How the Feature Works #

Dormefy’s Meal Cost feature is designed to handle all expenses related to purchasing ingredients and preparing meals in a shared living dormitory setup. Unlike Round Expenses, which are divided equally among members, Meal Cost is used specifically for calculating the meal rate. The meal rate is derived by dividing the total meal cost by the total number of meals for a specified period, such as a month or a quarter.

For example, if the total meal cost for a quarter is $500 and the total meal count is 250, the meal rate will be:
$500 ÷ 250 meals = $2 per meal.

Key Details: #

• Meal Costs: This feature tracks all expenses related to food and meal preparation, including ingredients like vegetables, rice, and spices. These costs contribute directly to determining the meal rate, which is calculated by the total meal cost divided by the total number of meals in a given period.
• Member Requests: Members can request to add meal costs, but the meal rate is only updated after manager approval.
• Manager’s Role: Dorm managers can add meal costs directly, approve or deny member requests, and manage expenses to ensure accurate meal rate calculations.

How to Add Meal Costs: #

1. For Both Members and Managers:
   • Log into Dormefy.
   • From the left sidebar, go to Expenses.
   • Click the Add Expense button.
   • Select a date and enter the meal cost amount (e.g., $320″).
   • Write a description for the cost. (e.g., for ingredients like “potato, onion, rice”).
   • Choose Meal Cost from the Expense Type field.
   • Click Add Expense.
   • For Managers: The manager can approve the meal cost instantly or leave it pending for review.
   • For Members: The meal cost will be pending manager approval after submission.

Once a meal cost is added or approved, it will contribute to the total meal cost for that month or quarter and will be displayed on the expenses page.

How to Filter Meal Costs: #

• To filter only meal costs from the expenses list, go to the Expenses page.
• At the top, you will see the Filter by Type field.
• Select Meal Cost from the dropdown, and all meal-related expenses will be displayed.
• You can also set a filter for a specific date period if needed.