Cuentas Claras
How to split holiday expenses
Before picking an app, it's worth deciding HOW you'll split. Most of the arguments afterwards come from not having talked about it before leaving.
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The four methods people use
1. Evenly: everything between everyone
Add it all up and divide by however many of you there are. It works when everyone does the same things: same accommodation, same meals, same plans.
It breaks the moment someone doesn't drink, skips the museum or sleeps in the small room. Then the split stops being fair, and people notice.
2. By what each person used
Each expense splits only between those who took part. It's the fairest and what most people end up using, and it costs no more effort if you note things as they happen rather than leaving it all to the end.
3. By percentage: when not everyone puts in the same
Useful when there are couples and single travellers in the same group, or someone comes for fewer days. The double room pays for two; whoever arrives on Thursday doesn't pay for Tuesday night.
4. The kitty
Everyone puts in an amount up front and it all comes out of that. Fine for small day-to-day costs, but you still have to note what leaves the kitty — otherwise nobody knows where it went or who's owed change.
The three mistakes that end in an argument
- Leaving it all to the end. By the time you're home, nobody remembers who paid for the petrol on day two.
- Trusting one person's memory. Whoever keeps the tally burns out and, on top of that, is the one who gets argued with.
- Not agreeing the method before you go. Changing the rules halfway through is what really annoys people.
What to do about the accommodation
It's usually the biggest cost and the one that splits worst evenly. Split it by room and by nights: a couple in a double takes two places, and whoever leaves a day early doesn't pay for that night.
Frequently asked questions
Kitty or note every expense?
A kitty is fine for small daily costs, but you should still note what comes out of it. Otherwise nobody knows where it went or who's owed change.
How should the accommodation be split?
By room and by nights, not evenly between everyone: a double takes two places and whoever leaves early doesn't pay for that night.
What about someone arriving late or leaving early?
Leave them out of the expenses for the days they weren't there. You choose who takes part in each expense.
What about the odd cents?
A proper split adjusts to the cent so the parts add up to exactly the total. Cuentas Claras does that.
Start for free
Create your first group in a minute. Not everyone needs to install it: you can add someone who hasn't got it and invite them later.
Keep reading: Split travel expenses with friends · Shared expenses for couples · Home · Help