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| requirements = console, monitor or television, cassette recorder or disk drive and controller, Extended BASIC cartridge.
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Budget Master is designed for TI users who want to maintain a budget but do not have a printer for printouts. It is very well done and extremely easy to use. Included with the software is a file box containing preprinted index cards that the purchaser may use to record the data from the screen. The program was designed by Don W. Strickland.
This review is based on the cassette version.
==Performance==
I was impressed with this program from the moment the title screen came into view. Unlike most such programs, Budget Master does not have a "step through" menu. In other words, the user is not faced with a menu screen that, after a function is chosen, results in the appearance of another menu screen. The 11 one word commands are listed in four rows at the bottom of the screen. The user chooses the command by moving an arrow-shaped cursor using the arrow keys. After positioning it in front of the desired command, the enter key is pressed and the function is initiated.
All functions are executed via the following commands, which remain on the screen most of the time:
Actual: for inputting data
Budget: for inputting budgeted amounts
Category: used to name categories (using up to 8 letters)
Month: used to select the month you want displayed
Page: allows the user to "page" through a month's data
Annual: displays annual totals for each category
Average: displays averages of expenses or incomes for a selected range of months
Duplicate: allows the user to copy the budget items. and data into all months (a real time saver)
CALC: acts as an adding machine
READCS: reads from cassette
SAVECS: writes to cassette
Budget Master allows the user to create up to 30 budget categories and up to 10 income categories. Each month is divided into four pages. Page l is for income items while the remaining pages are for budget input.
Once the budget is set up, input and
updating are very easy. In fact, the
most time-consuming parts of this
program are the save-read functions.
It takes 8-9 minutes to save or read
regardless of how much data you've
inputted. Although the manual that
comes with this program suggests that
you save data frequently as a matter
of routine, this seems to be impractical
in view of the length of time it takes
to do so. After entering the save or
read modes, the program will ask you
to verify that you want to execute the
function before activating the read-
save routines. When a read or save
routine is completed, the program lets
you know via a sounding of distinctive
tones.
Other things I like about this program
include the ease with which one
can correct errors, the easy to read
screen and, in general, the attention to
detail that is evident in such small
things as a red warning indicator,
actually a colored square, that
appears next to any expense item that
exceeds the amount budgeted for it.
The program designer deserves a pat
on the back for including the Duplicate
command, which can save users a lot
of time when setting up a budget.
The user can make corrections or
update amounts simply by typing over
the figure already entered.
Ease of Use: This is one of the easiest
to use home budgeting programs
that I've seen. The command structure
is similar to the structure used in
the user read it thoroughly as it takes
him step-by-step through the program.
It also has some excellent
advice about budgeting in general
which could benefit anyone. 1he program
itself seems to be foolproof and
bug-proof. It's possible to overwrite a
file by accident but only if you ignore
the warnings about saving data before
moving on to another program
segment.
Ease of Use: This is not a simple
program to use. You must come to
grips with a number of issues bAfore
seriously getting down to the business
of budgeting. You must decide how to
organize budget categories so that
they make sense to you, and then you
must be scrupulous in entering all
your income and expenses (at least
those having to do with your checking
account) so that an accurate picture of
your financial condition can emerge.
In short, you must be thoughtful in
using this program.
Documentation: Home Budget
comes with a lengthy manual printed
on a dot matrix printer on 8½- x 11-inch
paper. It is single-spaced. There is
neither an index nor a table of contents.
However, it is not organized to
be a reference document. It is
designed as a tutorial to take the new
user through the program, from
beginning to end. While I would fault
the format, it is apparent from reading
it that the writer has a genuine interest
in conveying his thoughts about how to
use Home Budget to the reader. It does
the job, too.
Value: This program is for those
who are serious about developing a
home budget and record of expenses.
It generates an array of printouts that
the conscientious user can study to his
heart's content in an effort to gain control
over his finances.
'''— JK'''
