In ClearCash, splitting an expense means assigning shared financial responsibility to a group according to that group’s split percentages. This is different from reimbursement apps: ClearCash tracks who each expense belongs to, but it does not move money or create settlement requests between people.
How splitting works
Every group has a split structure. An expense becomes financially shared when the underlying account, institution, or transaction is shared into that group.
- Group members can see the expense in the shared view
- The expense contributes to shared spending reports
- Each member’s share is calculated using the group’s split percentages
Groups in today’s product always use a split structure. Sharing controls what comes into the group, and the group’s split percentages determine how responsibility is allocated.
Ways to split expenses
There are two common ways an expense can end up in a group:
Share an account
If a checking account or credit card is shared with a group, all of its existing and future transactions can be included automatically.
This is the best option for ongoing shared accounts like:
- Joint checking
- Household credit cards
- Shared spending accounts used for groceries, rent, or utilities
Share an institution
If an entire institution is shared, all included accounts under that institution can become visible to the group according to that sharing rule.
Split percentages over time
ClearCash uses the split percentages active on the relevant date.
Example:
- January through June:
50% / 50% - Starting July 1:
60% / 40%
An expense from March keeps the earlier split. An expense from August uses the newer one.
This matters when:
- One person’s income changes
- A new member joins the household
- A temporary arrangement ends
The historical record stays intact instead of being recalculated using today’s percentages.
Common split setups
Different groups use different structures:
| Setup | Typical split |
|---|---|
| Couple with similar incomes | 50% / 50% |
| Couple using income-ratio sharing | Custom percentages such as 60% / 40% |
| Three roommates | 33.33% / 33.33% / 33.34% or another agreed ratio |
| Family household setup | A custom split that matches the real shared arrangement |
What matters is that the structure matches the real agreement between the people involved.
Not sure which setup fits your situation? Read The different ways couples split expenses.
What splitting does not do
ClearCash is not a reimbursement or bill-pay tool. Splitting an expense does not:
- Transfer money between members
- Create a “you owe me” balance to settle
- Charge anyone automatically
It gives you a consistent record of shared responsibility and makes reporting, visibility, and net worth attribution more accurate.
Creating a group → · Adding members →
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ClearCash decide each person’s share of an expense?
ClearCash uses the split percentages configured for the group on the date of the expense. If the split changes later, older expenses keep the earlier percentages and newer ones use the updated ones.
If I share an account, do old transactions get included too?
Usually yes. When you share an account with all history, ClearCash assigns the account’s existing transactions to the group as well as future ones. Date-based sharing can limit this to a specific start date or time window.
What if only some activity in an account is really shared?
Today, sharing works at the account or institution level. If an account mixes personal and shared activity, the cleanest setup is usually to keep shared spending in a dedicated shared account where possible.
What happens if we change our split percentages later?
The new percentages apply from the effective date forward. Earlier transactions keep the split that was active when they happened.
Was this page helpful?