comprehensive financial tip or lesson on how to make more money. However, this is something that all men should do as not many of us make this a practise.
What I am talking about, is checking the bill before you pay! Many of us will just give the bill a customary glance and if nothing seems out of place, we will then proceed to pay. However, restaurants and cafes know this as well and sometimes, the more unscrupulous ones will raise the price of the items or charge you for an extra portion of rice or tea which may not be very substantial to the total bill, but will slowly sap away your cash if you’re not careful.
Many a time I have been charged for tea when I only ordered water or for extra bowls of rice at Chinese restaurants and “tai-chow”. I have also been charged for “large” when I only ordered “small”. These are small increases which would generally go unnoticed.
Another thing that guys are guilty of is just offering the credit card at the same time the bill is asked for. This generally happens on dates, especially first dates! Trying to impress the lady at the table, we won’t linger too long over the bill. This is a no-no and sometimes, the lady herself will help check the bill! Not very impressive then, is it? 
So, always check the bill before payment is made.
I was at McDonald’s for lunch a couple of days ago and ordered a McValue Lunch set. However, the bill came up to more than RM10! I enquired as to the price charged and the cashier clarified that I was charged the normal McValue meal price. The manager was then called and I was refunded the extra cash that I had paid. This was just RM2+ but if this happens everyday or every week, it will certainly add up!
Therefore, guys, please always check your bill or receipt whenever you pay for anything, be it a meal or a purchase from a shop. To take my McDonald’s example, they had overcharged me by 31%! That is certainly substantial by any standard.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Agreed. I encountered similar problem with McD during lunch hour on a weekend. I too asked the manager in-charged for an explanation and was given a refund.
Hmm… let’s hope a big corporation like that doesn’t continue with these mistakes. Some free vouchers would have been nice as an apology.
That was what I expected but not what I got. I’ve been extra careful when I visit this particulars outlet, which I seldom do now.
I usually made my bf checks his bills before paying because we have been overcharged or charged by things we did not order a few times . From what I notice, he usually glances at the the total amount and pay.
Yup, definitely something that most guys are guilty of. Let’s hope more of them check their bill from now on.