Total expenditure

Total expenditure - financial phenomena defined as funds outlay, which may occur in the form of (Kahn A. 2002, p. 39):

• cash turnover derived from checkout,
• cashless turnover from bank account.

Expenditures might be understood as the use of own funds for materials or products purchase as well as the payment for usage for service of other companies. It should be remembered, that not all of the expenditures make a cost for enterprise i.e. loan repayment. Nevertheless, each cost entail expenditure (Kahn A. 2002, p. 39).

Expenditures classification

The expenditures might be divided into (Busatto L.M., 2011, p. 7-8):

• expenditures which not comprise costs - expenditures are not connected with defray of commitment which base forms legal regulation as well as financial or lending activities.
• expenditures which comprise costs - expenditures destined for defray of commitment arisen via machines and devices serving for production purchase, which during its wear pose a cost.

According to expenditures which comprise costs, we can distinguish following situations in view of time criterion (Shah A. 2005, p. 39):

• expenditure transpire before cost - i.e. materials for production purchase,
• expenditure transpire after cost - i.e. payment for materials raddled in production,
• expenditure at the same time as cost - i.e. salaries payment.

Expenditures and cash flow

The next division of expenditures relies on calculation of cash flow. In this group we can distinguish (National Council of Educational Research and Training 2013, p. 247):

• operational expenditures - i.e. salaries,
• financial expenditures - i.e. interest rate from bank loan,
• capital expenditures - i.e. machines purchase.

Examples of Total expenditure

• Expenditures for Goods and Services: This is one of the most common forms of total expenditure and involves the purchase of products and services in order to meet the needs of a business or organization. Examples include buying office supplies, hiring employees, and purchasing equipment or materials.
• Capital Expenditures: Capital expenditures are funds spent on long-term investments in a business. Examples include purchasing property, buildings, or machinery.
• Operating Expenses: Operating expenses are funds used to cover day-to-day costs of running a business. Examples include renting office space, paying utility bills, and maintaining inventory.
• Debt Service: Debt service is the money paid to service a loan or other debt obligation. Examples include interest payments and loan principal payments.

Advantages of Total expenditure

Total expenditure is the outlay of funds for a variety of purposes, which may come in the form of cash payments, investments, purchases, or other transactions. Below are some of the advantages of total expenditure:

• Total expenditure can serve as an indicator of a company's overall financial health. By tracking the amount of money spent over time, companies can monitor their financial progress and make necessary adjustments to their spending habits accordingly.
• Total expenditure can be used to assess the efficiency of a company's operations. Companies can compare their total spending to the amount of revenue they generate to determine whether they are achieving the desired level of efficiency.
• Total expenditure can be used as a tool for budgeting and planning. Companies can use their total expenditure to forecast future expenses and allocate resources accordingly.
• Total expenditure can be used to measure the performance of an organization. Companies can compare their total spending to the expected results to determine whether they are getting the desired return on their investments.

Limitations of Total expenditure

Total expenditure is the outlay of funds by an entity in order to meet its financial obligations and needs. However, there are certain limitations to total expenditure that need to be considered. These limitations are:

• The availability of resources: Total expenditure cannot exceed the available funds, so entities must ensure that they are able to cover the expenditure they plan to make.
• The cost-effectiveness of expenditure: Entities must consider the cost-effectiveness of their expenditure, ensuring that they are making the most of their resources and not incurring unnecessary costs.
• The taxation implications of expenditure: Entities must consider the taxation implications of their expenditure, ensuring that they are able to meet their taxation obligations.
• The legal implications of expenditure: Entities must consider the legal implications of their expenditure, ensuring that they are in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
• The impact of inflation: Entities must consider the impact of inflation on their expenditure, ensuring that their funds are able to keep up with the changing costs of goods and services.

Other approaches related to Total expenditure

Total expenditure is a measure of the total outlay of funds made by a particular entity. Other approaches related to total expenditure include:

• Cash Flow Analysis - This is the evaluation of the outflow and inflow of funds from a given entity, which helps to determine the net cash position.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis - This is a method used to identify and evaluate the costs and benefits associated with particular activities.
• Financial Ratios - These are measures used to compare different elements of financial statements, such as the debt-to-equity ratio or liquidity ratios.
• Risk Analysis - This involves assessing the potential risks associated with certain activities or investments.

In summary, total expenditure is a measure of the total outlay of funds and there are several other approaches that can be used to analyze and understand the spending of an entity. These include cash flow analysis, cost-benefit analysis, financial ratios, and risk analysis.

Total expenditure — recommended articles

Cash Budget — Committed cost — Borrowing capacity — Capital gearing — Burn Rate — Cash control — Non-operating expense — Activity ratios — Future cash flow

References

• Bai A. (2015). The Impact of Economic Parameters on Government Total Expenditure in 5 Richest Countries, Australian Journal of Masic and Applied Sciences, 9(6) Special, Australia.
• Busatto L. M. (2011). The quality of public expenditure and its influence on economic growth: evidences from the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Minerva Program, Washington, p. 7-8.
• Kahn A. (2002). Budget Theory in the Public Sector, Quorum Books, Westport, Connecticut, p. 39.
• National Council of Educational Research and Training (2013). Accountancy: Company Accounts and Analysis of Financial Statements, Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, p. 247.
• Pattanayak S. (2016). Expenditure Control: Key Features, Stages, and Actors, International Monetary Fund, Washington.
• Potter B.H. (2000). Guidelines for Public Expenditure Management, International Monetary Fund, Washington.
• Schick A. (1999). A Contemporary Approach to Public Expenditure Management, World Bank Institute, Washington.
• Shah A. (2005). Public Expenditure Analysis, The World Bank, Washington, p. 39.

Author: Justyna Zalewska