From Dow Jones & Company:



The author of the article laments that he was left to cover 50% of a deposit at a restaurant after his friend canceled their Christmas plans last minute for a better offer. Noting that this has happened to him before, the author wonders what is wrong with people and asks whether his friend should cover the entire deposit. He also wonders if it is bad etiquette to ask family and friends to contribute to Christmas dinner. The author advises the reader to treat Christmas as a day of pampering and self-care, suggesting the possibility of volunteering at a soup kitchen if friend plans do not work out. The author suggests that although spending Christmas alone can be tough, there is comfort in the fact that many others are in the same situation. He recommends telling the friend who canceled to pay the deposit and stresses that doing the right thing and forcing someone to do the right thing are not the same. The author also offers other readers advice on various financial and ethical dilemmas.



Original: ‘I’m cursed’: My friend canceled Christmas lunch — now we’re on the hook for a 50% restaurant deposit. He expects us to split it. Is that fair?