You’ve just finished a delicious meal with everyone you’re traveling with at a charming little restaurant right down the street from your hotel. Then the bill comes. You forgot to ask your server to split it up ahead of time, so now it’s up to all of you to figure out who owes what. Good luck! You’re going to need it.
This is just one of the many instances where divvying up a large expense among a group of people can end up being a real hassle. Unless there’s a mathematician in your midst, you’ll probably end up spending a good amount of time trying to make sure everyone’s paying their fair share, especially if you’re splitting costs all throughout your trip. Avoid the confusion altogether and get wise; Splitwise, that is.
Splitwise is an app available for free on both iPhone and Android that helps keep track of bills and other shared expenses. It boasts an intuitive interface where users are able to record what they’ve paid for and what everyone else in their group owes them.
For example, let’s say you were the one who covered the bill at the restaurant you all went to during your trip. First, enter how much you paid for the entire meal. Then select the appropriate group and charge everyone accordingly.
With Splitwise you have the option to charge each person on an individual basis or divide the cost equally. So whether one person ordered the bacon-wrapped filet mignon and another only got a salad, or you all shared a bunch of appetizers amongst yourselves, Splitwise makes it easy to make sure everyone pays their fair share.
Over time Splitwise creates a running tab of your group’s expenses. This means that everyone doesn’t have to reimburse one another right away. If need be, you can even send a reminder via the app to one of the people in your group who has outstanding debt you’d like for them to pay back as soon as possible.
Best of all, Splitwise can be used in conjunction with PayPal and Venmo, allowing users to pay each other back digitally. Simply log in to your PayPal or Venmo account to make the reimbursement process quick and easy. Users have the option to record a cash payment as well, for those who prefer to leave a paper trail. When it’s time to pay up, all one has to do is press the “Settle Up” button, select their preferred payment method, and input how much money they’d like to send.
If your group is looking for a convenient way to make money troubles a thing of the past, download Splitwise before your next trip. Whether you’re splitting the cost of a meal or a five-night hotel stay, this useful travel app is a surefire way to take the confusion and frustration out of sharing expenses.