Katamarans Expense Share

Katamarans Expense Sharing App – User Guide

What is Katamarans Expense Share?

Katamarans Expense Share is a simple, intuitive tool designed to help groups track shared expenses and calculate who owes what. Perfect for sailing trips, group vacations, roommates, or any situation where multiple people share costs. The app automatically calculates balances and shows you the optimal way to settle debts with minimal transactions.

Key Features

✅ Add Multiple Participants – Track expenses for groups of any size
✅ Multi-Payer Support – Split payments when multiple people pay together
✅ Flexible Splitting – Choose exactly who shares each expense
✅ Auto-Save – Your data is saved to your device and the network
✅ Balance Calculations – Instantly see who’s owed money and who owes
✅ Settlement Plan – Get clear instructions on how to settle up efficiently
✅ Mobile-Friendly – Works perfectly on phones, tablets, and desktops

How to Use

Step 1: Add Participants

In the Participants section, type a person’s name in the text box
Click “Add Participant” or press Enter
Repeat for each person in your group
You can remove participants by clicking the red trash icon next to their name

Tip: Add everyone before you start logging expenses!

Step 2: Add an Expense

Go to the Add Expense section
Fill in the following fields: Item Description
- What was purchased (e.g., “Groceries”, “Restaurant Dinner”, “Fuel”)
Amount
- The total cost in your currency (e.g., 150.00)
Who paid?
- Click the name(s) of who paid for this expense
- You can select multiple people if they split the payment equally
- Selected names will highlight in dark gray
Split between:
- Click the name(s) of everyone who should share this cost
- You can select any combination of participants
- Selected names will highlight in dark gray
Click “Add Expense” when all fields are complete

Example:

Alice, Bob, and Charlie go to dinner ($120)
Bob pays the bill
Only Alice and Bob had dinner (Charlie didn’t join)
Fill in: Description: “Dinner”, Amount: 120, Who paid: Bob, Split between: Alice, Bob

Step 3: Review Expenses

The Expense List shows all logged expenses:

See what was purchased, who paid, and who’s sharing
Delete any expense by clicking the red trash icon
If you have more than 4 expenses, click “Show All” to expand the list

Step 4: Check Balances

The Balance Summary shows each person’s net position:

Positive (+) Green numbers = This person is owed money
Negative (−) Red numbers = This person owes money
Zero = All settled up

Step 5: Settle Up

The Settlement Plan tells you exactly who should pay whom:

Shows the minimum number of transactions needed
Lists each payment with the exact amount
Follow these instructions to settle all debts efficiently

Example:

“Alice pays Bob $45.00”
“Charlie pays Bob $30.00”

How Multi-Payer Works

When multiple people pay for something together, the app splits the payment credit equally among them.

Example:

Taxi costs $60
Alice and Bob each paid $30 (split at payment)
The ride is shared by Alice, Bob, and Charlie
Result:
- Alice gets credit for $30, owes $20 (her 1/3 share)
- Bob gets credit for $30, owes $20 (his 1/3 share)
- Charlie gets credit for $0, owes $20 (his 1/3 share)

Data Storage

Your data is automatically saved to your browser’s local storage:

✅ Data persists when you close the tab
✅ Data remains even after days or weeks
✅ Works offline (no internet required after loading)
⚠️ Data is stored on your device and the network

Recommendation: Take a screenshot of your final settlement plan before closing!

Tips & Best Practices

1. Set Up Participants First

Add everyone to the group before logging expenses to avoid mistakes.

2. Be Consistent with Names

Use the same name format throughout (e.g., always “Bob”, not sometimes “Robert”).

3. Add Expenses Promptly

Log expenses as they happen to avoid forgetting details.

4. Review Before Settling

Double-check the expense list for accuracy before following the settlement plan.

5. Take Screenshots

Capture the settlement plan to share with your group.

6. One Expense Per Receipt

Don’t combine multiple purchases into one expense – log them separately for accuracy.

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Simple Split

Dinner for 4 people, one person pays

Amount: $100
Who paid: Alice
Split between: Alice, Bob, Charlie, Diana
Result: Each person owes Alice $25 (except Alice owes $0)

Scenario 2: Unequal Participation

Groceries bought for some, not all

Amount: $60
Who paid: Bob
Split between: Bob, Charlie (only 2 people used the groceries)
Result: Charlie owes Bob $30

Scenario 3: Multiple Payers

Concert tickets bought together

Amount: $200 (for 4 tickets)
Who paid: Alice, Bob (they each paid $100)
Split between: Alice, Bob, Charlie, Diana
Result: Charlie and Diana each owe $50 (Alice and Bob are settled)

Scenario 4: Complex Trip

Mix of all the above throughout a week, the app tracks everything and shows final settlement!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I use this with multiple groups at the same time?

A: Yes, just add a new “yacht” and invite participants with the generated code.

Q: What happens if I accidentally delete an expense?

A: Deleted expenses cannot be recovered. Always double-check before clicking the delete button. Consider taking screenshots periodically.

Q: Can I edit an expense after adding it?

A: No, you’ll need to delete the expense and add it again with the correct information.

Q: Does this work without internet?

A: Yes! After the page loads initially, everything works offline. Your data is stored on your device.

Q: Can I share this with my group so everyone can add expenses?

A: Yes. The person who strats the group will need to invite other members with the generated code.

Q: What currency does this use?

A: The app displays “$” but works with any currency. Just enter amounts in whatever currency you’re using and ignore the symbol.

Q: Can someone pay more than their share?

A: Yes! Use the multi-payer feature. If Alice pays $100 for something split equally between Alice and Bob, Alice gets credit for $100 and owes $50, resulting in Bob owing Alice $50.

Q: How does the settlement calculation work?

A: The app uses a greedy algorithm to minimize the number of transactions. It matches the largest debts with the largest credits first, continuing until everyone is settled.

Q: Why doesn’t my balance equal what I paid minus what I owe?

A: Your balance IS what you paid minus what you owe. Positive means you’re owed money, negative means you owe money.

Q: Can I use this for business expense tracking?

A: While you can use it for any shared expenses, it’s designed for casual group use. For business expenses with tax/reporting requirements, consider dedicated accounting software.