Expense Tracking

Chamber helps you track all your expenses in one place. This guide covers everything you need to know about managing expenses.

Table of Contents

• Adding an Expense
• Editing an Expense
• Deleting an Expense
• Uploading Receipts
• Categories
• Filtering and Searching
• Understanding the Expense List
• Exporting Expenses

Adding an Expense

Via Web App

1. Navigate to Expenses in the sidebar
2. Click the "Add Expense" button
3. Fill in the expense details:

Required Fields:

• Amount - The expense amount (e.g., 50.00)
• Category - Select from predefined categories
• Description - Brief description of the expense

Optional Fields:

• Merchant - Where you made the purchase
• Date - Defaults to today, but can be changed
• Payment Method - Select from your accounts (if set up)
• Receipt - Upload an image or PDF

4. Click "Save" to add the expense

Via Telegram Bot

Once your Telegram account is linked (see Telegram Bot Guide):

Text Messages: Simply send a message describing the expense:

• "Spent $45 on lunch at Subway"
• "Paid $120 for electricity bill"
• "Uber ride $23.50"

The AI will automatically extract:

• Amount
• Category
• Description
• Merchant (if mentioned)

Receipt Photos: Send a photo of a receipt, and the AI will extract:

• Total amount
• Merchant name
• Date
• Individual items (sometimes)

PDF Receipts: Send PDF files, and the text will be extracted for processing.

Editing an Expense

1. Go to Expenses
2. Find the expense you want to edit
3. Click on the expense row or the edit icon
4. Update the fields you want to change
5. Click "Save"

Note: Editing an expense updates it immediately in all views (dashboard, analytics, etc.).

Deleting an Expense

1. Go to Expenses
2. Find the expense you want to delete
3. Click the delete icon (trash can)
4. Confirm the deletion in the dialog

Warning: Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Receipts associated with the expense will also be deleted.

Uploading Receipts

Receipts help you keep records for taxes, reimbursements, or warranties.

Supported Formats

• Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP
• Documents: PDF

Uploading

1. When adding or editing an expense, click "Upload Receipt"
2. Select one or more files
3. Wait for upload to complete
4. Save the expense

Viewing Receipts

1. Go to Expenses
2. Expenses with receipts show a receipt icon
3. Click on the expense to view attached receipts
4. Click on a receipt to view full size or download

Deleting Receipts

1. Open the expense with the receipt
2. Click on the receipt to view it
3. Click the delete icon
4. Confirm deletion

Categories

Chamber comes with predefined categories:

Category	Typical Use
Food	Groceries, restaurants, food delivery
Travel	Transportation, fuel, flights, hotels
Entertainment	Movies, games, subscriptions, hobbies
Bills	Electricity, water, internet, phone
Shopping	Clothing, electronics, household items
Health	Medical, pharmacy, gym, wellness
Education	Courses, books, tuition, certifications
Investments	Stocks, mutual funds, crypto
Subscription	Recurring service payments
General	Miscellaneous expenses

Note: When you select "Subscription" as a category, you can optionally create a subscription entry for recurring tracking.

Filtering and Searching

Date Range Filter

1. Go to Expenses
2. Click the "Filter" button
3. Select "Date Range"
4. Choose start and end dates
5. Click "Apply"

Category Filter

1. Click the "Filter" button
2. Select "Category"
3. Choose one or more categories
4. Click "Apply"

Search

Use the search bar to find expenses by:

• Description
• Merchant name
• Category
• Amount (partial match)

Clearing Filters

Click "Clear" or "Reset" to remove all filters and show all expenses.

Understanding the Expense List

The expense list shows:

• Date - When the expense occurred
• Description - What the expense was for
• Category - Color-coded category badge
• Amount - Formatted with your preferred currency
• Actions - Edit and delete buttons

Sorting

Expenses are sorted by date (newest first) by default. Secondary sorting by ID ensures consistent ordering for expenses on the same date.

Pagination

Expenses are paginated (20 per page). Use the pagination controls at the bottom to navigate.

Exporting Expenses

You can export your expense data to CSV:

1. Go to Settings
2. Scroll to "Export Data"
3. Click "Export Expenses"
4. The CSV will include:
   • Date
   • Description
   • Category
   • Amount
   • Merchant
   • Payment method
   • Receipt URLs (if any)

Use cases for export:

• Tax preparation
• Backup your data
• Analysis in spreadsheet software
• Sharing with accountants

Best Practices

1. Add expenses immediately - Don't wait; capture them while fresh
2. Be descriptive - Use clear descriptions you'll understand later
3. Categorize consistently - Helps with accurate reporting
4. Upload receipts - Especially for business expenses or warranties
5. Review weekly - Check for missing expenses or miscategorizations
6. Use payment methods - Track which account was used

Related Features

• Account Management - Link expenses to accounts
• Telegram Bot - Add expenses on the go
• Subscriptions - Track recurring expenses

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Questions? See the FAQ or Troubleshooting Guide.