Consumables v's Stationery? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Web Development] >> Search Engine Optimization and Web Business



Message

Nicole -> Consumables v's Stationery? (9/29/2007 5:50:53)

I'm re-doing my books into a much easier to understand way - the spreadsheet that I've been using for about the last 4 years is a generic one given to me by my Business School Tutor, it has many categories that just aren't applicable to web design, so I'm modifying it, deleting things and joining categories together where they can be.

I had a category in my Cashflow called "Consumables" and another one called "Stationery & Office Supplies", and I know I've added say "ink cartridges" one time as a consumable and another time as an office supply or stationery. In other words these two categories in my opinion should be one and the same.

It's probably not that important, but is there a difference? I've searched definitions today and have read that consumables are things that are used up (obviously), and stationery are to do with "writing". I didn't know that - is there a difference? An important difference?



womble -> RE: Consumables v's Stationery? (9/29/2007 6:39:45)

I was treasurer of a local group for around four years, and to start off with I'd got categories for absolutely everything - "administration", "stationary", "IT supplies", "consumables" - but it got far to confusing as to what went into which category, and like you I'd put something in one category one month, and a different one the next. I ended up collapsing them all in to one category "consumables". IT supplies like ink cartridges, discs, etc. went in there as well, unless it was hardware, and that went in "IT". Our accountant was happy with that.

By the way, do you find using a spreadsheet easy to use? I started off with an Excel spreadsheet, but it was a PITA if ever I had to add a new category, or work out changes in the budget because I'd have to redo a lot of the calculations.

Have you looked at TurboCASH? Free and open source (though you can also buy it on CD rather than downloading it). It's compatible with all the major bookkeeping software like Quickbooks and Sage, and it's got some nice features.



Nicole -> RE: Consumables v's Stationery? (9/29/2007 6:53:19)

Thanks Womble, I'll take a look at TurboCash a bit later.

I have to admit I'm a bit of a records freak, I keep everything I've ever done with my business and find Excel most useful for this.

As mentioned I've been using the same spreadsheet for about 4 years and only now have decided to delete some things, so only now have I realised that the calculations change. Actually I lie, they only changed and I had to change them back because I decided to sort things alphabetically once I'd already done the formulas. I find excel pretty good actually because if you insert a row or column, it adjusts the formula or calcs for you.

The thing that was annoying me was that I'd somehow, some time in the past, added the odd figure independently rather than letting a formula do it's thing, this threw everything out. The other thing that was annoying me was that I wasn't sure which items in my expenditure attracted GST (Goods & Services Tax), similar to your VAT, that I could claim.




Page: [1]

Valid CSS!




Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI
0.046875