Split the cost of a party without chasing anyone
Whoever throws the party usually fronts the drinks, the food and the room, then feels awkward asking for it back. Put everything on one tab that opens from a link, so everyone can see what it cost and what their share is.
Why party costs get awkward
- The host does the big shop and ends up a few hundred pounds out of pocket.
- Three people bought supplies separately and nobody knows the total.
- Some people don't drink, and some only came for an hour.
- Asking for money after the party feels much worse than agreeing it in the invite.
What to put on the tab
Drinks
Fizz for midnight, beer, wine, mixers and ice. Split the booze between the people drinking it.
Food
The big shop, the pizzas at 1am and the bacon rolls the morning after.
Venue and kit
Room hire, a speaker or DJ, decorations, cups and plates, bin bags.
Getting home
The taxi back after midnight. Split it between the people in the car.
How it works
-
1
Start a tab
Call it "NYE at Sam's" or "Priya's 30th" and pick £. You get a private link straight away.
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2
Send the link to the group 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 the party
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 |
| It's someone's birthday | Leave the birthday person off the costs, so the rest of you cover their share |
| Someone only came for an hour | Leave them off the food and drinks, or just the venue |
| Someone brought a bottle instead of paying | Add what they spent as their own expense, so it counts |
| The host wants guests to chip in | Say so in the invite, then add costs to the tab as you buy them |
More ways to use Tabby
Questions
Is it rude to ask guests to pay towards a party? +
Not if you're clear about it before anyone says yes. Say it in the invite, roughly what it'll cost, and what it covers. A cost that turns up after the party feels like a bill. One agreed up front feels like chipping in.
How do you split New Year's Eve party 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 the fizz and the people who left at half past twelve don't pay for the morning-after fry-up.
Should the birthday person pay? +
Usually not, if friends are throwing it for them. Leave them off the expenses when you add them and the rest of the group shares their part.
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.