>If you are keeping track I think it’s worth reevaluating the relationship entirely.
This is a tough one, I've met many different cultures (although, in particular Slavic ones, sometimes Dutchies too) who really cannot stand not having the balances settled. Few of my friends who I'm very close with will still just want common things to be evened out as soon as possible. I don't think you can make a rule out of it.
Drinks? Preferably settled the same night (more rounds). If not settled the same night, it goes into the infinite pool of “drinks on you next time we meet” where nobody keeps track.
Favors? "Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me."
Fair point. I will clarify I am an American who was raised in a Christian household.
My comment was based purely on my own worldview and is in no way meant to imply other people should emulate me. I edited that line to say I re-evaluate the relationship instead of you, which sounded prescriptive.
Fair callout that I could be excluding others but I never refuse being “paid back” and I never expect others to forgive a favor or debt.
I thjnk my philosophy would still be compatible with making Slavic friends :)
Yes, that was an interesting culture shock when I moved to the Netherlands. It didn't help that where I'm from it was much more common in a bar to pay as you go, or in a restaurant for everyone to pay a share (either listing off what they had, or just dividing, whatever makes the most sense) at the counter on the way out.
In the Netherlands, your table will run a tab and someone pays, and then later sends a tikkie (it's an app that makes paying the person back very easy) to the group. They get kinda weirded out if you violate this model, e.g. recently I was going to the shop, and a friend asked for something - €6 or so, small enough that I don't mind not being paid back for a one-off thing, and then a few weeks later sent me a message "I remembered you never sent me a tikkie for that, please do!"
There's a standard joke screenshot that goes around here of a whatsapp message after a date, translated, "Please pay €0.25 for mayo on your fries." It's probably not a joke.
This is a tough one, I've met many different cultures (although, in particular Slavic ones, sometimes Dutchies too) who really cannot stand not having the balances settled. Few of my friends who I'm very close with will still just want common things to be evened out as soon as possible. I don't think you can make a rule out of it.