My two roommates and I are settling this
For reference only. Not investment advice.
Question
My two roommates and I are settling this month's electricity and internet bills totaling $420.00 USD:
- ent, groceries, and essential living expenses are completely covered.
- Alex paid $300.00 upfront.
- Ben paid $120.00 upfront.
- Chris paid $0.00 upfront.
- Alex agreed to a $30.00 personal adjustment (added to Alex's share because of running a space heater in their private room 24/7).
Can you calculate each person's fair share and the exact net settlement transfers needed so nobody overpays?
Answer
Housing, groceries, and essentials are covered, so this is a normal split, not a crisis.
Each person's share of the $420 bill
| Person | Paid upfront | Adjustment | Owed share | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | $300.00 | +$30.00 | $160.00 | + $140.00 |
| Ben | $120.00 | $0.00 | $130.00 | − $10.00 |
| Chris | $0.00 | $0.00 | $130.00 | − $130.00 |
Base is $390 ÷ 3 = $130 each, then +$30 to Alex for the space heater.
Settlement transfers
- Ben → Alex: $10.00
- Chris → Alex: $130.00
Alex receives $140.00 total, which closes the $420 bill with nobody overpaying.
Source: this turn's `split_bills.py` stdout (`ok:true`).