April 2, 1993 -- Version 4 of the Budget Trilogy has been released. It
consists of three program sets; weekly incomes, biweekly incomes and
monthly incomes There are three more documentation files, one for each of
the budget programs These are ASP shareware programs for IBM compatibles,
512K, floppy or hard disk, Dos 3+

The budget system is based on the age-old Envelope budgeting system,
wherein one labeled each envelope with the name of the budget item, such
as 'Mortgage', 'Groceries', 'Electricity', and 'Phone. Each payday the
appropriate amounts were distributed into the envelopes, so that when a
particular bill came due, the money would be in its envelope to pay it.
All the envelopes were usually filed in a shoebox. The system worked fine
but was quite unwieldy as it required having the right change each payday
for each envelope.

The Budget program, however, is smooth and efficient. A Checking Account
becomes the 'shoebox', and individual variables become the envelopes. Each
program consists of three programs. The BUDSETUP program allows one to
change the color schemes of the various displays. The INITBUDG program is
used to set up the budget. Instruction panels guide one in typing in the
first line. They are instantly available at any time on any line. The
program allows creating up to 38 budget accounts, with free choice as to
names of each account, except that 'MISC' is required as the last entry.
Expected income from up to six sources is entered. A savings account is
entered with up to five categories. The INITBUDG program will be used also
to delete or insert an account into a budget. After entering the current
balance of the checking account, the budget set-up is finished.

The BUDGET program is the work-horse program used every payday. In the
first session, the DEPOSIT Menu item is selected. Deposits are entered
that are not included in the balance entered during the ITITBUDG program.
If there are no deposits, '0' is entered in each of the deposit
categories.

The Trial Budget routine begins by which the checking account money is
distributed into the various budget accounts. Nothing is changed during
this procedure until a final OK so experimentation may be done. When
finally done the amounts distributed are transferred to the reserve
accounts.

Next comes the 'Spending' routine where bills are paid.. As the money is
spent, the total checking account balance is updated as well as the Total
Reserve amount. When done the menu appears.

By choosing the 'Arrears' option, a page is displayed showing the arrears
for each account, the time-payment account balances, the total
spent-to-date for each of the non-time-payment accounts, the savings
account status, and the total income received from each source to date.
Another page is then displayed showing the total indebtedness, the total
arrears, a guide to making out the checks, and the minimum balance to
maintain until the next payday to retain the integrity of the budget..
Progress charts of the total indebtedness and the total arrears may then
be displayed.

After the first session, the procedure each payday will be to first bring
the computer records up to date by recording any checks that have been
written between paydays. Deposits are entered, the Trial budget session is
completed, and the bill-paying session is completed.

The primary advantages of this program are: 1) Unlike static budget
programs that merely list a budget, this program is dynamic as one
constantly works within the budget. 2) The complete budget is displayed on
a single page at all times. 3) A thoughtful decision may be made as to the
disposition of the small amounts left over. This is the money that usually
just disappears during the years of operating without a budget, leaving
the old person one will become wondering what happened to all the money
during those earning years. 4) Error-correcting routines at every entry
level. 5) Arrears record keeping, to constantly reveal the budget status.
6) Easy transfer of money between accounts or to/from the savings account.
7) Excellent documentation and service.

Riverside Software, RR3, Box 830, Orrington, ME 04474
207-825-3246

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