Group expenses,
made smarter.
Actionable guides, tips, and etiquette for seamless group payments.
Nomikai Etiquette: Who Pays What at a Japanese Party
At a Japanese nomikai, charging non-drinkers equally is poor form. Learn the modern warikan etiquette that fairly accounts for drinkers and latecomers.
Birthday Dinner: Who Pays? — 3 Models to Agree on Before You Order
Does the birthday person pay or get treated? That ambiguity ruins every dinner. Learn the three models and how to set expectations before anyone orders.
Office Farewell Gift: How to Collect Money Without the Chaos
Collecting money for a farewell gift is painful — 15 said yes, 4 actually paid. The Collection-First rule and one-reminder policy keep it clean.
How Much Gas Money for a 2-Hour Drive? What 245 Real Arguments Say
A 2-hour drive costs about $36 in gas ($18 for one hour, $9 for thirty minutes). But after going through 245 real arguments about gas money, the amount was almost never the problem — the timing and the wording were.
How to Split Travel Expenses Across Multiple Currencies
Multi-currency trips breed exchange-rate arguments. Learn the single-currency method, when to lock in rates, and how to handle pre-trip bookings cleanly.
Road Trip Gas & Tolls: How to Split Driving Costs Fairly
You drove 600 miles and got $20 for gas. Learn the gas-plus-tolls formula, how to factor wear-and-tear, and why the split must be agreed before you leave.
Multi-Family Vacation Split When Kid Counts Differ
Two families, one vacation, and unequal family sizes create a billing headache. Learn the weighted headcount system that splits costs fairly for all.
Vacation With Parents in Your 30s — Who Picks Up the Tab?
Generational bill splits get awkward when Dad insists on paying every dinner. The Macro vs. Micro strategy and Sneak Attack let you contribute gracefully.
The Nanny Share: How to Split Childcare Costs Fairly
A nanny share cuts childcare costs, but unequal hours complicate the math. Learn the two-thirds rate rule, asymmetric scheduling, and vacation hour rules.
MOH Survival Guide to Bachelorette Party Expenses
Being MOH means fronting cash before anyone repays you. Learn to set a budget, handle dropouts, split the bride's share, and collect money gracefully.
Groomsman Costs: Up to $2,000 Nobody Warned You About
Being a groomsman easily costs $1,200 to $2,000 once you add the suit, bachelor party, and travel. Discover the hidden expenses and when to have the budget talk.
Office Lottery Pool: How to Split Winnings and Avoid Lawsuits
Lottery pools turn into legal nightmares if the ticket wins and someone skipped payment. Protect the group: no IOUs, photo proof, and a written agreement.
College Roommates' Guide to Splitting Dorm and Apartment Costs
Shared rent is easy. It's toilet paper, WiFi, and mystery electricity spikes that cause drama. A fair cost-sharing guide for college roommates.
Splitting a Grocery Receipt With a Roommate: Done Right
Shared and personal groceries on one receipt shouldn't be split 50/50. Learn the two-transaction method and isolate-and-extract technique to divide fairly.
Income-Proportional Splitting for Cohabiting Couples
When incomes differ, 50/50 isn't equal. Learn the proportional formula that makes shared expenses fair as a percentage of what each partner actually earns.
Venmo or Zelle in Japan? Why Neither Works — and What Does
Venmo and Zelle do not work in Japan. Learn how tourists split yen bills, why cash stays king, and which warikan tools make the math frictionless.
Best Bill-Splitting Apps in 2026: I Tested Them All — Pick by Your Situation
Hands-on verdicts, not spec sheets: the best app for trips, roommates, treasurers, families — and the no-install option most lists skip.
Group Expense Apps With No Account or Download Required
Native apps require every participant to sign up — a hurdle for one-off events. Browser-based tools share a link with no account or download needed, keeping the group together.
Why a Licensed Architect Built the Bill-Splitting App FAMI-KAN — It Started With a Notebook and Guesswork Back in College
Back in college, I was the designated driver who loved to drive — so I ended up writing down everyone's expenses in a notebook after every trip. I had a calculator, but sorting out who paid what, and adjusting for the junior members, was pure guesswork. The numbers never quite added up. That hassle followed me into adulthood, until I finally built the bill-splitting app FAMI-KAN myself. Here's the developer's own account of why.
Is Warikan Common in Japan? A Tourist's Practical Guide
Separate checks are refused at most Japanese restaurants. Learn what warikan means and how tourists can split bills smoothly without blocking the register.
What Is Warikan? Japan's Bill-Splitting Rules Explained
Warikan in Japan is not the same as going Dutch. Learn the unspoken rules at izakayas, when betsu-betsu is acceptable, and how mixed groups settle up.
All Articles
Browse all 41 articles by category.
Dining & Parties6
- Nomikai Etiquette: Who Pays What at a Japanese Party
- Birthday Dinner: Who Pays? — 3 Models to Agree on Before You Order
- Office Farewell Gift: How to Collect Money Without the Chaos
- Housewarming Party Costs: Who Pays and What's Normal
- Splitting a Restaurant Bill With 10+ People
- Bar Tab Split When One Friend Orders Top-Shelf Liquor
Travel & Outings6
- How Much Gas Money for a 2-Hour Drive? What 245 Real Arguments Say
- Airbnb With Unequal Rooms? How to Split the Cost Fairly
- How to Split Travel Expenses Across Multiple Currencies
- Road Trip Gas & Tolls: How to Split Driving Costs Fairly
- How to Split a Lyft Ride With Someone — Split Pay Ended, Here's the Math That Works
- Airbnb Split When Someone Leaves Early — Who Still Pays?
Family & Kids4
Groups & Events4
Couples & Roommates9
- College Roommates' Guide to Splitting Dorm and Apartment Costs
- Splitting a Grocery Receipt With a Roommate: Done Right
- Income-Proportional Splitting for Cohabiting Couples
- Who Pays on a Date? The Modern Splitting Guide
- How to Split Netflix, Spotify & Streaming Costs With Friends
- Couples Share One Dish, Singles Order Alone — How to Split the Check
- Master Bedroom vs. Tiny Room: How to Split Rent Fairly
- WFH Utility Gap: Fair Bill Split When One Roommate Stays Home
- Who Keeps the Couch? Split Shared Furniture When Moving Out
Apps & Tools6
- Venmo or Zelle in Japan? Why Neither Works — and What Does
- Best Bill-Splitting Apps in 2026: I Tested Them All — Pick by Your Situation
- Group Expense Apps With No Account or Download Required
- Privacy in Expense Apps — How Your Data Gets Collected
- Hit Splitwise's Daily Limit Mid-Trip? 3 Fixes That Work Right Now (Tested Aug 2026)
- Tricount vs Splitwise vs Settle Up (2026): I Actually Tested All of Them
Basics & Culture6
- Why a Licensed Architect Built the Bill-Splitting App FAMI-KAN — It Started With a Notebook and Guesswork Back in College
- Is Warikan Common in Japan? A Tourist's Practical Guide
- What Is Warikan? Japan's Bill-Splitting Rules Explained
- "Going Dutch": The Surprisingly Petty History Behind It
- Why We'd Rather Lose $50 Than Ask a Friend for It
- Tipping at Group Meals in the US: What You Actually Owe