Split the cost of Christmas without the awkward conversation
Whoever hosts usually ends up paying for the turkey, the drinks and the crackers, then feels awkward asking for money. Put everything on one tab that opens from a link, so everyone can see what it cost and what their share is.
Why Christmas costs get awkward
- The host does the big shop and quietly absorbs most of the bill.
- Someone brings a £40 bottle, someone else brings sprouts, and nobody knows if it evens out.
- Not everyone drinks, and some people only come for the day, not Boxing Day.
- Asking for money on the day feels worse than agreeing it beforehand.
What to put on the tab
The food shop
The turkey or nut roast, the veg, the cheeseboard and the second trip for the bits you forgot.
Drinks
Wine, fizz and soft drinks. Split the booze between the people drinking it.
Extras
Crackers, decorations, the tree, or the cottage if you're going away together.
Friendsmas
The pre-Christmas dinner with friends, where everyone chips in for the shop.
How it works
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1
Start a tab
Call it "Christmas at Mum's" and pick £. You get a private link straight away.
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2
Send the link to the family chat
Everyone opens it on their phone and picks their name. No account, no app.
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3
Add costs as they're paid
Whoever pays adds it. Split it between everyone or only the people it was for.
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4
Settle up after Boxing Day
Tabby shows who owes who. Pay each other by bank transfer and mark it settled.
Keeping it fair
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Someone doesn't drink | Split the drinks only between the people drinking |
| Someone brought a dish instead of paying | Add what they spent as their own expense, so it counts |
| Some people only come for Christmas Day | Leave them off the Boxing Day costs |
| The host wants a contribution | Add the shop to the tab before the day, so it's agreed up front |
| Children are coming | Split food between the adults paying, and leave the children off the tab |
More ways to use Tabby
Questions
Should guests pay towards Christmas dinner? +
Plenty of families split it, especially when the same person hosts every year. The fairest way is to agree it beforehand and split the costs between the adults who are there. Tabby makes the costs visible, so nobody has to guess.
How do you split Christmas costs fairly? +
Add every cost to one tab and split each one between only the people it was for, so non-drinkers don't pay for wine and day visitors don't pay for Boxing Day.
Does everyone need to download an app? +
No. Tabby runs in the browser on any phone or laptop. Open the link and pick your name.
Is it free? +
Yes. No paid plan, no ads and no account. Up to 30 people per tab.
Does Tabby collect the money? +
No. Tabby only tracks who paid what and who owes who. Pay each other back however you normally do, then mark it settled.