Project Budget vs Actual Tracker
Control a project's spend with forecasts.
The Open buttons send the prompt text as currently shown below to that site only when you click. Fill in the placeholders first.
Control a project's spend with forecasts. Project and budget: [PROJECT_AND_BUDGET]. Cost categories and phases: [CATEGORIES_AND_PHASES]. Spreadsheet app: [SPREADSHEET_APP]. Reporting rhythm: [REPORTING_RHYTHM]. Build the tracker using this worked example. Category: Design. Budget 20,000. Actual to date 12,500. Committed (ordered, not yet invoiced) 3,000. Percent complete (estimate) 70 percent. Spent plus committed = 15,500 (77.5 percent of budget). Earned value = 70 percent x 20,000 = 14,000. Cost variance = earned value minus actual = 14,000 - 12,500 = +1,500 (under budget). Forecast at completion = actual / percent complete = 12,500 / 0.70 = 17,857, so a forecast saving of 2,143. Status rule: green if forecast within budget; amber if forecast is 0 to 10 percent over; red if more. Design the sheet: budget by category and phase; actual cost log; commitments log; percent-complete input; formulas for variance, forecast, and status; a summary with charts (budget versus actual versus forecast); a change log for budget changes with approval; a monthly report template; and checks (actuals tie to accounting, commitments reconciled when invoiced). Include sample data and expected results.
Fill in before use
Optional: type your details and the prompt above updates. Nothing is saved or sent.
Replace each bracketed placeholder with your own details, then paste into Any AI or another assistant.