UNDERSTANDING HOUSEHOLD CASH FLOW AND DEVELOPING A PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

Module 1 Resources:

• Use Words References Tool or making APA formatted in-text citations and an APA formatted references list
• Put a cover page on the assignments as directed. A model assignment including a cover page can be found in the Example Assignment

• The importance of Cash Flow Management 
  https://financialhighway.com/the-importance-of-cash-flow-management/

• How to Create a Personal Cash Flow Statement
  http://cashmoneylife.com/how-to-create-a-personal-cash-flow-statement/

• Cash Flow Statement Template and Personal Budget Template (Both are in the same Excel Workbook titled “CashFlow-BudgetTemplate”)
• Creating a Personal Financial Statement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sQegW-iuHw

Module 1 Required Reading

Understanding the condition of your personal finances, and understanding the amount of money you have coming in and where it is being spent is a key initial step to managing personal finances. In this case assignment you will learn key terms and the basic process of developing two Excel spreadsheets that will help you understand your financial condition. Those two spreadsheets are 1. A Personal Cash Flow Statement, and 2. A Personal/Household Budget.

A personal cash flow statement and a personal/household budget are very similar and can be the same document, with the same data, if you are already doing a good job of managing your money. A personal cash flow statement is developed to identify sources of personal take-home income and identify all expenses (a look at today’s information), and a personal/household budget is a financial plan for handling the inflow and outflow of money identified in the personal cash flow statement.

You will find that the two Excel worksheets are exactly the same. The Personal Cash flow Statement is for your actual data, and the Personal/Household Budget is for developing a plan to better manage your money.

Before you begin the reading assignment (discussed in the Case Assignment on the next page) open the “CashFlow-BudgetTemplate” Excel file (accessed through the link in the resources area above, and print the “CashFlowStatement” worksheet so that you can refer to it as you complete the reading assignments.

Module 1 – Case

UNDERSTANDING HOUSEHOLD CASH FLOW AND DEVELOPING A PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

Case Assignment

1. Begin Module 1 by first viewing and printing the CashFlow-BudgetTemplate, which can be accessed through the link in your Background Resources section. It will be helpful for you to print the Cash Flow Statement Template page so that you can refer to it while you read the two articles in step 2.
2. After viewing/printing the CashFlow-BudgetTemplate, follow the links in the Module 1 Resources section, read, study, and take notes on The Importance of Cash Flow Management, and read, study, and take notes on How to Create a Personal Cash Flow Statement. These two articles can be accessed through the links in the Module 1 Background Resources section.
3. After completing steps 1 and 2, in a three- to four-page paper (including the cover page and references list) Define and discuss the following:
   • The purpose of a Personal Cash Flow Statement
   • The purpose of a Personal/Household Budget
   • The difference(s) between a Personal Cash Flow Statement and a Personal/Household Budget in terms of the data, and in terms of the use of the data (i.e., where does the data come from, and what is the data used for?)
   • Challenges you may face developing the cash flow estimate
   • Describe an emergency fund, its use, how it is built
   • The following terms:
     1. Take-Home Income
     2. Monthly Living Expenses
     3. Secured Debts
     4. Unsecured Debt
     5. Disposable Income
     6. Disposable income as a percent of total income

Assignment Expectations

• Complete the three- to four-page essay (including a cover page and references) using 12 pt. Times New Roman font throughout the entire document.

• Please start your assignment with a cover page. Your cover page must be a separate page that includes your name, the name of the course, the name of the assignment, and the date – all in 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Refer to the example assignment. The link to the example assignment is in the Module 1 Background Resources section. Do not use a cover page template.

• APA formatted in-text citations, and an APA formatted References list are required. Refer to the instructions for Word’s References Tool. The link to the instructions are in the Module 1 Background Resources section.

• When you have completed the case assignment(s) upload your work to this Module’s Case dropbox.