First, you will create a single account for the project or shared costs. For example, if you live with three other people in Apartment 3b, you might create an account named "Apartment_3b", or you might use your street address, such as "1211_AltaVista_Ave" if you have a house.
Next, log into the account using the URL https://slackerfactor.com/apps/login.py.
After logging in, you will see "Authorized" briefly appear on the page, and then you will see the "balances" page, showing no transactions or other parties, as you have not added them yet:
At this point, for each person who might be responsible for a portion of the costs, add that person to the account -- they will log in with their own username and password, so you will be able to know who made which entries. Even if the person doesn't share all the expenses -- for example, a friend who is traveling all summer may pay you a few dollars to leave his car in the garage, but not generally share the cost of your house -- go ahead and create an individual login account for them, and just don't assign them a share of most of the normal expenses.
Create the accounts you will need before you start entering bills -- you can't split costs with someone if you can't select their account when entering the bill.
Press the "Add User" button to add another user, and you should see this page:
After briefly displaying "User added" the page should redirect back to balances, showing an additional person listed:
Add any other people who might share costs:
Note that everyone has nothing listed in the "Slacker Factor" field, because no bills or other transactions have been listed.
Now you are finished with the one-time setup to do at start. You can now start entering bills and other costs, using the "Post" button on the left hand side of the screen. If you pay a bill or cost, for example the electricty, enter in the amount and check off which people should share the bill.
Afterwards, the balances page reflects the new bill. The people who owe money to others have a negative number next to their name. People who are owed money have a positive number next to their name. Your goal should be to have a positive number next to your number most of the time -- otherwise you are a Slacker who allows others to pay your bills ! Your goal should also be to have that number be small, because if it is large, then you and your diligent bill-paying are being taken advantage of by your Slacker friends, who each have corresponding negative numbers next to their names. (You can change the number next to your name by paying shared bills or by giving your friends money directly -- examples are below.)
If the bill or cost should not be shared evenly -- in this example, only one of the housemates made long distance phone calls -- then enter the person who paid should enter the amount and only check off those who are responsible. Note that the payer doesn't have to be one of those responsible.
The balances page now reflects a larger negative amount next to Gunnar's name, and a larger positive amount next to Robert's name:
At any point, if any individual logs into their account, they can see a number
indicating how much they owe or are owed. Someone who owes money, should pick
someone else who is owed money, and pay them.