Keeping a khata without losing money
Khata is how a neighbourhood kirana, dairy or hardware shop keeps its regulars, and it is where money quietly goes missing. The habits that protect it:
- A phone number for every account. A debt with no way to reach the person is a gift.
- A limit per customer, decided before the balance grows, not after.
- The oldest bill first. A payment clears the oldest bills, so the age of what is owed stays honest.
- Statements and reminders that show every bill, so there is nothing to argue about.
In the books, a khata sale is a sale on the day it is made, but it is not cash: it is money owed to the shop until it is paid.
Example
Ramesh takes groceries worth ₹520 on Monday and ₹310 on Thursday: his khata reads ₹830. On Saturday he pays ₹600. Monday's ₹520 bill is closed first, ₹80 goes against Thursday's, and ₹230 remains — all of it from Thursday.
How Nivasik handles it
- "Pay later — on khata" puts a whole bill on a named customer in one tap; part of a bill can go on khata with the rest paid now.
- The mobile number is required.
- A limit per customer (no limit, no khata, or an amount), and a count of who is over theirs.
- Payments go to the oldest bill first, and a bill paid off is closed.
- Remind and Statement open WhatsApp or SMS with the message typed in — nothing is sent until you press send there.