When I came to the U.S., the most awkward moment with friends during meals is when they say, "Please Venmo me."

Just like using KakaoPay or Toss in Korea, Venmo has taken that place in the U.S.

To avoid the hassle of not having cash because you didn't install an app, I've summarized only the essential information.

Venmo is a mobile payment app under PayPal.

It covers splitting bills among friends, sending rent, and paying small businesses.

After installing the app, you sign up with your email or phone number, and link your bank account or debit card, and you're done.

Setup takes about 10 minutes. Here's what you need to know about the fee structure.

There are no fees for sending money between friends if you link a bank account or debit card.

If you send money using a credit card, a 3% fee applies. That's why everyone links their bank accounts to save on fees.

When transferring received money to your bank, there are two options.

Standard transfers are free but take 1-3 days, while Instant Transfer arrives in a few minutes but incurs a 1.75% fee.

For business payments, if you receive payments via Venmo QR, a fee of about 1.9% + $0.10 applies. For a $100 payment, that's about $2 in fees.

This is slightly lower than card processing fees (usually 2.6-2.9%), making it popular among small business owners.

When you open the app, there's a Pay or Request button at the top. You can search for the person's name, phone number, or @username, enter the amount, and you're done.

Venmo has a culture of leaving short messages when sending money, like "lunch," "coffee," or "rent." Many people also just use emojis.

There's a QR code feature, so if you scan the other person's QR code, you can send money right away. Many stores have QR codes at the counter, so you can just scan them.

Venmo also has a social feed feature. It shows messages about who sent money to whom on the timeline.

The amount isn't visible, but if you're concerned about privacy, you can change the settings to Private.

Another popular money transfer method is Zelle, which moves money directly from one bank account to another.

In most cases, transfers are completed within a few minutes. The usage is also simple.

You just enter the recipient's email address or phone number in your bank app or the Zelle app and send the amount.

If the recipient is registered with Zelle, the money is deposited immediately.

Most U.S. banks support Zelle, so many people use it directly through their bank apps without creating a separate account.

The advantage of Zelle is that personal transfers are usually free. That's why Zelle is known as the most used service for sending money between friends and family.

Importantly, whether using Venmo, Zelle, or Craigslist, always double-check before sending money to someone you don't know. There are many scams.

However, for those starting their lives in the U.S., knowing how to use Venmo can be quite helpful.

It's often used as an essential app for splitting restaurant bills or sending money to friends.