Monitoring Cashflow: Part 2

In July, the new financial year started, and every year, there is a bunch of electronic paperwork associated with this.

One task required at this time of year is rolling over into a new cashflow file. This year, I was determined to find something a little less labour-intensive than my old Excel spreadsheet, so I looked around a bit before I commenced.

The new file is also an Excel spreadsheet, but after having used it for a couple of months now, I am really happy with it.  It is based on a Microsoft template, but I have modified it considerably to show the detail that I need. I can no longer find the source on the Microsoft website, so I have uploaded it to Google Docs here. Please let me know if you have problems viewing the file, as I am a complete novice with Google Docs and may have missed something vital like permissions!

These are the basic features I love in the new template:

• 1 summary sheet and 12 detail worksheets for each month (my old file had 365 days all on one worksheet)
• separate section on each detail worksheet for estimated expenses (forecasting in my old file required accurate entry of the expenses on the exact date, which was cumbersome and not always available)
• graphical representation of income and expenses on summary worksheet
• no analysis of budget vs actual expenditure (this was a feature in my old worksheet that I rarely used, given our variable and irregular cashflow).

The new template makes it easier to track our cashflow, and anticipate potential shortfalls or surpluses (surplii??).

What tools do you use for home budgeting and cashflow management?