Difference between Budget Planner Display and Budget Report

Ken45140

Using Windows 10 and 2020Q, Version 23.14. I created a new 2020 Budget in the Planning Window, and have my Categories set up to my satisfaction. On the Planning Screen, the Budget Expenses for Jan show as $7397, and the Actual Expenses for Jan show as $6848.

I click Reports > Current Budget and see, in the Report box, Budget Expenses = $6919, and Actual Expenses = $6136. Why are the values in the Report not what shows in the Budget Planning Screen? What basic fact about the calculations am I missing?

I have other budget report questions, but figure that I need to understand this basic difference before asking for help on other report mysteries, er, questions.

Thanks for your help.
Ken

Sherlock

First, verify you are not including reminders in the budget when you are making the comparison as the report may not include reminders: open the budget, uncheck Budget Actions > View options >  Include reminders

If the issue persists, I suggest you compare the filters being applied to the budget and the budget report: open the report and press Alt + C

Scooterlam

On the budget side of the equation, in your Current Budget report, if you select "monthly" for the report "date range", you should see your correct budget figures for January. 

When selecting YTD (Quicken's default?)  for example, Quicken prorates the budget figure for the current month.    If you take  $6919.xx/29*31, you get 7397.xx

Try selecting Month, Quarter, or Year in your "date range" and see if that fixes things on the budget side..


In addition to the advice @Sherlock offers, check to see if perhaps a loan is missing from the Current Budget report - For some reason, I had an auto loan missing from the Accounts tab.   I added that account back in and it fixed my actual expense problem.

Sherlock

First, verify you are not including reminders in the budget when you are making the comparison as the report may not include reminders: open the budget, uncheck Budget Actions > View options >  Include reminders

If the issue persists, I suggest you compare the filters being applied to the budget and the budget report: open the report and press Alt + C

Scooterlam

On the budget side of the equation, in your Current Budget report, if you select "monthly" for the report "date range", you should see your correct budget figures for January. 

When selecting YTD (Quicken's default?)  for example, Quicken prorates the budget figure for the current month.    If you take  $6919.xx/29*31, you get 7397.xx

Try selecting Month, Quarter, or Year in your "date range" and see if that fixes things on the budget side..


In addition to the advice @Sherlock offers, check to see if perhaps a loan is missing from the Current Budget report - For some reason, I had an auto loan missing from the Accounts tab.   I added that account back in and it fixed my actual expense problem.

Ken45140

Many thanks @Sherlock AND @Scooterlam. It was a combination of getting rid of all reminders (I have had them listed for years but never used them and never took the time to delete them). Also Year to Date changed to Monthly Date Range gave me an exact match. Not sure what I will do to produce an "accurate" report when there will be two or more months in the 2020 data. As I am wanting to observe budget status before a month is over (including cumulative "Balance"), then I guess the report will be accurate, being "prorated" as @Scooterlam is saying. Many thanks for helping me.
Ken