Using your computer to Keep up with your budget
To be a good steward of the money you have in your ministry budget, you should keep good records. You may have a small budget or a budget that is in the thousands, but we all need to keep records of our spending. Here's a simple idea using a program like Microsoft Money to keep up with your yearly spending.
First, take a look at your budget. When I submit my yearly budget I have a fairly itemized budget. There are some main headings like like Curriculum or Spiritual development with subheadings underneath with specifics like Sunday morning Bible class, VBS or Summer Camp. If you have a similar budgeting system, than this will be easier.
Next, start up a new account in your money program. Label it the budget year. Now, for your beginning balance, put in your yearly budget.
Create spending categories in your program for each of your major budget sections and sub categories for each subheading in your budget.
Now, when ever you spend some of your budget, enter the specifics of the spending under the correct heading and subheading and file your receipt in a file folder labeled for the current budget year. Now you'll always know how much you have spent of your budget, and how much is left. Also, with most programs, you can print out a graph on where current spending.
BACK UP! BACK UP! BACK UP YOUR DATA! If you've ever lost all your stuff, you know you need to back up your data!