The Group Trip Money Problem

Eight friends. One Airbnb. Countless dinners, Ubers, and "I'll just put this on my card" moments.

By day three, no one knows who's paid for what. By the end of the trip, there's a messy Google Doc and at least one person who feels like they overpaid.

Sound familiar? Here's how to handle group trip expenses the right way.

Before the Trip: Set Expectations

Agree on these things BEFORE you leave:

1. Budget range — Is this a budget trip or a splurge?

1. Splitting method — Even split or pay-your-own?

1. Big purchases — Who books the Airbnb? How do they get reimbursed?

1. Payment app — Make sure everyone has Venmo (or your preferred app)

During the Trip: Track as You Go

Don't wait until the end. Every time someone pays for the group:

1. Snap a photo of the receipt

1. Note who benefited (not everyone goes on every excursion)

1. Keep a running total

Pro tip: Designate one person as the "trip treasurer" to keep things organized, or have everyone use the same app.

The Easy Way: Scan Receipts in Real-Time

Here's the Checkify approach:

1. Someone pays for dinner → Scan receipt

1. Assign items to whoever ate them

1. Send Venmo requests immediately

By the end of the trip, everyone's already settled up. No spreadsheets, no end-of-trip accounting session.

How to Handle Big Shared Costs

Accommodations: Whoever books the Airbnb or hotel should split the total evenly and request payment immediately. Don't float $2,000 for a week.

Rental car: Split gas costs by scanning receipts. The driver might get a pass on gas as a thank-you for driving.

Group activities: If everyone does it, split evenly. If some people skip, only charge participants.

The End-of-Trip Reconciliation

If you tracked everything well, this should be quick:

1. List all expenses and who paid

1. Calculate each person's fair share

1. Figure out the net payments (who owes whom)

1. Settle up via Venmo

If you used Checkify throughout, you might already be done!

Conclusion

Group trips create amazing memories. Don't let money drama taint them.

Track expenses as you go, split fairly, and settle up quickly. Your friendships (and your next group trip) will thank you.

Get Checkify → — Your trip treasurer in your pocket.