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What would be the short English term for "money I want to spend in the future"? I ask because I've created a simple app for personal finances, where a user can add all the predicted spendings. Right now I call them "Predictions". I'm not sure if it's the right term. Someone suggested me "Expected Outgoings" or "Future Expenditures" but I would like something short and self-describing.

For example:

Fun 300 Lunch 200 Groceries 10

Each item from this list is a prediction.

zuzuleinen
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3 Answers3

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You can use budget.

budget
noun - an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.
synonyms - financial plan, forecast; accounts, statement
"your budget for the week"

If in your app, budget has already been used for the sum of all predictions, you might call each estimated expense item in the budget: an estimated expense.

Damkerng T.
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  • Well, in my case the budget will be the sum of all predictions, and not a single prediction. – zuzuleinen Dec 14 '13 at 09:05
  • The question is specifically only about future spends and budget does not work. – Gurpreet K Sekhon Dec 14 '13 at 09:06
  • I've edited my question with some examples to better illustrate as I'm not allow to add link to my app in a question. – zuzuleinen Dec 14 '13 at 09:07
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    @PreetieSekhon That is strange, especially when one synonym of budget is estimated expenses. – Damkerng T. Dec 14 '13 at 09:15
  • @PreetieSekhon-What you describe is really the budgeted amount for each expense category. You might call it Planned Expenditures or Budget Allocation or Budget Amount but budget is the proper term. I.e., you can say things like, "What's our budget for food?" which means how much are we allowed to spend before going over our budget. – Jim Dec 14 '13 at 09:27
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    @zuzuleinen If in your app, budget has already been used for the sum of all predictions, you might call each estimated expense item, an estimated expense. – Damkerng T. Dec 14 '13 at 09:27
  • @DamkerngT. that is exactly what I meant.When the entire application is about 'budgeting', either the terms 'allocated budget' should be used. Alternatives could be projected spends or estimated expenses.A stand-alone 'budget' does not work.As far as synonyms go, the precise word used does depend on the usage and context.One size does not fit all! – Gurpreet K Sekhon Dec 14 '13 at 10:43
  • @DamkerngT. So I must use 2 words? Doesn't exist a single word synonym? – zuzuleinen Dec 14 '13 at 10:51
  • If the context is clear, I believe you can use just either estimated or expense. I mean if it is clear to the user that every item on the screen is an expense, then the word Estimated would be sufficient. On the other hand, if it is clear that every item on the screen is an estimated one, then the word Expense (or Expenses, depending on where you place it) should be enough. – Damkerng T. Dec 14 '13 at 11:10
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These are you anticipated expenses. If you need something shorter, perhaps anticipations. If it's all desirable, expensive stuff, maybe aspirations. (Hopes and dreams seems a bit too poetic.)

bib
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How about allotment? It is not as precise as Damkerng's estimated expense but it is less wordy. In making a budget you allot portions of money to each item. I have always considered the word to reference the future. NOAD seems to disagree:

allot: give or apportion (something) to someone as a share or task

That definition seems more focused on present distribution than arrangement for the future. I sadly do not have access to higher-end dictionaries. I still think allotment would fit the job but do commenters have any insight on the meaning of allot?

Unrelated
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