A method of sharing a specific cost of a selected item amongst a plurality of individuals using a software program accessible through a retailer's website, the method comprising:
- a) displaying, within a graphical user interface, a carousel of items for sale from said retailer's website;
- b) receiving, from an organizer via said graphical user interface, a selection of a first item having a specific cost from said plurality of items;
- c) displaying, within said graphical user interface, a cost splitting calculator screen for said selected first item, said cost splitting calculator screen comprising an inner ring and an outer ring;
- d) receiving, via said graphical user interface, an input actuating said inner ring by said organizer, said input indicating a selection of one or more potential contributors;
- e) in response to said input actuating said inner ring by said organizer, moving said outer ring of said cost splitting calculator screen, wherein said outer ring depicts a contribution of said organizer as a function of said one or more inputs;
- f) displaying, to said organizer, an invite contributors screen, wherein said organizer selects a plurality of individual contributors via said invite contributors screen;
- g) apportioning a first percentage or a first dollar amount of said specific cost among said plurality of invited contributors;
- h) receiving, from said organizer via said cost splitting calculator screen, a second percentage or a second dollar amount of said specific cost, wherein said second percentage or said second dollar amount corresponds to an amount said organizer will monetarily contribute to said specific cost;
- i) receiving from said organizer a date by which each invited contributor of said plurality of invited contributors must respond to said invitation by either contributing to said specific cost and becoming a monetary contributor or declining said invitation;
- j) receiving, from one or more monetary contributors of said plurality of invited contributors, one or more monetary contributions;
- k) updating, in response to the one or more monetary contributions, a visual indication displayed on the cost splitting calculator screen based on said one or more monetary contributions;
- l) in response to determining that said first percentage or said first dollar amount is not achieved by said date, prompting said organizer to select from one of two presented options, said two options comprising:
- (i) instructing said cost splitting calculator to calculate a third percentage or a third dollar amount of said specific cost based on said total, wherein said third percentage is assigned to said organizer, and wherein said third percentage or said third dollar amount replaces said second percentage or said second dollar amount;
- or
- (ii) terminating a transaction for said first item and converting said total associated with said monetary contributors and said second percentage of said specific cost to a gift card;
- and,
- (m) completing a transaction for either said first item or said gift card.