Split Methods

Choose how to divide expenses among group members with flexible splitting options

Overview

Divvy supports three split methods to handle different types of shared expenses. Each method calculates member shares differently based on your needs.

Split Method Types

When creating an expense, you’ll choose one of these methods:

Split equally

Divide the cost evenly among all members.

By percentage

Assign custom percentages to each person.

By items

Assign specific receipt items to individuals.

Equal Split

The simplest method: divide the total equally among all group members.

When to Use

• Group dinners where everyone shared equally
• Utilities split among roommates
• Shared groceries for a household
• Event tickets for a group

How It Works

1. Select Split equally when creating the expense
2. The total is automatically divided by the number of members
3. Each person owes the same amount

Example:

Total: $60.00
Members: 3 people (You, Alice, Bob)
Per person: $20.00

Live Preview

Divvy shows a Split preview card that displays:

• Each member’s avatar and name
• The calculated per-person amount
• Updates in real-time as you change the total

Reference: ~/workspace/source/app/src/main/java/com/example/divvy/ui/splitexpense/Views/SplitExpenseScreen.kt:621

Percentage Split

Assign custom percentages to each person based on how much they should pay.

When to Use

• Unequal income splits (e.g., 60/40 rent between partners)
• Shared costs where one person uses more (utilities)
• Splitting based on individual consumption
• Variable contribution amounts

How It Works

1. Select By percentage when creating the expense
2. You’ll navigate to the percentage assignment screen
3. Enter a percentage for each member (must total 100%)
4. Divvy calculates the dollar amount for each percentage

Example:

Total: $100.00
You: 50% → $50.00
Alice: 30% → $30.00
Bob: 20% → $20.00

Percentage Screen

The percentage split interface includes:

• Info card: Shows the description and total amount
• Member chips: Color-coded indicators for each person
• Progress bar: Visual feedback showing total percentage (turns green at 100%)
• Per-member cards: Enter percentage for each person with live dollar amount preview
• “Split evenly” button: Quickly distribute 100% equally

The Done button is disabled until percentages total exactly 100%.

Validation

The progress bar changes color based on your input:

• Blue: Below 100% (incomplete)
• Red: Above 100% (invalid)
• Green: Exactly 100% (ready to save)

Reference: ~/workspace/source/app/src/main/java/com/example/divvy/ui/splitpercentage/Views/SplitByPercentageScreen.kt:230

Itemized Split

Assign individual receipt items to specific people for maximum flexibility.

When to Use

• Restaurant bills where people ordered different items
• Grocery runs where housemates bought different things
• Shared orders with varying individual contributions
• Receipts with distinct line items

How It Works

1. Select By items when creating the expense
2. Scan a receipt or manually enter items
3. Tap each item to assign it to one or more people
4. Items can be assigned to multiple people (cost is split among assignees)

Example:

Total: $47.83
Items:
  - Burger ($15.00) → Assigned to You
  - Pizza ($18.00) → Assigned to Alice
  - Salad ($12.00) → Assigned to Bob
  - Fries ($2.83) → Assigned to You, Alice, Bob (split 3 ways)

Assignment Screen

The itemized assignment interface shows:

• Store info card: Receipt total and merchant name
• Member chips: Color-coded tags for each person
• Item cards: Tap to expand and assign members
  • Item name and price
  • Currently assigned members (avatars)
  • “Not assigned” state for unassigned items
• Member selection: Toggle chips to assign/unassign

Reference: ~/workspace/source/app/src/main/java/com/example/divvy/ui/assignitems/Views/AssignItemsScreen.kt:227

Multiple Assignees

When an item is assigned to multiple people:

• The item cost is divided equally among them
• Example: $12.00 fries assigned to 3 people =$4.00 each

Tax and Tip Distribution

For itemized splits, tax and tip are handled differently:

• Automatic: Tax/tip amounts are distributed proportionally based on each person’s subtotal
• Manual: Add tax/tip as separate line items and assign them accordingly

Future versions will support automatic tax/tip calculation. Currently, include them in item prices or add as separate items.

Changing Split Methods

You can change the split method before creating an expense:

1. Tap the Split dropdown
2. Select a different method
3. The UI updates to show the new splitting workflow

You cannot change the split method after an expense is created. Delete and recreate the expense if needed.

Split Method Storage

Each expense stores its split method:

enum class SplitMethod(val title: String, val subtitle: String) {
    Equally("Split equally", "Everyone pays the same"),
    ByPercentage("By percentage", "Custom % for each person"),
    ByItems("By items", "Assign items to people")
}

In the database, split methods are stored as:

• "EQUAL" - Equal split
• "PERCENTAGE" - Percentage split
• "ITEMIZED" - Itemized split

Reference: ~/workspace/source/app/src/main/java/com/example/divvy/ui/splitexpense/ViewModels/SplitExpenseViewModel.kt:27

Split Records

Regardless of method, each expense creates Split records:

data class Split(
    val userId: String,           // Who owes this portion
    val amountCents: Long,        // How much they owe (in cents)
    val coveredByUserId: String?  // Who paid (null = they paid for themselves)
)

These splits are used to calculate balances in the Ledger.

Reference: ~/workspace/source/app/src/main/java/com/example/divvy/models/Split.kt:6