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How to Collect and Split Money for an MBA Trek

Collect the deposit and the trek fee without a spreadsheet, and split the dinners on the road.

Collect in Two Steps

Every trek runs its money differently. One simple way is a deposit when people sign up and the balance before you leave, each its own collection. Say up front what the fee covers and whether the deposit is refundable.

Have one lead host both collections so the money lands in one account. Flights are simpler left to each person.

A Worked Example

Say you're planning for 24 classmates, including the leads. The costs come to:

The costs:

  • Hotels, 6 nights, 12 twin rooms$15,120.00
  • Coach and driver, 6 days$4,680.00
  • Group activities and two group dinners$5,400.00
  • Total: $25,200.00

What each person pays

  • $25,200.00 ÷ 24 = $1,050.00 per person.
  • A $300.00 deposit at sign-up: $7,200.00 from 24 classmates.
  • A $750.00 balance a month before you leave: $18,000.00.

Dinners on the Road

For a dinner outside the trek fee, one person pays, snaps the receipt, and everyone taps what they had. Share plates in halves, thirds or quarters, and tax and tip follow the food. For a set menu, choose “Split evenly”. See splitting a bill with a large group.

How to Do It in tidytab

  1. Start with the deposit. Choose “Collect a fixed amount”, tap the “Deposit” chip, enter $300.00 in “Each person pays”, and set “People (incl. you)” to 24.
  2. Publish it. Add your name, email and payment methods, then choose “Publish & Share”. Add your own share when offered.
  3. Post the link in the trek chat. Classmates pay you directly, and the page shows who has paid, so you don't have to cross-check payment notifications against a sign-up sheet.
  4. Collect the balance a month out. Make a second collection for $750.00 each, with the same 24 people, share that link in the trek chat, and add your own share again when tidytab offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can one collection have?
Up to 99 people, you included. A larger trek can use two collections.
Should the trek fee include flights?
Flights are simpler left to each person. Say exactly what the trek fee covers before sign-up so classmates can budget for their own travel too.
What if someone drops out after paying the deposit?
Decide the refund rule before sign-up and make it part of the invitation. A refund goes back through the app they paid with, because tidytab never holds the money.
Do classmates need to download anything?
No. The link opens in the browser, with no account needed. Classmates pay you directly with the payment app they already use.
Does the money go through tidytab?
No. Classmates pay the lead directly with Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal or a bank transfer, and tidytab keeps track of who has paid.

More Guides

How to Split a Bill with a Large Group

Split the group dinners by what people ordered.

How to Split Costs on a Group Trip

Collect the house and the car once, then split the dinners as they happen.

The Complete Guide to Splitting Bills with Friends

Approaches, etiquette, and tools for every kind of split.

Collect the trek deposit with one link

Set the deposit, post one link in the trek chat, and see who has paid without a spreadsheet.

Collect a fixed amount