Lauryn's wages were not as much as she had budgeted. How can her budget be modified so there will be a positive actual net income?

\begin{tabular}{|l|r|r|}
\hline
\textbf{Monthly Budget} & \textbf{Budgeted Amount} & \textbf{Actual Amount} \\
\hline
\textbf{Income} & & \\
\hline
Wages & \[tex]$1050 & \$[/tex]775 \\
\hline
\textbf{Expenses} & & \\
\hline
Car - gas & \[tex]$250 & \\
Insurance & \$[/tex]150 & \\
Food & \[tex]$120 & \\
Clothes & \$[/tex]300 & \\
College Savings & \[tex]$75 & \\
Recreation & \$[/tex]25 & \\
\hline
\textbf{Net Income} & \$130 & \\
\hline
\end{tabular}



Answer :

Let's go through Lauryn's budget step-by-step to determine how to achieve a positive actual net income.

### Step 1: Calculate Total Budgeted Expenses

First, sum up all the budgeted expenses:
- Car-gas: [tex]$250 - Car insurance: $[/tex]150
- Food: [tex]$120 - Clothes: $[/tex]300
- College Savings: [tex]$75 - Recreation: $[/tex]25

Adding these together:

[tex]\[250 + 150 + 120 + 300 + 75 + 25 = 920\][/tex]

Total budgeted expenses: \[tex]$920 ### Step 2: Calculate Budgeted Net Income Budgeted income (wages): \$[/tex]1050

Net income = Budgeted income - Budgeted expenses
[tex]\[ Net\; income = 1050 - 920 = 130 \][/tex]

Budgeted net income: \[tex]$130 ### Step 3: Calculate Actual Expenses Since the actual expenses are not specified individually, we'll use the same total as the budgeted expenses (\$[/tex]920).

Actual total expenses: \[tex]$920 ### Step 4: Calculate Actual Net Income with Actual Wages Given actual wages: \$[/tex]775

Net income = Actual income - Actual expenses
[tex]\[ Net\; income = 775 - 920 = -145 \][/tex]

Actual net income: [tex]\(-\$145\)[/tex] (This is the shortfall.)

### Step 5: Determine the Adjustment Needed

To achieve a positive net income, Lauryn needs at least a net income of \[tex]$0. Therefore, she needs to cover the shortfall of \(-\$[/tex]145\) to break even, and ideally more to have a positive net income.

Required adjustment:
[tex]\[ Adjustment\; needed = 920 - 775 = 145 \][/tex]

Lauryn needs to either increase her actual income by at least \[tex]$145 or decrease her expenses by at least \$[/tex]145 to achieve non-negative net income.

Steps for modifying the budget:

1. Increase Income: Lauryn could look for additional sources of income or extra work to cover the \[tex]$145 shortfall. 2. Reduce Expenses: Lauryn may need to cut some of her budgeted expenses by at least \$[/tex]145. Here are some suggestions:
- Reduce the car-gas and insurance budget.
- Cut back on clothes or recreation expenses.
- Look for discounts or cheaper alternatives for food.

By making an adjustment, either increasing her income by \[tex]$145 or decreasing her expenses by \$[/tex]145, Lauryn can set her budget to achieve a positive actual net income.