Budget Help

How Budget helps you.

Budget allows you to determine if you have enough money set aside for your future bills.

To accomplish that, divide your bills and income into two checking accounts. One for the predictable events and one for the variable events. Then create an input line for each using Notepad. The line is described below:

Once the input lines are created, save the Notepad file and use Copy and Paste the lines into the "Budget Input Area" and press "Build Budget." The web page will present the account balance that is needed to support the future transactions.

Input

The format is: date, dollars, "description", repeat
• date is in the MMDD format so Jan 17th would be 117. If the date isn't found, the previous found date is used.
• dollars is a decimal without the dollar sign. (A positive number is a deposit)
• description of the entry and could be in double quotes
• repeat is a single number as follows:
  • 0 is a one time transaction and this is what is assumed if repeat is absent
  • a positive number will create a transaction starting on the date and then repeated every X days
  • -1 will repeat the transaction on the same day every month starting with the date
  • -2 will repeat the transaction weekly starting with the date
  • -3 will (same day) repeat the transaction on the last day of each month/
• // Anyting entered after the // is considered a comment and will be ignored

I suggest that Notepad be used to enter and save your data, then use Copy and Paste to put it into the input area

Cut, Copy, and Paste

There are three functions here to assist you:
• Cut (Ctrl X) - copies the highlighted content to the clipboard and erases it
• Copy (Ctrl C) - copies the highlighted content to the clipboard and doesn't erase it
• Paste (Ctrl V) - writes the contents of the clipboard where the cursor (vertical flashing line) is located

Steps
• Highlight the material you want to cut or copy. Do this by placing the cursor at one end of the material, press and hold the left mouse button, move the mouse so the material is highlighted, then release the left mouse button.
• While holding the Ctrl key down, press X or C.
• Move the cursor to the input area and press and release the left mouse button.
• While holding the Ctrl key down, press V
• Smile

Finding Notepad

• Click on the Windows icon usually in the lower left corner of the screen.
• Scroll down and find the "Windows Accesories V" and click on the V.
• Find Notepad in the list and do a single left mouse click on it.

Once found I suggest placing it on your desktop so it is easier to find next tine

• Place your mouse on it, press and hold the right mouse button.
• Move it to the desktop location you selected.
• Release the right mouse button to place it.
• To use it after placing the cursor on it, press the left mouse button twice.

FAQ

• How to have an item start in one month and stop in another?
  Example... for a bill paid in June through Sept enter a bill for 6/1 with repeat of -1 then enter a deposit for 10/1 for the same amount with repeat of -1.
• What happens if I enter a bill or deposit on 1/31 with repeat of -1?
  The bill or deposit will be entered on the last day of the previous month. This is done so no bills or deposits are missed.
• What if a bill changes every month? or I'm not sure what it will be?
  Currently you have to enter it twelve times, once for each month.
• What if I'm not sure what a bill or deposit will be?
  Come as close as you can. This is a planning tool so input your plan.
• What if a bill is more than I planned?
  For example, if you planned to spend $500 on a vacation and you spent $700, then the extra $200 should come out of another account.
• What if an unplanned expense happens?
  Unplanned expenses or emergencies should be handled in another account. I suggest that plan for this by regulary placing money in the emergency account. (maybe $100/month)
• What if I don't get any output?
  Chances are that your budget or inputs have a problem. For example, check to make sure that enough money is deposited to cover the expenses.
• What if I want to temporarily not use an input?
  To keep an input from being used, place a "//" if front of it and it will not be considered.
• What is that "stuff" in the input box when I start?
  It is just test input designed to help you format and learn how to use this web page. Feel free to delete or replace it.
• What if I want to keep my data in an excel spreadsheet?
  Use Excel'ws "File" and "Save as" menu items to save it in a CSV (Comma delimited) file. Then copy your input from that file.
• What if I want to have several different budgets?
  Place the input for each budget in a different file.
• How do I copy my data to Notepad?
  Use Copy and Paste.
• How do I copy my data to Excel?
  Copy and Paste it in a notepad file then use "Data", "Get external Data From Text".
• What if my data is in the old format ("applyInput(101, 250, monthly check, -1)")?
  Paste the old format into the "Budget Input Area" and the code will remove the extra stuff.
• How do I change the year of the Budget?
  Just type the year you that you desire in the "Year:" input box. It will be used the next time "Build Budget" is pressed.
• What about leap year?
  Leap year is determined based on the year that is being used.
• What is planned for the future?
  
  • Check the input for errors.
  • Add the day of the week.
  • Allow data to be saved and used in a cookie.
• How does the math work?
  After in inputs are read and saved for the entire year, the code starts with the last day of the year adding and subtracting the daily dollars. To insure the last day of the year is correct, the math is done twice as if there were two years being done. Output is printed just for the days that have a transacion and for the next day.
• How do I use the output to determine if there is enough money in the account?
  Use a technique similiar to balancing your check book
  • Compare your bank account balance with the predected balance for the same day.
  • Identify the transaction have have and have not taken place.
  • Add or subtract those transactions from the balance.
• What if I an short money?
  Plan to deposit the difference into the account before that money is needed.
• What if I have extra money?
  Enjoy it.
• How do I change the size of the "Budget Input Area"
  Change the Width and Height on the "Input Area Size:" line.