public IHttpActionResult Postpurchase(purchase purchase)
        {
            if (!ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                return BadRequest(ModelState);
            }

            db.purchases.Add(purchase);
            db.SaveChanges();

            return CreatedAtRoute("DefaultApi", new { id = purchase.id }, purchase);
        }
        public IHttpActionResult Putpurchase(int id, purchase purchase)
        {
            if (!ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                return BadRequest(ModelState);
            }

            if (id != purchase.id)
            {
                return BadRequest();
            }
            //custom fix for error message in EntityState.Modified;
            foreach (participants p in purchase.participants)
            {
                p.group_members = null;
            }
            db.Entry(purchase).State = EntityState.Modified;

            try
            {
                db.SaveChanges();
            }
            catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException)
            {
                if (!purchaseExists(id))
                {
                    return NotFound();
                }
                else
                {
                    throw;
                }
            }

            return StatusCode(HttpStatusCode.NoContent);
        }