In short
- Each expense belongs to the people who used it, not always to everyone.
- Each person's balance: what they paid minus their share.
- People with a negative balance pay the people with a positive one.
- Settle up the same day or right after the trip or night out, not weeks later.
The method in three steps
- Log every expense: the amount, who paid and who it was for. If someone didn't eat or drink it, it isn't theirs.
- Work out each share: split each expense only among the people who used it, then add up each person's total.
- Find the balance: what they paid minus their share. Positive means they're owed; negative means they owe.
Then the people who owe just pay the people who are owed.
An example with four friends
Emma, Jake, Priya and Luis spend a Saturday together. Emma covers lunch ($96), Jake the concert tickets ($160) and Priya the rideshare ($24), all for the four of them. Luis buys beers ($30) just for Jake, Priya and himself, since Emma doesn't drink.
| Person | Paid | Share | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma | $96 | $70 | +$26 |
| Jake | $160 | $80 | +$80 |
| Priya | $24 | $80 | −$56 |
| Luis | $30 | $80 | −$50 |
Shared costs ($280) come to $70 each, and beers to $10 each. To settle up: Priya sends Jake $56, and Luis sends Jake $24 and Emma $26. Three transfers and everyone's even.
For a trip, see group trip expenses; for one restaurant check, splitting the bill with tip.
Do it in Divall
With Nights out you skip the table:
- Create the account and add your friends by name, even if they don't have the app, or invite them with a QR code or a link.
- Log each expense with who paid and who it was for; for the beers, use a group like "drinks alcohol".
- Divall simplifies the debts and shows who pays whom. Each payment is marked as paid and confirmed by whoever receives it; Divall keeps the record, and everyone sends their own money.
Nights out is free (up to 20 accounts every 30 days, 2 open at a time); multi-day trips live in Vacation, with Divall Pro. Divall is free to start: your next plan with friends settles up in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Should we just split everything evenly?
If everyone used about the same, yes: it's the simplest option. If someone skipped dinner, didn't drink or showed up late, split that expense only among the people who used it.
When should we settle up?
The same day or right when the plan ends. With everyone's balance in front of you, asking for the money is just showing the numbers, not chasing anyone.