Group events — a barbecue, a birthday, a holiday dinner — are where shopping coordination breaks down most: three people bring chips, nobody brings ice. A shared plan saves the day.
Build the list together
Start one list everyone contributes to — food, drinks, supplies, decorations. Seeing it all in one place instantly reveals gaps and duplicates.
Assign who brings what
Claim items so responsibilities are clear. No more “I thought you were getting the cake.”
Split the cost fairly
Track what each person spends so you can split evenly afterward — see splitting shared shopping. A shared list with a budget makes the totals obvious.
One plan everyone can see
Cartly is designed for organized lists with budgeting, and shared lists are coming — so group planning like this becomes effortless. Until then, one shared list and clear assignments keep any party on track.
Meet Cartly — shopping lists & budgets →
Cartly is a shopping list and budget planner for iPhone, launching soon. Shared lists are on the way.
Frequently asked questions
How do I plan a party shopping list with friends?
Build one shared list everyone adds to, assign who brings what, and track costs to split fairly.
How do we avoid bringing duplicate items to a party?
Have everyone claim items on a single visible list so gaps and doubles are obvious.
How do we split party costs?
Track each person’s spend on the shared list and divide the total at the end.