How to Split Expenses with Roommates (Without Drama)
Living with roommates saves money, but splitting expenses can get awkward fast. Here's how to automate it and avoid the "you owe me" conversations.
The Problem: 68% of roommates report money as a source of conflict. The solution? Clear systems and automation.
Common Roommate Expenses
Rent
Usually split equally or by room size
Utilities
Electric, gas, water, internet
Groceries
Shared staples vs personal items
Household Items
Cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc.
Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify family plans
One-off Expenses
Furniture, repairs, party supplies
3 Ways to Split Expenses
Manual Tracking (Spreadsheets)
Create a shared Google Sheet and manually log expenses. Works for small households but gets messy fast.
❌ Time-consuming, prone to errors, requires discipline
Splitting Apps (Splitwise)
Use an app to track who paid for what. Better than spreadsheets but still requires manual entry.
⚠️ Manual entry, no bank connection, separate from budgeting
Automated Splitting (Savida)
RECOMMENDEDConnect your bank, set rules once (e.g., "split all Costco purchases 3 ways"), and let it happen automatically.
✓ Automatic, bank-synced (premium), includes budgeting, free tier available
Setting Up Automated Rules
With Savida, you can create rules like:
- Split all transactions at 'City Water' equally with 3 roommates
- Split 50% of Costco purchases with roommates (keep 50% personal)
- Auto-categorize Venmo payments from roommates as 'reimbursement'
- Split rent on the 1st of each month automatically