ANALYZE YOUR CASH FLOW

If a review of your net worth suggests something needs to be done to improve your financial situation, the best way to understand the problem is to compare what you earn to what you spend. This is called a cash flow analysis. It gets to the basic question of how much of your income is spent on debt service, consumption, and savings. It also answers the question of how much more you are spending than you have coming in—or vice versa. 

It is not easy to get the necessary information to do a good cash flow analysis. Start with your checkbook, credit card statements, and tax records. The most difficult information to get will be what you spend on cash purchases. The best approach is to keep a journal for a couple of weeks to get a pattern and then estimate the amounts factoring in your personal experience. Income information should be available from your tax records. 

Rent or mortgage payments Repairs and maintenance Homeowner s insurance 

Auto loan or lease payments Repairs and maintenance Gas, oil, and license Auto insurance Public transportation 

Laundry and dry cleaning Grooming and personal care Household supplies Professional fees Family allowances Family gifts 

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Though cash flow does not have a direct effect on a company s revenues or expenses, the concept must be considered. If the project involves procurement costs, they often must be paid upon delivery of the equipment - yet cash recovery could take many months or even years. Three things about any project can affect a firm s available cash. First, cash is used at the time of purchase. Second, it takes time to realize financial returns from the project, through either enhanced revenues or decreased expenses. Finally, depreciation expense is calculated at a much slower rate than the cash was spent. As a result of the investment, a company could find itself cash-poor. Even though cash flow does not directly affect revenues and expenses, it may be necessary to consider when analyzing your project. 

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