To spend money to operate and maintain a building, but to spend it wisely is part of the manager's work. Many expenditures are routine. These include the payment of the wages of the employees, the bills for light, heat and power and other recurring items. Even in these economy can be practiced. Every employee should give the time for which he is paid, and his work should be worth the pay. Coal contracts may be made so as to obtain the fuel at lowest rates and to get a good quality of it. Checks on unnecessary waste should be made.

Bills for repairs and renewals are usual in every building. The building must be maintained or it will run down, tenants will become dissatisfied, and rents will decrease. The expert manager will be familiar with the names of a number of good repair men and will be able to specify just what work is to be done and the kind of material to be used on the job. He will see that he gets work and materials of the proper quality and that he pays no more than current prices for them. It is often better to get high grade work even though it cost more than inferior work, but in any event full value should be received for the expenditure of the owner's money.