Widmer requires a minimum $15,000 cash balance. If necessary, loans are taken to meet this requirement at a cost of 1% interest per month (paid monthly). If the ending cash balance exceeds the minimum, the excess will be applied to repaying any outstanding loan balance. The cash balance on January 1 is $15,000. Cash receipts other than for loans received for January, February, and March are forecasted as $30,000, $87,000, and $85,000, respectively. Payments other than for loan or interest payments for the same period are planned at $38,500, $85,000, and $65,000, respectively at January 1, there are no outstanding loans. Prepare a cash budget for January, February, and March.

Widmer's Cash Budget for January, February, and March

January:

Opening Balance - $15,000

Cash Receipts - $30,000

Less Payments - $38,500

Difference - $6,500

Loan - $8,500

Closing Balance - $15,000

February:

Opening Balance - $15,000

Cash Receipts - $87,000

Less Payments - $85,000

Less Interest on loan - $85

Difference - $16,915

Loan Repayment - $1,915

Closing Balance - $15,000

March:

Opening Balance - $15,000

Cash Receipts - $85,000

Less Payments - $65,000

Less Interest on loan - $65.85

Difference - $34,934.15

Loan Repayment - $6,585

Closing Balance - $28,349.15

Explanation:

In January, $6,500 cash balance necessitated the taking of a loan of $8,500 in order to bring it to $15,000 required minimum.

In February, 1% interest was paid on $8,500 loan. This gives $85. Part of the loan ($1,915) was repaid to maintain the cash balance at $15,000.

In March, the interest on loan was 1% on $6,585 $ (8,500 - 1,915) or the loan balance. This gives $65.85 as interest paid. The loan balance was also repaid because of the excess cash balance.