Using Serve to make your life easier (and a Giveaway!)
Do you guys carry cash on you? I’m one of those people who literally spend cash like there’s a hole burning in my pocket. One day I have a couple twenties on me, the next I have no idea where all my money went… So I basically just stopped carrying cash with me. It’s just better that way.
But there’s always those nights where everyone is out and I’m the only one with a card and no cash. Usually I end up paying the bill and people give me cash, or we all throw in our cards and have the bill split. I am sure our server always appreciates that! American Express has come up with a solution for that very situation. It’s aptly called Serve. Instead of boring you with the details of what they’re all about or how it works, I’m going to show you how I used Serve on a girls night out the other day.
First I sent an email to a couple of my girlfriends to see if anyone wanted to get together for drinks and dinner. Shockingly, we were able to set a date fairly easily. Once that hurtle was overcome, we had to decide where to go. We all agreed we wanted to try something new. After quite a few emails back and forth, we decided on The Biltmore Grill in Newton. A key factor in that decision was the fact that they have Chicken and Waffles on the menu. We all agreed that there were so many things we wanted to try, that we’d order a little of everything and split it.
This isn’t a restaurant review, but I have to tell you the food there was comfort food to the max. The chicken and waffles were definitely the star of the evening and I really appreciated that they do beer flights. I enjoyed a variety of seasonal beers. I feel like there aren’t enough places to get a flight of beer nearby…
Ok so here’s where I tell you about how Serve made my life easier that night. First, I had already signed up for a Serve account online (you get a FREE $10 just for signing up). Second, I had installed the Serve app on my Android phone. And lastly, my Serve credit card had already come in the mail!
One thing to note about the credit card. It doesn’t have your name on it. I found that somewhat odd, but since it works like a pre-paid credit card, there’s no harm in someone using the card if you lost it. You could simply remove all funds from the card by going online or into your app.
So when the bill came that night, I got out my Serve credit card and paid for the entire bill myself. While the server was running the card, I logged in to my account on my phone.
I used the “Split the Bill” option within the app and put in the amount of the bill, the tip that I wanted to leave, and the number of people at dinner.
On the next screen, I put in everyone’s names (the app uses your address book to identify everyone via phone number or email address). Notice those bars under everyone’s name? You can use those to allocated different amounts for each person. It defaults to splitting the bill evenly, but it’s nice to have the option to have different people pay different amounts.
Since I was using the app to request money from others, they don’t have to have a Serve account at this point. To actually use Serve to send money, they would have to sign up for a Serve account.
The next screen prompted me for a message to include in the request. Once I hit submit, each of the girls was notified with an email in their Inbox requesting the amount due for their portion of the bill.
And I got transaction numbers so I could track the transactions on my app or online at Serve.com.
Once the payments have been made through Serve, the transactions will move from pending to completed.
While I was playing around with the app, I found some other useful things I wanted to share. First, check out all the options available when I logged into the app.
The Pizza Party option caught my eye. Check it out, you can divide the pizza bill by number of slices!
Another option that seems useful would be to link subaccounts. I could imagine using subaccounts to provide your children’s allowance or setting aside a certain amount of money for holiday shopping for example.
Overall, Serve was very easy to use and I can’t wait to explore the other options available. And now on to the good stuff, the giveaway!! American Express is offering one lucky reading a $100 Serve credit! (the winner will have to sign up for a Serve account to claim the prize)
Only one entry per person. To enter, leave a comment by midnight on 12/27 answering this question: What are your plans for the holidays?
To answer my own question, Hubby and I are working until Thursday, then we’re off the rest of the year. We’ll be heading down to his mom’s for Christmas with the family. There will be lots of food, family, and good times.
As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a $250 stipend to try Serve from American Express. Sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found here: http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/4622317-win-serve-dollars-giveaway-official-rules
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
What a cool giveaway! This would be awesome for my son’s 2nd birthday next month. Thanks for the contest!
My email is lauren.c.king at gmail dot com
What a cute book! I’m just starting to decorate and would love this for ideas!
anneblanke@hotmail dot com
That chocolate cupcake recipe is still my go-to as well. Although the chocolate cupcake from CH: Coffee is a close 2nd. (The CH:Coffee one is fussier, so I still use the old one the most.)
I would love to get my hands on this book. I am in charge of 2 upcoming bake sales, and inspiration is much needed.
What a great book! I have this book on my wish list – so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!!
mybakingadventures at gmail dot com
oopps- forgot my email gty46at hotmail dot com
Sounds awesome
sgbradstreet@hotmail dot com
How very cool! And such a cute book, too.
jenniferhaude at yahoo.com
Looks like an adorable book!
shawna626 at gmail dot com
Looks like a great book! Love your blog.
ryanandtiffany at gmail dot com
I love to bake cakes and this book looks like so much fun! Thanks 🙂
chrissyblogs at gmail dot com
This looks like SUCH a fun book!
i would love to get a free cookbook…i so love baking cupcakes right now!
my email is micmic2177 at yahoo dot com
What a great looking Book! I loved making my own cake for my daughters 1st birthday! This book would give me a lot of inspiration for so many other birthdays parties to come!
THANKS!
Michelle724 at gmail dot com
Looks fuuuuun!
aliciaambler at gmail dot com.
looks like a lot of fun, love to bake!!! aseminara at gmail dot com
great idea! cool book!
cctimmom@gmail.com
I would love to be entered into this give away. It sounds like an awesome book with great recipes and ideas 🙂
My email address is dani_girl8 at hotmail dot com
Thanks!
What a fabulous giveaway! I bet I could get years of use from that book for our 1 year olds future birthdays!
destinationAZ at yahoo dot com
This book looks great. Awsome Idea!!
How fun! Please enter me to your giveaway.
curtnancy@yahoo dot com
with a little one and one on the way this would be great inspiration. Thanks for the giveaway!
evedal06 at yahoo dot com
What a fun looking cookbook. I would love to win a copy of it. I am supposed to help with 1st birthday cake in a couple of months and this would come in handy.
Awesome idea! This would definitely give me baking inspiration!
elizabeth.stank AT gmail DOT com
What a great idea!
kayla.a.cr @ gmail dot com
Yay for a giveaway! This book looks absolutely amazing!!
steppystar@aol.com
what a cute book!
goodeatsblog at gmail dot com
That looks like a great book. Please enter me!
lrandall79 at comcast.net
What a neat giveaway. This would be a great book for me and my grandson to explore. 🙂
susies at twcny dot rr dot com
I would love to win a copy of this book! I’m having an “I Want Candy!” giveaway right not too – ends 10/15 – I invite you to enter.
S.W.A.K.
http://www.CuteStuffInside.blogspot.com
My email is cutestuffinside at hotmail dot com
Great idea, that looks like such a cool book. My email is tess2mommies at gmail dot come
That looks like a really neat book! I am crossing my fingers and adding it to my wish list just in case. Thanks!
Kristen
kristen.arland at gmail.com
What an adorable book! I’m totally a cupcake addict, but trying out new stuff is aways fun.
Jess
jessica.tupper at gmail dot com
I have loved this book from the first time I laid eyes on it! I love cute, creative cakes!!
cakesbyashley at hotmail dot com
what a great giveaway! I love baking and this would give me loads of ideas.
marilyn110999@hotmail.com
Such a cute book!
txaggie02 at hotmail dot com
That book looks like so much fun. You’re sweet to do a giveaway. And I am craving chocolate cupcakes now!
kopperhead at cox dot net
Hi! I love your blog! This book looks amazing, and I am excited for this contest! I forgot to put my email down last time 🙂
hmpatterson(at)accesswave DOT COM
The cover is too cute! I love the how-to photos – very helpful. Will watch for the results of the throwdown 🙂
Thanks for the review!
joyanna at ameritech dot net
what a great book!
evanshj@gmail.com
looks yummy!
Aww that book looks so adorable! I’m only an amateur baker, so I have a lot to learn. This book seems like a lot of fun to learn from. =]
babyblue1155 at gmail dot com
Awesome book. I want one!
mycatrules at charter dot net!
LOVE your sites. Then again, I love food, so anything food related is fair game.
OMG OMG I have been meaning to pick up a book on cakes for while! That one sounds like a good choice!
Email: trancelass47@gmail.com
My 29 year old “kid” would love this book. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.
my email is kzappy@comcast.net
(peabody,MA)
How fun! I would love to be considered in your giveaway! We just had a baby girl 2 weeks ago and it’s never too early to plan for her first birthday!
My email is paislie98 at hotmail dot com
Ooo, choose me! 🙂 My mom was a cake decorator but never got the hang of using fondant & I would SO love to learn how to do it. And it’s clear that this author/artist knows her fondant!
email to
katiekolodzy at comcast dot net
This book sounds great. My boys would totally appreciate some new ideas for their birthday cakes.
mommytoboyz@gmail dot com
That book is so beautiful! I would love to attempt a cake or a cupcake for my kids too!
cpoolie-at-gmail-dot-com
It looks like a very fun book. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
andielib at yahoo dot com
I can’t wait to get this book! what an artist she is.
My email address is meera at baymoon dot com. Thanks!
This book looks like it will be great inspiration for my son’s 1st birthday this January!
she_ra_13 at yahoo dot com
Wow. This sounds awesome! I would love to win this book!!
sweetnessbakery@gmail.com
Yvette
I love this book!
pmchavez1024@hotmail.com
I have heard so many awesome things about this cookbook – I’d love to learn all the techniques!
caschlim at comcast dot net
What a great giveaway! This book looks so fun!
steffie100 at hotmail dot com
Sounds like a great book and I’d love to have a copy of it…
jwaite@aumail dot averett dot edu
Wow, this book looks so kewl! With lots of ideas!! Thanks for having the contest!!
shannon_aj_nichols@hotmail.com
That book looks so cute and fun!
luvbball@gmail.com
That book looks adorable!
emomie@gmail.com
That looks so awesome! 🙂 I love creative cake ideas!
amabbate at gmail dot com
Gosh! You think maybe there’s kitty litter cake in there?? Ooh, I can’t wait. I’m all buttered up!
Email is: musicalvoyyeur at aol dot com.
Great giveaway! I have had thisbook on my wish list so I sure do hope I get it. It looks amazing.
Yvette
dyvette@gmail.com
This looks like such a wonderful book! Thank you for the giveaway!
Looks like it’ll be a good book.
My e-mail is jared.petersen@gmail.com
With three daughters under the age of six and a little boy who is about to turn one – this book would be a great source of inspiration in our house! 🙂
ahalfdozeneggs at gmail dot com
Oh, I would love this book for my girlfriend!
Eddie
serranoloans@gmail.com
gr8 idea. Book looks awesome.
What a great cookbook! I can’t wait to see your results!
angelaj105 at gmail
Ooops- my email address is
danipmack at gmail dot com
Such a cute book. I’ve volunteered to make cakes for some of my friends , so this book would come in handy.
stacey.gallant at gmail dot com
that book is soooooo cute. Im crossing my fingers that I will win one!
lapixie [dot] dusted [at] gmail [dot] com
Love Confetti Cakes – especially her sock monkey revenge cake!
staceys.scoop at gmail dot com
Oooooooh! I would love to have this adorable book! Thanks for offering us the opportunity to win one.
My email is lisa (dot) hatch at gmail (dot) com
This book looks like so much fun! I’m sure i would spend tons of time in the kitchen with it!!!
shopping_girl5 at hotmail dot com
Yeah! I love this giveaway.
email: outnumbered221@gmail dot com
The book sounds amazing!! Great giveaway! My email is in my profile.
The book sounds amazing!! Great giveaway! My email is in my profile.
What an awesome giveaway!
doreenre@yahoo DOT com
Popped over from Cake Wrecks. This book is fabulous! fourthmonth at gmail dot com
This book looks amazing and would be great to add to my collection. Thanks for the review. . .
melvolcom22@aol.com