---
title: "Materials expenses"
description: "Project expenses are the costs you incur during the work, mostly materials. Log them by hand or from a receipt, and you'll see the materials balance and end-of-project profit."
locale: en
category: projects
slug: project-expenses
updatedAt: 2026-05-06
---
# Materials expenses

Expenses are all the costs you incur during a project: mostly materials bought for the job, but also transport, equipment rental, or subcontractors. Bulido tallies them in the **Materials** section of the **Settlements** tab, so by the end of the project you know exactly what you spent and how it nets against the client's payments toward materials.

## Adding an expense by hand

In the project, go to the **Settlements → Materials** tab. In the **Materials expenses** section, click **+ Add expense**. The **Add materials expense** dialog opens with these fields:

- **Amount** (required). The expense value — must be greater than zero.
- **Spent on** (required). When the purchase happened.
- **Title** (required). A short description, e.g. *Bathroom tile*, *Ceiling paint*, *Panel adhesive*.
- **Store (optional)**. Where you bought it, e.g. *Home Depot Northeast*. Useful when you come back to it months later.
- **Note (optional)**. Your own notes, e.g. *Was short one box, buy more*.

Click **Save expense** and the entry lands in the project's expense history.

## Adding an expense from a receipt or invoice

Instead of typing the data in by hand, you can upload a photo of the receipt or a PDF invoice. Bulido will extract the amount, date, and store from the document for you. Details in [Upload receipts and invoices to a project](/helpcenter/projects/expense-documents).

## Editing and deleting an expense

Each entry on the list has **Edit** and **Delete expense** actions. Editing opens the same dialog with the fields pre-filled. Deletion needs confirmation — Bulido asks *"Delete this expense?"* because it's irreversible.

## Materials balance

The Materials section header shows three figures:

- **Client payments**: the total amount the client has put toward materials (advances, settlements).
- **Expenses**: the total of your costs on materials.
- **Balance**: the difference. Positive when the client paid more than you spent (you have float for the next purchases). Negative when you spent more and they owe you.

The balance updates automatically every time an expense or payment changes.

## What's next

- [Upload receipts and invoices to a project](/helpcenter/projects/expense-documents)
- [Record client payments](/helpcenter/projects/client-payments)