The first reading is a starting line, not a bill
When you begin tracking a utility, the first number you enter isn't consumption — it's a baseline. FinMan calculates usage by subtracting your previous reading from your current one. With no previous reading, there's nothing to subtract, so your first entry simply establishes where the meter stands today.
This trips people up: they enter a big meter number, expect a bill, and panic. Relax — the meaningful figure appears on your second reading, when FinMan computes the difference and applies your tariff.
Get the baseline right
- Read the whole number shown on the dial or display — the cumulative total, not an estimate.
- Use the correct date. Set the day you actually read it. Need a past date? FinMan supports backdated entries so the baseline lines up with your billing cycle.
- Ignore red digits on analog meters — those are decimals most billing ignores. Enter only the black/main digits.
- Snap a photo. Send the meter photo to the Telegram or WhatsApp bot and AI reads the value, matched to the right address, service and tariff.
Tip: Enter your baseline on the same date your provider last read the meter. Then your FinMan totals and the official bill move in lockstep.
Set up the address and service first
Before the reading, make sure the structure exists: an address, the service under it (electricity, water, gas), and its tariff. You can do all of this straight from the bot's Utilities menu — add an address, add a service, and add a tariff with its type (metered, subscription or manual) and price. No web app required.
If you have a day/night meter, add both tariffs so each reading maps to the right rate. Getting this in place before your first reading means the baseline attaches to the correct service and tariff from day one.
What to expect after
- Reading 1 — baseline saved, no consumption shown. That's correct.
- Reading 2 — FinMan subtracts reading 1, shows your usage, and calculates the bill using the tariff price.
- Onward — every new reading builds on the last, so your consumption history stays continuous.
One caveat: if you change or reset a meter, treat the new meter's opening number as a fresh baseline. Don't overwrite the old value — enter the new reading normally, and note the swap so a huge "drop" doesn't look like negative usage.