Journal · Friends and money
Chalet, barbecue and party costs: splitting a group event
Record costs as they happen and settle a chalet or barbecue weekend in a few payments.
A chalet weekend or a barbecue party has lots of small costs, paid by lots of different people. One books the chalet, one buys the meat, one brings the drinks, one pays for the ice. Here is how to keep it fair.
Before the event
- Agree who is coming, and whether partners and children count as full shares.
- Assign the big buys: the booking, the food, the drinks, the charcoal and plates.
- Ask everyone to keep receipts, or at least a photo of each one.
On the day
Write down each cost as it happens. "Ice, S$12, paid by Faiz" takes ten seconds and saves a long argument later.
After the event
Add everything up, divide by the number of shares, and work out each person's balance.
A worked example
Six friends rent a chalet for a weekend.
| Paid by | What | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Faiz | Chalet booking | S$360 |
| Grace | Meat and seafood | S$150 |
| Hui Min | Drinks and ice | S$84 |
| Ivan | Charcoal, plates, cups | S$36 |
| Total | S$630 |
Each share is S$105. Faiz is owed S$255, Grace S$45. Hui Min owes S$21, Ivan S$69, and the two who bought nothing owe S$105 each. Five payments settle it: the two non-buyers pay Faiz S$105 each, Ivan pays Faiz S$45 and Grace S$24, and Hui Min pays Grace S$21.
Day guests
If some friends only come for the barbecue and not the overnight stay, split the chalet cost among the people staying, and the food and drinks among everyone who ate.
Deposits
Record any deposit and who paid it. When the refund comes back, it goes to the same person.
With Perpax
Perpax, coming soon from Goldmend Money, will hold every cost for the event and show the fewest payments to settle it.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Figures are examples. Check your receipt and official sources.
Next: Road trips: splitting petrol, tolls and parking fairly