And when money is involved, what’s your approach to not make it turns into an endless awkward back and forth because both sides want to pay?
I just do like Amy Santiago’s mom in Brooklyn 99. Bring a second cooked turkey to thanksgiving in case the host sucks at cooking.
I kid, my usual go to is to refuse twice if someone is trying to give me something I don’t want and if they still offer it then the third time I take it to not be rude. I’m pretty good about being firm though, I don’t much care if someone thinks I’m being rude if they’re being pushy.
Offer to pay, if they decline accept it, but declare “next time it will be definitely my turn” and remember that for next time.
I recommend this too. Some of my friends and I take turns paying for things such that we’ve long forgotten who was first. It makes it so that you always have an excuse to see a friend (“Hey, I owe you a beer!” or “You owe me a beer!”). It’s so easy to get sucked into work and life and such, that it’s sometimes the little push I need to see them, or the excuse I need to get them to come over.
Offer once, if they refuse give a single counter and then if they still decline, accept it.
A: “I got it.”
B: “No, I’ll get it.”
A: “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
B: “No, I insist.”
A: “Ok”
