“All My Pocket Money”: Mom Shows Costly Restaurant Bill After Taking Out 3 Kids

• A South African mother shared a picture of her restaurant bill after dining with her three children
• The woman showed that she and her children enjoyed ribs and winglets, a quarter chicken, a kiddies' portion of macaroni and cheese, and more
• Social media users couldn't believe the total cost of the meal and expressed themselves in the comment section

Oh, to be a parent. A local mother most likely felt financial pain after she shared what her restaurant bill came to after taking her children out for a meal. Social media users stated that it wasn't the kids who hiked up the bill, but the mother.

Using the handle @lebonerebone on her TikTok account, the woman uploaded a picture of what she owed at Cappuccino’s, a restaurant in and around Gauteng where she and her three children dined on 27 July.

According to the bill, the mother owed R1 498 after ordering meals such as a R325 quarter chicken combo, ribs and winglets for R305, two Long Island Iced Teas costing R260, and R69 for chocolate ice cream, to name a few of the items.

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@lebonerebone said in her post:

"I knew taking out all three of my kids would take all my pocket money."

Mzansi discusses restaurant bill

Several social media users took to the comment section with curiosity after seeing the grand total and what had been added to the bill. Others shared similar expensive experiences.

@tas_kader3, who saw the first item on the bill, was shocked and said:

"A quarter chicken for R325. Yoh, is that chicken gold-plated?"

@user1116131009660 suggested in the comments:

"Always buy two different dishes and ask for the side plates to share as you do at home. For the treats, pass by the drive thru or supermarket after the meal. The economy is not friendly."

@nomathemba_gina stated with a laugh:

"But the kids ordered small meals. Wena you broke the budget."

@nozikelo applauded the woman, writing to her:

"Good job, Mommy. Buying clothes or toys is okay, but spending time with them is priceless. They'll forever cherish and be grateful for that."

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@phafogangmokgokon humorously suggested to the mom:

"Give them pap at home before going out. When they get there, tell them they can get any dessert they like. It will never cost that much."

@justadudetryinghisbest added in the comment section:

"That's why having more than two kids doesn't make sense. When you punch in the numbers, they'll greatly affect your finances. The water and electricity bill is higher, the groceries are higher, they also need clothes every year, school fees, uniform, etc."

@stufuzaofit, who felt they could relate, wrote:

"I have teens, so I understand."

@LeloKM added:

"It’s not the kids' fault. Lol, half the budget is the ribs and chicken, 😂 the kiddies' food were the cheapest."

Take a look at the bill in the TikTok post below:

South Africans feel the financial pinch

The cost of living in South Africa has continued to rise, with food, housing, and utilities becoming more expensive. In April and May 2025, overall inflation held steady at 2.8% which is the lowest since 2020. Still, key areas like food, housing and utilities, and alcohol and tobacco are rising faster than inflation. Although inflation remains below the Reserve Bank’s 3-6% target range, essentials are becoming less affordable. Stats SA data shows beef and other staples have gone up significantly, forcing many low-income families to cut back or borrow to get by.

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3 Other stories about restaurant bills

• In another article, Briefly News reported that a young man shocked South Africans when he showcased a R107 000 bill. The hefty total included high-end alcoholic beverages.
• Last year, a woman out with her group of friends shared a video of the ladies arguing over splitting the bill. One person even defended themselves against paying for water.
• A South African mom went viral on TikTok after accepting her daughters' dare to ask for the bill using a Bluetooth microphone. The internet loved the mother's willingness to embrace the humour in the situation.

Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News, contributed to this article.

Source: Briefly News