9. Preparing a budget

A cash-flow budgetuses the same format as a cash-flow statement. It is prepared on a monthly basis and it reflects budgeted income and expenses.

In addition to the cash-flow statement, Scott and Mary made a list of budget assumptions, listed for you here:

	Scotts income will increase by 5%, effective January 1. His bonus is generally 10% of his income in the previous year, and he receives it in January.
	Marys raise will be 3%, effective January 1.
	Interest and dividend income will conservatively be the same in 2017 as it was in 2016 and will be received on a monthly basis.
	Mortgage payments will be the same in 2017 as they were in 2016.
	Federal income taxes are estimated at 20%, state income taxes at 6%, and social security taxes at 7.65% of wages, including Scotts bonus.
	Property insurance and property taxes are paid every six months, in June and December. The amount is expected to be the same in 2017 as it was in 2016.
	Mary will contribute $60 per week for the employee portion of their medical insurance.
	Auto insurance is paid at the end of each calendar quarter and should not be more than it was in 2016.
	Scott and Mary would like to purchase a new car in the next few years and will put $500 a month away specifically for that purpose.
	Scott and Mary dont expect the amount of variable expenses to change in 2017 except that they would like to double their charitable contributions.
	Gift purchases are made mostly around the holidays, so Scott and Mary are planning to pay half of the gift expense in December and half in January when the credit card bill comes in.
	Water and sewer is billed quarterly, in January, April, July, and October. The cost of heat should be spread over six months from November to April.
	All other variable expenses can be spread evenly every month at 2016 amounts.

Use the information from their cash-flow statement (listed in the first column of the following annual budget) and their budget assumptions to fill in the missing amounts for the first six months of Scott and Marys monthly budget for 2017. (Note: Be sure to fill in every blank space with a value. Round each answer to the nearest dollar.)

Annual Budget	Cash-Flow Statement	2017
Name: Scott and Mary Smith
	2016	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.
INCOME
Scotts salary	57,000	4,988	4,988	4,988
Marys salary	51,300	4,403	4,403	4,403
Scotts Bonus	5,000		0	0
Interest and dividends	150	13	13	13
Total Income	$113,450		$9,404	$9,404
EXPENDITURES
Fixed Expenses
Mortgage	14,016	1,168	1,168	1,168
Scotts federal income taxes	12,400		998	998
Scotts state income taxes	3,720		299	299
Scotts social security taxes	4,743		382	382
Marys federal income taxes	10,260	881	881	881
Marys state income taxes	3,078	264	264	264
Marys social security taxes	3,924	337	337	337
Property taxes	4,500	0	0	0
Property insurance	1,200	0	0	0
Medical insurance	2,400	240	240	240
Automobile insurance and registration	700	0	0
Savings for auto purchase		500	500	500
Total Fixed Expenses	$60,941		$5,069
Variable Expenses
Food	1,620	135	135	135
Entertainment	3,000	250	250	250
Dining out	4,700	392	392	392
Electric	350	29	29	29
Water and sewer	800		0	0
Heat	1,250	208	208	208
Cable TV	3,000	250	250250	250
Telephone	600	50	50	50
Cell phone	900	75	75	75
Gifts	2,000
Personal care	600	50	50	50
Medical expenses	3,700	308	308	308
Vehicle gas and maintenance	2,530	211	211	211
Charitable contributions	1,500	250	250	250
Vacation
Total Variable Expenses	$26,550		$2,208	$2,208
Total Expenses	$87,491		$7,277	$7,452
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)	$25,959		$2,127	$1,952

Scott and Mary have an emergency fund of $40,000. They would like to start saving for retirement, but they have not signed up for their companies 401(k) plans. Neither company matches 401(k) contributions.

What do you suggest for Scott and Mary based on their goals and the budget that they have put together?

The $40,000 that the Smiths have saved for an emergency is three months of expenses. They have not, however, taken advantage of the employer 401(k) plans that are available to them. If an employer does not match contributions, it is advantageous to contribute to a company-sponsored retirement savings plan because the contributions to the plan are invested with earnings. If the Smiths invest part of their surplus in their 401(k) plans, they will save the designated amount plus another of that amount because of the tax savings.