What is a budget?

• A. A document used to record planned income and expenditures over a period of time
• B. A list of all possible purchases for the year
• C. A tool to calculate taxes owed
• D. A financial statement of net worth

Answer: (A)

A budget is a plan that outlines how you expect to use your money over a set period, usually a month or a year. It records your expected income and how you intend to allocate that money across expenses, savings, and debt payments. The key idea is to anticipate cash flow so you can live within your means, cover essentials, and work toward financial goals like saving or paying off debt. This forward-looking, organized approach is what makes it the best description: it’s about planning and directing resources over time, not just listing potential purchases, calculating taxes, or stating your current net worth.