Tracking split bills

[SnowChaser]

With our TIW card, we're planning to share our discount when we dine with our friends this trip. That will be often!

I've seen a couple apps that split the check nicely (Tab, Divy). I'm look for something that can also keep running totals though. I'm reluctant to start another spreadsheet at this point!

What method do you use to split & track multiple meals with your group?

 

[sunflare]

https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-genius-apps-for-splitting-bills-with-friends

I just skimmed the article, but there might be a couple of different options for you in that list....

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

A calculator?

But generally we don't try the "you ate this and I ate that" approach. We just add up all the receipts and divide by X people. Done!

 

[bumbershoot]

But generally we don't try the "you ate this and I ate that" approach. We just add up all the receipts and divide by X people. Done!

Works for you (and, I hope, your friends!). Doesn't work for me. Been there done that (not at WDW); ordered pasta with marinara, no appetizers, no booze no nothing, at the end of the meal were shocked to find that we were dividing by couple, when others had had wine and prosciutto and all sorts of stuff... No no no. It was ugly (we were broker than broke and saving for our wedding) and I have never forgiven that group of people (all talking about their $5000 wedding gowns that they didn't like so they bought another...).

And I'm assuming it doesn't work for the OP since they want to keep track.

 

[supersnoop]

I find that a spreadsheet is really the only way to go. Since you have to add up the individual items, add the tip, and subtract the discount, it's not very easy to just plug something in to an app.

 

[Twende]

I find that a spreadsheet is really the only way to go. Since you have to add up the individual items, add the tip, and subtract the discount, it's not very easy to just plug something in to an app.

That is what I am afraid we will need to do. We have three families going and we will be sharing our TIW card(under 10 people) and then charging things back to the room. I have asked everyone to cover their own charges and do so every night or two. I need something that will make it easy to tally the meal costs to the person who ate the meal/alcohol and then figure the tip and subtract the TIW discount. Why can't some brilliant computer savvy DisBoarder come up with a program for this?

 

[courtneybeth]

We are doing the same thing with our December trip. We are sharing about 90% of our meals together with another couple so they can use our TIW discount and pay us their portion at the end during check-out.

I think we're just going have to keep receipts and a running tab. Darn!

 

[SnowChaser]

Thanks so much for the suggestions, and it's nice to hear others are in the same boat.

I spend my work days sorting data, so I'm trying to avoid vacation feeling like work! And, as PP stated, our group has various financial situations, and I don't want to put anyone in an awkward place.

Interested to hear more ideas on this, if they're out there!

 

[han22735]

We are doing this with our MIL/FIL and they are bringing cash to pay their portion and i'll charge my portion to the room.

 

[Twende]

We are doing this with our MIL/FIL and they are bringing cash to pay their portion and i'll charge my portion to the room.

I was told that with TIW they would only accept one form of payment on a meal bill. Is this true?

 

[han22735]

I was told that with TIW they would only accept one form of payment on a meal bill. Is this true?

Someone with more knowledge than me will have to reply. I thought it was "the TIW card holder had to pay" I didn't read by only one form of payment. If that is the case i'll just use my magic band and then take the cash they would have used and go make a payment at the front desk that night.

Here are the rules from the site:

• Tables in Wonderland does not offer renewal rates. Each year you will need to purchase a new membership.
• For lost or stolen Tables in Wonderland cards, there is a $50 replacement fee.

• Tables in Wonderland memberships are non-transferrable. The Tables in Wonderland member must be in attendance at the meal, present the Tables in Wonderland card, a driver’s license or state ID, and pay for the meal, in order to apply the discount.
• Credit Cards used for payment must match the name on the Tables in Wonderland card and the state identification

• The Tables in Wonderland discount is good for up to 10 people including the member, as long as everyone is on the same check, and the Tables in Wonderland member is paying the bill. If you have the Tables in Wonderland card, and your spouse or partner has the Tables in Wonderland secondary card, together you may cover up to 20 people (including the member and his/her spouse/partner). Both members must live at the same address and be 21 years of age or older.

So id say that if its cash it would work to use split payments.

 

[Dug720]

We didn't use TIW, but once we traveled with a family friend who was going to pay for her own meals but we didn't want to deal with the hassle of separate checks at the sit-down places. My parents just paid in the restaurants (sit-down only...she did her own counter service ordering) and kept the receipts, and on the last night we took a few minutes to sit down and figure out what she owed for her share, then she wrote them a check for her amount (my parents may have just eaten the tax difference). Pretty simple.

 

[Twende]

Someone with more knowledge than me will have to reply. I thought it was "the TIW card holder had to pay" I didn't read by only one form of payment. If that is the case i'll just use my magic band and then take the cash they would have used and go make a payment at the front desk that night.

Here are the rules from the site:

• Tables in Wonderland does not offer renewal rates. Each year you will need to purchase a new membership.
• For lost or stolen Tables in Wonderland cards, there is a $50 replacement fee.

• Tables in Wonderland memberships are non-transferrable. The Tables in Wonderland member must be in attendance at the meal, present the Tables in Wonderland card, a driver’s license or state ID, and pay for the meal, in order to apply the discount.
• Credit Cards used for payment must match the name on the Tables in Wonderland card and the state identification

• The Tables in Wonderland discount is good for up to 10 people including the member, as long as everyone is on the same check, and the Tables in Wonderland member is paying the bill. If you have the Tables in Wonderland card, and your spouse or partner has the Tables in Wonderland secondary card, together you may cover up to 20 people (including the member and his/her spouse/partner). Both members must live at the same address and be 21 years of age or older.

So id say that if its cash it would work to use split payments.

I have been looking for an answer too! LOL! From what I have found, like you, the rules say no but it appears than many servers will split the bill into different payments and accept multiple forms of payment on that bill total. I guess all we can do is ask and if no then each party can apply payment to our room charge.

 

[GreatLakes]

Why not settle up right there with an app like Venmo or a Pay other People app from your bank or credit union if you have one?

Let's say you go out to eat with two other couples and the bill is $150 total. Your share is $75, couple 2's is $50, and couple 3's is $25. You pay the check with your MB or credit card and they Venmo you their share right there.

You can also use a request money feature of a pay other people app and shoot them the payment request after each meal. They can respond to the requests at the end of each day or the trip. Just make sure you know how long they have before the request expires.

I know of apps that let you figure out split tabs but none that also keep a running total. You can lifehack that functionality though by using an app to split up each check and then screen cap it so you can just add up the totals later. Each individual tab will be in your photo gallery.

 

[han22735]

If someone can confirm they were allowed to use cash along with the TIW card holders CC then I think that would be the easiest way to handle this.

 

[tobikaye]

What about a spending tracking app such as Spending Tracker? You can add categories for each person. You would have to split the bill first and then enter the amounts in the app, but it does tally the amounts. The app is free.

 

[serene56]

What I did--- party of 16. we got separated checks for the kids meals-- parents paid for those OOP I paid for 10 of us using the Discount TIW I asked for the receipt. I then totaled up the individals/ couples amount-- took off 20% add the tax. (tip was always paid in cash and left- NOT added to the bill) the people then had to make payments to MY room each day since I charged it to the room. It was time consuming-- but I did it coz I lOVED 20% off my meals

 

[Twende]

When figuring TIW, is the tax on the original total or the discounted amount? The tip is figured on the original amount, correct?

 

[supersnoop]

If someone can confirm they were allowed to use cash along with the TIW card holders CC then I think that would be the easiest way to handle this.

I don't see any reason you couldn't use two forms of payment, but be aware that they will shut you down if they see you moving money around at the table. The cardholder must pay, and if they see someone else give you money to pay, they will remove the discount.

When figuring TIW, is the tax on the original total or the discounted amount? The tip is figured on the original amount, correct?

Tax is on the discounted amount. Gratuity is on the original.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Works for you (and, I hope, your friends!). Doesn't work for me. Been there done that (not at WDW); ordered pasta with marinara, no appetizers, no booze no nothing, at the end of the meal were shocked to find that we were dividing by couple, when others had had wine and prosciutto and all sorts of stuff... No no no. It was ugly (we were broker than broke and saving for our wedding) and I have never forgiven that group of people (all talking about their $5000 wedding gowns that they didn't like so they bought another...).

And I'm assuming it doesn't work for the OP since they want to keep track.

You always work these things out in advance. But it sounds like the price of the meal was the least of your issues with this group.


That said if OP wants to keep this easy that's the best way. He/shot has to decide what is most important for his group. Easy And accurate are rarely compatible in accounting
But since I am the accountant I just lay out the rules. Option 1 one tab split evenly. Option 2 separate checks which may not get a discount. I'm not willing to calculate tax, tip etc.