Keep earlier reserve deficits visible after later credits.
Can a positive ending contingency balance hide an earlier funding gap?
Use the matching calculator
Use this decision sequence
- Start from the reserve amount already selected for the project.
- Enter deductions and credits in their actual chronological order.
- Track the lowest running balance as well as the ending balance.
- Review an earlier deficit independently of money returned later.
Keep the quantities distinct
| Quantity or assumption | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Starting reserve | Is a user-selected budget, not a recommended percentage. |
| Lowest balance | Reveals the largest earlier gap. |
| Ending balance | Describes the position after all recorded movements. |
Worked comparison
A 100 USD reserve followed by a 120 USD deduction reaches −20 USD. A later 50 USD credit leaves a positive 30 USD ending balance, but the earlier 20 USD gap remains in the record. Reporting only the ending balance would hide the point at which the supplied reserve was insufficient for the entered movements.
Check before using the estimate
No expenditure is approved and no financing or reserve level is recommended. Use this as a record of supplied budget movements. The example values are illustrative arithmetic inputs. Replace them with your measured plan, selected product information and actual quote where relevant.
All dimensions, product properties, prices and specifications in this example are illustrative arithmetic inputs. Use the values from your measured plan, selected product data sheet and supplier quote. This guide does not choose construction specifications or certify safety.
Calculation and scope checked 2026-10-04. Methods and scope.
Related decisions
Separate ordered, delivered and used concrete quantities
Which quantity should be compared with a supplier invoice?
A positive closing stock balance can hide an earlier shortage
Was enough stock present at every point in the work sequence?
Separate quoted lead-time use from a selected stock reserve
Which part of a reorder trigger is calculated and which part is your assumption?