Big Blue Disk 39/bbd39.zip/CASH.TXT

Text File | 1989-11-15 | 8KB | 198 lines

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|A║ |6Helpware |A║═════════════════════ ^1Cash Tracker |A═════════════════════║ |6Helpware |A║
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^Cby
^CJim Row and Mark McCrocklin


  WHAT CASH TRACKER DOES

     Do you regularly have too much month left at the end of your money? Do you
  find yourself wondering exactly where your paycheck has gone? Cash Tracker can
  help you manage your income more wisely by helping you see exactly where your
  hard-earned dollars go every month.

     With your input of your sources of income and expenditures, Cash Tracker
  generates a report that refects what percentage of your paycheck is being
  spent on each of your expenditures, and highlights areas of concern.


  THE MAIN MENU

     The Main Menu lists a variety of options you can execute in Cash Tracker:
  Introduction, Print Work Sheets, Load/Create Data Records, Enter Income,
  Enter Expenditures, Analyze Data, Save Data to Disk, Print Data/Report, and
  Exit.


  INTRODUCTION

     The introduction screen is a quick summary of Cash Tracker which gives you
  a brief explanation of the program and its purpose.


  PRINT WORK SHEETS

     This option is very helpful for anyone who does not keep a record of
  how every penny is spent. Each work sheet is a printed version of the
  "amount fields" that Cash Tracker will prompt you for as you enter each
  expenditure and source of income. The work sheets allow you more mobility
  while you gather and sort through your records.


  LOAD/CREATE DATA RECORD

     This option allows you to retrieve previously-saved records or create
  new ones. The screen for loading/creating records is divided into two
  sections : "Name Entry" and "Name Selection."

     The "Name Entry" area is the box field at the top of the screen where you
  can enter a filename of your choice. The "Name Selection" area is the lower
  portion of the screen where a list of files currently on disk is listed.

     If any files already exist, you can use the Down-Arrow key to move the
  cursor to a filename to select it.


  ENTER INCOME

     This option allows you to enter all forms of income that you and your
  spouse receive in a year. The screen for entering income lists six rows
  of types of income: Gross Paycheck, Investments, Social Security
  Received, Trusts, Income Tax Returns, and Other.

     You can select a category by moving a "selection box" up and down the
  screen with the Up- and Down-Arrow keys.

     The selection box contains fields in which you will enter amounts and
  frequencies. The amount fields are for entering the amount you spend or
  receive on a regular basis; the frequency fields are for entering the numbers
  of times you spend or receive that amount within one year. The current monthly
  total which has been calculated appears outside the box selector to the right.

     The amount multiplied by the frequency should equal the yearly amount.
  For example:

        If your annual gross paycheck is $20,000.00,
        you would enter "20,000.00" under the amount
        and "1" under the frequency.

        If you are paid $833.33 twice a month, you would
        enter "833.33" under amount and "24" under frequency.

     To quickly move from one field to another with a single keystroke, use
  the <TAB>, <SHIFT><TAB>, <CTRL><RIGHT-ARROW> and <CTRL><LEFT-ARROW> keys.


  ENTER EXPENDITURES

     The Enter Expenditures screen displays a submenu listing many of the
  different categories of liabilities you may have: Long Term Liabilities,
  Taxes, Benefit Plans, Insurance, Transportation, Savings Withheld, Utilities,
  Medical Expenses, Contributions, Household Expenses, and Misc Living Expenses.

     You can choose a category by pressing the arrow keys and then the ENTER
  key. The last line on the screen lists the fields in each category.


  ANALYZE DATA

     The Analyze Data screen displays a menu for selecting the type of
  analysis you are interested in. You can analyze the data currently in
  in memory, or compare the data in memory to data in a different file on
  disk.


  Analyze Current Data

     When analyzing the data currently in memory, a Simplified Cash Flow
  Report is generated and displayed on the screen with a highlight bar
  appearing on the first category of the report. You can select another
  category by moving the highlight bar up and down with the Up- and Down-Arrow
  keys. Selection of a category with the ENTER key will generate a detailed
  report showing percentages of your income vs. expenses.


  The Detailed Report

     The detailed report is comprised of amounts and percentages. The amount
  is the monthly amount from/for you and/or your spouse. The percentage under
  each amount represents the proportion of that amount to the total amount for
  each field. For example:

        If your spouse's gross income is $1000, and your gross income
        is only $100, your spouse's percentage of your joint gross
        income would be 90%, and your percentage 10%.

     The percentage of income spent/received for each field is displayed
  in the far right column.

     If you notice that a field amount is incorrect, you can press <F2> to jump
  directly to the editor and change or update the appropriate amounts and
  frequencies.

     To exit the detailed report, just press the ENTER or <ESC> key.


  Compare Current Data to Another Data Record

     When comparing the current data to another record on disk, a comparative
  report is generated displaying income and expense categories with their
  accumulative totals. The differences between the record in memory and the
  record on disk is calculated and displayed.

     Fields of concern are highlighted in red, and fields showing improvement
  are displayed in green. If you happen to go over budget, the amount remaining
  will flash in red!


  SAVE DATA TO DISK

     The Save Data To Disk screen is designed exactly like the Load/Create
  Data Record screen, with one exception: you are now saving instead of loading
  or creating. A help screen is available by pressing <F1>.


  PRINT DATA REPORT

     This option will generate and print the simplified and the detailed
  reports for the current record in memory. NOTE: It is always a good idea to
  keep a print-out of the report in case of data lost to possible system
  failures  or power outtages.


  EXIT PROGRAM

     This option allows you to exit the program and return to wherever you
  were when you entered Cash Tracker. If you have a record currently in memory,
  you will be prompted to allow you to save the record before you leave the
  program completely.


  PROGRAM EXECUTION

     To run this program from DOS, type CASH and press ENTER.

     Cash Tracker will detect if you are using a monochrome monitor or not, and
  set the colors appropriately. If Cash Tracker fails to detect your monitor
  type, the following options are available:

        "M" - Monochrome
        "C" - Color

  To use one of these options, just add it behind the filename. For example:

        If you are using a monochrome monitor, you should enter "CASH M"
        at the DOS prompt. Cash Tracker will then run in monochrome mode.

        If you are using a color monitor, you should enter "CASH C" at the
        DOS prompt. Cash Tracker will then run in color mode.



FILES USED BY CASH TRACKER:

^F CASH.EXE
^F CASH.BBD