Budget report question...

[Wm]

Thu, 1 Jan 2015 11:47:38 <1420141658629-4674785.post at n4.nabble.com> 
Steve <butterandsalt at gmail.com>

>Given the number of recent posts re budgeting, it got me thinking, is there a
>better way of doing what I've been doing (that works but is rather a pain)
>and what I want/need?  I'm always for easier...
>
>I'm using Windows 8.1, GnuCash 2.6.5
>
>1. The only expense categories I care about for budgeting, are (a) rent
>(locations I use in various parts of the country); and (b) dining expense.
>
>2. I use Gnucash's budget report to display a report, 6 weeks at a time,
>that shows on a weekly basis, (a) the amount of my budget for each category;
>(b) the amount I've currently spent for that week; and (c) the
>balance--positive or negative--that is left for that week.
>
>3. I also use Gnucash's budget report to display a bar graph of #2.
>
>All the above is OK and "works" (other than manually having to change the
>defined 6 week time period, from time to time).
>
>What I really want, in addition to the above, is a projection of my cash
>flow in my principal checking account, given the budgeted amounts.
>
>Specifically:
>
>1. I have one main checking account that 99% of the two expense categories
>come out of.
>
>2. So I've been entering in that checking account, on a weekly basis, six
>weeks IN ADVANCE, a separate line debit for each week for my projected
>budgeted amount for "rent"; and a separate line debit for each week for my
>projected budgeted amount for "dining" (these numbers correspond to what
>I've put in GnuCash's Budget report).  From time to time during the current
>week, I adjust these forward looking projections.  That enables me to look
>at my principal checking account, and see how the projected budgeted
>expenses are going to impact my projected checking account balance, eg:
>
>12/31/14  Current balance...                                      $1000.00
>1/3/15      Weekly dining budget             -$100.00           900.00
>1/3/15      Weekly rent budget                -$200.00           700.00
>1/10/15    Weekly rent budget                -$300.00           400.00
>1/10/15    Weekly dining budget              -$150.00           250.00
>
>etc.
>
>I'm not seeing anything in the budget report options, that allows me to see
>what impact my budgeted amounts, have on a particular account for
>forecasting future available cash flow.
>
>Am I missing something?  Thanks...

I use Scheduled Transactions in a similar way rather than gnc's 
budgeting.

So as well as more obvious scheduled transactions like monthly water 
utility payment I also (based on past expenditure) have weekly or 
monthly scheduled transactions that I adjust as actual expenditure is 
made.

When I start up gnc I have a number of reports set up on a home page 
(other apps call it a dashboard) where I have all future transactions 
for current, savings, CC, cash, etc a/c's as well as list of relevant 
balances.

I wouldn't use the budgeting at all in your situation but find the right 
forecasting that suited me.

-- 
Wm...