I made Tip Calculator Pro because of a bad night out with friends. We were at a fancy restaurant, celebrating my buddy’s promotion. The food was great, but when the bill came, things got awkward.

We sat there, staring at the check, trying to figure out how much to tip and who owed what. Some of us had cash, others wanted to use cards. We couldn’t agree on the tip amount. Should we give 15% or 20%? What about the taxes?

I tried using a tip calculator app on my phone, but it was slow and confusing. By the time I got it working, everyone was arguing. The waiter kept looking over, probably wondering if we’d ever leave.

That night stuck with me. I thought, “There has to be a better way.” I’m not a math whiz, but I know my way around computers. So, I decided to make my own tip calculator.

I wanted something straightforward. You type in the bill and boom—you get a table showing tips from 5% to 50%, with the tip amount and total bill for each percentage. No math is needed; just pick what looks right.

I also added a split feature because I remembered how we struggled to divide the bill that night.

It took me a few weekends of coding. I’m not a pro developer, so there was a lot of trial and error. My girlfriend helped test it. She’d yell out random bills while I raced against the calculator. It became our weird little game.

When I finally launched Tip Calculator Pro, I didn’t expect much. I just wanted something that worked for me and maybe my friends. But then people started using it. I got emails from folks saying it saved them from awkward moments like mine.

One message really hit home. A guy wrote that he used my calculator on his first date. He said it helped him look cool when the bill came. They’re married now. I’m not saying my calculator is responsible, but it’s fun to think about.

The whole experience taught me something. Sometimes, the best ideas come from your own problems. I didn’t set out to make a popular app. I just wanted to fix something that bugged me.

Now, when I go out with friends, we use my calculator. No more awkward moments or fighting over the bill. It’s quick, easy, and keeps the night fun.

I update it sometimes, adding stuff people ask for. It’s become a hobby I never expected to have. And every time I use it, I think back to that uncomfortable night at the restaurant. It’s funny how a bad experience can lead to something good.

That’s the story of Tip Calculator Pro. It’s not changing the world, but it’s making dinners out a little easier for people. And for me, that’s enough.