Understanding the “Total Money Spent” and “Budget Variance” Cards

Understanding the “Total Money Spent” and “Budget Variance” Cards

Introduction

At the top of your report, you’ll see high-level cards that summarize performance without digging into details.

What the Cards Show

  • Total Money Spent: Sum of all Completed expenses within the selected filters.

  • Budget Variance: Budget – Total Spend (positive = under budget; negative = over budget).

Why These Cards Matter

  1. Speed: Instant read on financial health.

  2. Clarity: Aligns everyone on the same headline numbers.

  3. Focus: Helps you decide where to drill down next.

How to Use the Cards

  1. Check Period Filters

    • Confirm the date range and project filters are correct.

  2. Scan the Headline Numbers

    • Note if Variance is trending down (risk) or stable.

  3. Click to Drill

    • Open details on stages, vendors, or items causing variance.

Notes & Tips

  • Set currency correctly to match your accounting outputs.

  • Pair the cards with a trend chart to visualize burn over time.

FAQ

Q: Why doesn’t Total Money Spent match my bank statement?
A: Bank statements reflect cash movement; reports reflect approved/completed expenses within your filters.

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