What is a jar?
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
A guide to how jars work on Butter. For anyone who's ever chased a friend for money and never wants to do it again.
You know how it usually goes. You book the court, put down the dinner deposit, or lock in the group booking, and then spend the next week sending your PayID round the chat, chasing the one person who swears they've "definitely sent it," and doing mental maths at the table while everyone suddenly needs the bathroom.
It's the least fun part of doing anything good together, and it always seems to land on whoever organised it.
A jar is how you collect money for a social plan on Butter, without any of the group-chat admin that usually comes with it.
If your plan costs something to put on (court hire, a dinner deposit, a ticket to a gig, a boat, a DJ) you open a jar on it, tell us what it's covering, and we take care of the rest. Butter works out what everyone needs to chip in, collects it the moment they RSVP, and holds onto it safely until the plan is locked in.
How a jar works
Open a jar on your plan and tell us what it's for, the court, the deposit, the cake, whatever it is.
Choose how it's split: a flat cost everyone pays, like a gig ticket, or an overall cost that gets divided between everyone who joins, like court hire.
Set how many people need to chip in and a deadline for them to do it.
Butter works out the maths, so everyone sees their share, including any fees, the moment they RSVP.
Contributions are held safely while the RSVP and plan are pending, no chasing, no PayIDs flying round the chat.
Once the plan finishes and its review period wraps up, the funds become available to you.
If the plan doesn't come together
Set a deadline, and if not enough people have joined by then, the jar empties itself and refunds everyone automatically. Nobody's left out of pocket, and nobody's left chasing a refund either.
A few ways people use jars
Splitting a private dining room or picnic booking
Hiring a tennis court, studio, or workshop space
Covering shared food and drinks
Buying art, pottery, or cooking materials
Sharing transport or equipment costs
Paying for a group activity that only makes sense above a minimum group size
Why do jars exists
Splitting costs is usually the least fun part of doing something good together, and it always lands on whoever organised it. With a jar nobody has to front the cost, nobody has to chase anyone for their share, and you know you won't end up being out of pocket.
Butter is the app for finding things to do to meet people
Your place for activity-based social plans - from supper clubs and run clubs to morning walks and creative sessions.
FAQs
If I reschedule a plan, does the jar reschedule too?
No. The jar keeps its own deadline and details, so if you move the date, it's worth checking the jar still makes sense for the new timing.
What happens if the jar doesn't fill up before the deadline?
We refund everyone automatically. Nobody's left out of pocket, and nobody has to chase their money back.
Is a jar the same as a ticket to an event?
No. A jar collects money to cover the costs of putting your plan on (like court hire or a deposit) rather than being a ticket for entry.
When is a guest charged?
If they need to top up their Butter wallet, their card is charged immediately for that top-up. Their contribution is then held pending while the RSVP and jar are being confirmed.
What if the host doesn't respond to an RSVP?
A pending RSVP with money attached expires after three days. The request is declined and the held money goes straight back to the guest's wallet.
Can a guest leave after contributing?
Before the jar fills, yes, and they get a full refund to their wallet. After it fills, refunds are up to the host.
Can the host withdraw the money immediately?
No. Contributions stay pending until the plan ends and its review period is finalised. Reports, like the host not attending or the jar not being used as described, can hold the payout for review.
Can the host change the jar after people have joined?
No. Core payment settings, like the amount or the number of contributors needed, lock in once guests have joined or paid, so they can't change underneath anyone.
Are fees included?
Yes. The amount a guest sees includes any applicable fees. When splitting a total cost, shares may be rounded up slightly so they divide cleanly.
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