Managing a group budget
Money ruins more group trips than anything else. Transparency from day one solves nearly all of it.
Building the budget
- Break it down: flights, lodging, transport, attractions, food, contingency.
- Separate fixed group costs (van, guide) from per-person costs (flight, tickets).
- Add an 8–10% buffer for price changes and surprises.
Deposits and collection
- Take a non-refundable deposit covering what you actually booked.
- Set two clear payment dates with automatic reminders before each.
- Never cover an unpaid member out of your own pocket — that's how debts start.
Transparency
- Log every expense in the budget tab, receipts included.
- Show each member what they paid and what's left.
- Publish a closing summary — refund or roll over any surplus.
Tip: payments and reminders in the payments tab replace the endless WhatsApp thread, and everyone sees their own status.