Child Expenses

2. Getting Started

This walkthrough shows how two people — let's call them Alex and Sam — begin using the app to share the costs of raising their child, Marco. The same steps apply to any group setup.

1. Download & open the app.
   Alex downloads Child Expenses from the App Store. On first launch a 14-day free trial begins automatically. Every feature is unlocked — no payment information needed yet.
2. Create a group.
   Alex taps the + button and chooses New Group. They name it "Marco" (the child's name), select the currency (for example EUR), and save. Alex is automatically the group's owner.
3. Invite the other person.
   Inside the new group, Alex taps Invite Member. The app generates a secure iCloud share link. Alex sends this link to Sam via Messages, Mail, or any other channel.
4. Sam accepts the invite.
   Sam opens the link on their iPhone, taps Accept, and the group appears in their copy of Child Expenses. From now on, every change syncs in real time between both devices.
5. Log the first expense.
   Alex buys new shoes for Marco (€39.95). They open Child Expenses, tap Add Expense, type "New shoes", enter 39.95, and save. The app pre-fills today's date, Alex as the payer, and a 50/50 split. The expense instantly appears on Sam's device too.
6. Check the balance.
   On the Dashboard, both Alex and Sam can see the live balance. Since Alex paid €39.95 and the split is equal, Sam owes Alex €19.98.
7. Sam adds an expense.
   Sam buys school books for €30.00 and logs it the same way. The balance updates: now it shows that Sam owes Alex €4.98 (the net difference after both expenses).
8. Settle up.
   Sam opens the Dashboard, taps the balance card for the "Marco" group, then taps Settle Up. They enter €4.98 (or any partial amount) and confirm. The settlement is recorded. The balance drops to €0.00.
9. Keep going.
   From here, Alex and Sam continue adding expenses over time. The balance always reflects the current net amount, and either person can record a settlement whenever money changes hands.

3. Core Concepts & Terminology

Here are the key terms used throughout the app.

Group

A shared space where members track expenses together. Each group has its own currency and its own independent balance. You might create one group per child, one per household, or one for a specific shared purpose — it's completely flexible.

Member

A person participating in a group. Each member is linked to an iCloud account. Members can have different roles: the Owner (the person who created the group) and Participants (people who joined via an invite link). You can also add a Placeholder member to track someone who has not yet joined via iCloud.

Expense

A purchase or cost that is shared among group members. Each expense records who paid, the amount, the date, and how it is split among members. You can optionally add a category, a comment, and assign it to a specific child.

Split

How an expense is divided among members. By default, every expense is split equally (50/50 for two members). With custom splits, you can assign any percentage to each member — for example, 70/30 or 40/40/20 for three members.

Balance

The net amount that one member owes another, calculated automatically from all active expenses and past settlements. If the balance is zero, you're even.

Settlement

A recorded payment from one member to another. Settlements reduce the balance. You can settle the full amount at once or make partial payments — any remaining balance carries forward. Settlements form a permanent, read-only history log.

Child

An optional label you can create within a group to tag expenses for a specific child (e.g., "Marco" or "Anna"). This helps you see which costs are for which child. Not every group needs to use this feature.

Draft

An expense that has been entered but not yet activated. Drafts are excluded from the balance calculation and visible only to you — other group members cannot see them. When you are ready, you activate a draft and it becomes a regular expense. Drafts are available on the Pro and Free with Ads plans.

Category

An optional label for organising expenses (e.g., "School", "Clothing", "Medical"). Categories are free-text and the app auto-completes from your past entries.

4. Features Guide

4.1 Dashboard & Balances

The Dashboard is the first screen you see when you open the app. It shows a card for each group you belong to, displaying the group name, the net balance (how much you owe or are owed), and a quick Settle Up button.

• If you owe money, the balance shows as a negative amount.
• If you are owed money, it shows as a positive amount.
• If the balance is zero, it means you are even.

Recent settlements are also listed on the Dashboard for quick reference.

4.2 Adding & Managing Expenses

Tap Add Expense (the + button or the Home Screen quick action) to create a new expense. The app pre-fills sensible defaults:

• Date: Today
• Payer: You
• Split: Equal among all active members

You need to enter at least a description and an amount. Everything else is optional:

• Category — helps organise expenses (auto-completed from past entries)
• Comment — a note visible to all group members
• Child — assigns the expense to a specific child
• Date override — change the date if the expense happened on a different day

You can edit or delete expenses after saving them. Deleted expenses are not gone permanently — they enter a recovery window (30 days on Pro/trial, 7 days on the free plan) and can be restored with a single tap.

4.3 Custom Splits

By default, expenses are split equally. When contributions are uneven, open the split editor to assign a custom percentage to each member. The app shows each person's share in real currency as you adjust the sliders.

• Percentages must add up to 100%.
• Any fractional-cent remainder is distributed automatically.
• Custom splits are available on Pro, Free with Ads, and during the trial.

4.4 Settlements

A settlement records that money has actually changed hands. To settle up:

1. Open the Dashboard and tap the balance card for a group.
2. Tap Settle Up.
3. Enter the amount that was paid (it can be the full balance or any partial amount).
4. Confirm.

The settlement is saved as a permanent, read-only log entry. If you paid less than the full balance, the remaining amount carries forward. You can make as many partial settlements as you like.

4.5 Drafts

Sometimes you want to record an expense without it affecting the balance right away — perhaps it is not final yet, or you want to double-check the details first.

Drafts are visible only to you. Other group members cannot see them, and they are excluded from the balance calculation.

To create a draft, toggle Save as Draft when adding an expense. When ready, open the draft and tap Activate — it becomes a regular expense and affects the balance from that point on.

4.6 Filtering & Search

The expense list supports full-text search by description or comment. You can also filter by date:

• Presets (always available): Last 7 days, Last 30 days, Last 3 months, All time
• Custom date range (Pro / Free with Ads): Pick any start and end date
• Show/hide settled expenses: Toggle visibility of already-settled items

The current balance is always displayed at the top of the list, regardless of which filter is active.

4.7 Categories

Each expense can optionally have a category (e.g., "School", "Clothing", "Sports", "Medical"). Categories are free-form text. As you type, the app suggests categories you have used before, so naming stays consistent over time.

4.8 Apple Watch Companion

Child Expenses includes a companion app for Apple Watch (watchOS 10 and later). It is designed for the quick actions you need while you are away from your phone:

• Check your balance at a glance
• Review recent expenses from the last 30 days
• Create, edit, and delete draft expenses quickly

Advanced features such as group management, plan purchases, and settlement recording remain on the iPhone app.

The Watch app syncs with your iPhone via WatchConnectivity. Changes made on either device appear on the other automatically.

4.9 Notifications & Reminders

You can enable optional balance reminders so you do not forget about outstanding amounts. Reminders are local notifications — they are generated on your device and never sent through a remote server.

• Interval: Daily or weekly (Pro and Free with Ads also support a custom schedule)
• Configuration: Choose the day of the week and time of day in Settings

During the trial, you will also see gentle reminders as the trial end date approaches (at 4 days and 1 day remaining).

4.10 CSV Export

Pro subscribers can export all expenses from a group as a CSV file, suitable for opening in any spreadsheet application. The export includes the date, payer, amount, currency, split allocation, category, and status of each expense.

You'll find this option in Settings → Data Export.

5. Group Constellations

Child Expenses does not impose a fixed family structure. You choose how many groups to create, how many members each group has, and how expenses are split. You can also keep a one-member group for personal savings or reserve funds. Here are some common setups to illustrate the flexibility.

Co-Parents (two households, one or more children)

The most common setup. Two separated or divorced parents create one group per child (e.g., "Marco", "Anna"). Each group tracks the costs for that child independently. Both parents see the live balance and can settle up whenever it suits them.

• Members: 2
• Split: Usually 50/50, but fully customizable per expense
• Groups: One per child, or one group for all children (use the Child field to tag expenses)

Patchwork / Blended Family

In a patchwork family, more than two adults may share costs for one or more children. Create a group and invite all relevant members. Each expense can use a custom split to reflect the actual arrangement.

• Members: 3 or more (e.g., two biological parents plus a step-parent)
• Split: Custom ratios per expense (e.g., 40/40/20)
• Groups: One per child or one per family context

Extended Family

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives contributing to a child's costs (school fees, holiday trips, medical expenses) can all be part of the same group.

• Members: As many as needed
• Split: Any ratio — each member's share can vary per expense
• Groups: One per shared purpose (e.g., "School fees for Marco")

Multi-Child Families

Parents with several children can choose the structure that fits best:

• Option A — Separate groups: One group per child. Each has its own balance. This is cleanest when costs differ significantly between children.
• Option B — Single group: One group for all children. Use the Child field on each expense to track costs per child while keeping a single combined balance.

Roommates / Shared Household

Child Expenses works equally well for non-family groups. Roommates can create a group to share rent, utilities, groceries, or any recurring costs.

• Members: 2 or more
• Split: Equal or custom per expense
• Child field: Not needed — simply leave it empty

Personal Savings / Reserve Funds

You can also create a private group with only yourself as the member to document personal savings, sinking funds, or reserves you want to keep separate from your shared groups.

• Members: 1
• Split: Not relevant — you stay the only member
• Groups: One per savings goal, reserve category, or personal budget pot

Degrees of Freedom — Summary

6. Sharing & Collaboration

Child Expenses uses Apple's iCloud sharing (CloudKit) to connect group members. This means your data travels through Apple's secure infrastructure — there is no separate third-party server involved.

How Sharing Works

1. The group Owner (whoever created the group) generates a share link from within the group.
2. The owner sends the link to the other person via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, or any other channel.
3. The recipient opens the link on their device and taps Accept.
4. From that moment, all expenses, settlements, and changes sync in real time between both devices.

Roles

Identity

Child Expenses identifies you by your iCloud account. There is no separate sign-in, no email verification, and no username to choose. When you join a group, the app uses the name from your iCloud contact card.

7. Plans & Pricing

Child Expenses starts with a free 14-day trial that unlocks every feature with no upfront payment. When the trial ends, you choose a plan that fits your needs.

Pro Purchase Options

• Monthly subscription
• Annual subscription — best recurring value
• Lifetime one-time purchase — pay once, keep forever

All options include Apple Family Sharing. Current prices are shown in the app and on the App Store, as they may vary by region.

Inherited Pro

If a group's owner subscribes to Pro, every participant in that shared group automatically receives Pro-level access at no extra cost. This means both people get the full feature set for that group — even if only one of them pays. The only exception is CSV Export, which is reserved for the direct subscriber.

8. Privacy & Data

Child Expenses is designed with privacy as a core principle:

• Your data stays in your iCloud account. There is no third-party server or external database. All expenses, settlements, and group information are stored in Apple's iCloud infrastructure, which you control.
• Shared groups use Apple CloudKit sharing. When you invite someone to a group, the data is shared through Apple's secure sharing mechanism — not through the app developer's servers.
• No separate account or login. The app identifies you by your iCloud account. No email address, phone number, or personal details are collected by the app.
• On Pro and Free Limited: No personal information is collected whatsoever. No ads, no tracking.
• On Free with Ads: Non-intrusive banner ads are shown on certain screens (never on the balance view, settlement flow, or expense entry). Ads are anonymous and non-personalized by default. The ad network may collect standard device identifiers as disclosed in the App Store privacy label.

9. Troubleshooting & FAQ

Do I need to create an account?

No. Child Expenses uses your existing iCloud account. There is no sign-up screen, no password to set, and no email to verify.

Does the other person also need to install the app?

Yes. Both people need Child Expenses installed on their iPhone. When one person sends the invite link, the other opens it, and the app connects them automatically.

Can I use the app without sharing?

Yes. You can create a local group and track expenses on your own device, without inviting anyone. Sharing is optional.

What happens to my data if I delete the app?

Your data is stored in iCloud, so it is not lost when you remove the app. If you reinstall Child Expenses, your groups and expenses will sync back from iCloud.

Why does the balance not match my bank transfer?

The balance in Child Expenses reflects the net of all tracked expenses and settlements within the app. If you made a payment outside the app without recording it, tap Settle Up and enter the amount to bring the balance up to date.

Can I track expenses in different currencies?

Each group has one base currency, which you choose when creating the group. If you need to track expenses in multiple currencies, you can create separate groups for each currency.

I don't see the other person's expenses. What should I check?

• Make sure both devices are connected to the internet.
• Confirm that iCloud is enabled in your device's Settings (Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud).
• Check that the other person has accepted the invite link.
• Allow a few moments for the sync to complete — it usually takes just a few seconds.

What can I do on the Apple Watch?

You can check balances at a glance, review recent expenses (last 30 days), and create, edit, or delete draft expenses. Full group management and settlement recording are available on the iPhone.

What happens when the free trial ends?

After 14 days, the app asks you to choose a plan. Your data is not deleted — everything you entered during the trial remains. You simply select the plan that suits you (Free Limited, Free with Ads, or Pro).

Can I change my plan later?

Yes. You can upgrade to Pro or switch between free plans at any time from Settings → Subscription & Plans.

10. Support & Links

If you have a question, found a problem, or want to suggest something, we'd like to hear from you.

Child Expenses is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese.
Requires iPhone with iOS 17 or later, iPad with iPadOS 17 or later, or Apple Watch with watchOS 10 or later. iCloud account required.