How to collect household trip contributions
Booking a cabin often means one organizer pays first. A clear household request can explain the amount, why it is owed, and where to send it without a long group-chat calculation.
1. Record the amount actually paid
Add the cabin cost and select the household that paid. Set up the other households and agree on the split. If you are collecting only a deposit, use the deposit amount rather than treating the full reservation as already paid.
2. Save the trip and add contacts
Sign in to save the vacation. Add each household’s point of contact, mobile number or email. Check those details before opening a prepared message.
3. Create lodging requests
Under Collect household contributions, select the household receiving the money, add its payment links, select lodging, and create household payment links. Each recipient gets a page showing its requested share and a cost breakdown.
4. Review and send
Prepare text and Prepare email open a message in your device’s app. The organizer reviews the recipient and presses Send. Our Trip Tab does not send these messages automatically.
5. Confirm receipt
Recipients pay in their chosen provider. A link click is not proof of payment. The organizer should check the correct account and amount before selecting Confirm received. Confirmed contributions update the remaining reimbursements.
6. Collect later costs separately
When groceries or an activity are paid for, add the expense and create requests for those selected costs. Existing unpaid requests and confirmed receipts are deducted when calculating additional requests for the same cost.
Correct mistakes before another payment
Cancel an unpaid request if the amount or recipient is wrong. Cancelling its page does not reverse money already sent. Resolve refunds or mistaken transfers with the people involved and the payment provider.
Worked example: booking first, groceries later
Three households split a $900 cabin deposit equally. Household A pays the booking provider. Create lodging requests of $300 for B and $300 for C. A’s own $300 share is already part of its payment.
When B sends $300 through the organizer’s payment link, A checks its payment account and confirms receipt in Our Trip Tab. Opening the link does not mark B paid. C remains unpaid until its money is confirmed.
If A later pays $120 for groceries shared equally, enter a separate grocery expense. Each household’s food share is $40. Create new requests for that expense; do not describe another cabin deposit as groceries or add a repayment as a new bill.
A clear request message
“Your household’s share of our cabin deposit is $300. This request covers the deposit only. Please review the breakdown and payment options here: [household request link]. Let me know if anything looks wrong before paying.”
Check before marking a request paid
- Confirm the receiving account and sender.
- Check the amount and currency.
- Match the transfer to the correct request.
- For partial payments, keep a separate note and confirm the full request only when its full amount has arrived; the current confirmation action records full receipt.