Who should reimburse whom after a group meal?
After a group meal, add all amounts paid, divide by the number of participants concerned, then compare each person’s share with what they already paid. Those who paid less reimburse those who paid more.
Good to know :
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Explanation
A group meal can quickly become unclear: one person pays the bill, another pays for drinks, someone covers a ride, or people ordered different menus. To avoid rough estimates, separate shared expenses from personal expenses.
If everyone splits equally, the calculation is simple: total meal cost divided by the number of people. Then check who already paid what. People who paid more than their share should receive money. People who paid less should reimburse.
The “Who owes what?” calculator gives you a clear summary that you can copy into a group message.
Formula / method
Share per person = total meal cost ÷ number of participants
Amount to receive or reimburse = amount paid - share per person
Concrete example
Example: four friends go to a restaurant.
- Alice pays the main bill: €96.
- Bruno pays for drinks after the meal: €24.
- Chloe and David pay nothing on the spot.
Total meal cost: €120.
Each person’s share: €120 ÷ 4 = €30.
Alice paid €96, so she should receive €66.
Bruno paid €24, so he still owes €6.
Chloe owes €30.
David owes €30.
To settle it simply: Bruno pays Alice €6, Chloe pays Alice €30 and David pays Alice €30.
Common mistake
Be careful when not everyone consumed the same thing. If some people ordered a much more expensive menu or did not take part in certain expenses, adjust before using an equal split.
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