Short answer
Agree before you go which costs are shared and how (usually evenly, with exceptions for things only some people use). Let whoever pays keep the receipt, record each bill as it happens, and settle up once at the end: work out each person's balance and have the people who are owed less pay the people who are owed more, in as few transfers as possible.
Agree the rules before you leave
- What is shared: accommodation, car hire, fuel, groceries and group dinners are usually shared. Souvenirs and solo activities are not.
- How it is shared: evenly by default. Use percentages for couples paying as one, and custom amounts when someone skips an activity.
- Who books what: spreading the big bookings between people means nobody is out of pocket by thousands.
- When you settle: once at the end is simpler than after every coffee.
Keep every receipt in one place
Make one folder for the trip and save every receipt, booking confirmation and screenshot of a payment into it as it happens. At the end, nobody has to remember who paid for the second dinner.
Settling up: a worked example
Three friends share a lake weekend. You paid for the cabin ($600), Alex bought groceries ($150) and Sam paid for fuel ($90). The total is $840, so each person's fair share is $280.
| Person | Paid | Fair share | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| You | $600 | $280 | +$320 (is owed) |
| Alex | $150 | $280 | −$130 (owes) |
| Sam | $90 | $280 | −$190 (owes) |
Instead of everyone paying everyone back for each bill, settle the balances: Alex pays you $130 and Sam pays you $190. Two transfers, and everyone has paid exactly $280.
Lake Weekend balances (fair share $280 each)
Common mistakes
Settling after every purchase. Dozens of tiny transfers are where mistakes happen. Settle once.
Not keeping receipts. When totals are questioned, the receipt ends the discussion.
Forgetting the exceptions. If someone skipped the boat trip, take it out of their share before you settle.
Mixing currencies without a rule. Agree up front which currency you settle in, and which exchange rate you use.
New in EZ Save: share a photo of a bill or receipt and EZ Save spots it automatically, reads the total on your iPhone or iPad, and splits it evenly, by percentage or by custom amounts. Tick people off as they pay, and settle up several bills at once. Friends don't need the app. See how it works.
On a MacBook? EZ Save has a native Mac app. Drag the trip’s booking PDFs and receipts up to the notch, pick a folder from the panel that drops down, and it’s saved to the same library as your iPhone. Free, on MacBooks with a notch. See it in action →
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to split costs on a group trip?
How do you settle up with fewer payments?
What if someone skips an activity?
Can EZ Save split trip bills?
Keep every bill in one place
Save receipts, bookings and photos into folders with EZ Save today. Bill splitting from a photo is free.