The Worst Text to Get → "What Was the Total?"

It starts innocently enough. Your partner sends a grocery list or expense breakdown. You skim it, send money, and move on with your day.

Then comes the follow-up text: "What was the total?"

This isn't just about math. It's about time wasted recalculating, money lost to errors, and relationships strained over spreadsheet-tier arguments. The good news? There's a better way.

The Sunday Night Grocery Math Fight

You quickly add it in your head ("$4 + $3 = $7... $7 + $11 = $18...") and Venmo her $35.

Your stomach sinks. You reopen the calculator:

• Missed the pasta ($2.30)
• Forgot to carry the cents ($0.20 + $0.10)
• Underpaid by $3.10

Now you're:

• ✅ Out an extra $3.10
• ✅ In the doghouse for "not paying attention"
• ✅ Stuck doing receipt audits every Sunday

Why This Happens to Everyone

1. Mental Math Fails:
   • People make more calculation errors in complex mental addition tasks requiring carry operations compared to simple tasks
   • People often ignore small amounts due to mental accounting bias
2. The "I'll Just Venmo You" Trap:
   • Quick payments → More mistakes → "Wait, did I send enough?"
3. Relationship Tax:
   • 45% of partners argue about money at least occasionally

The Smarter Way (Wife-Approved)

Your wife now:

1. Pastes the receipt into SmartTotal
2. Sends you:

   "Groceries: $38.10 (Tap to see breakdown)"

You:

1. Pay the exact amount in one tap
2. Earn spousal brownie points
3. Never hear "What was the total?" again