Duplicate and compare scenarios

Duplicating lets you preserve a complete set of assumptions before testing a change. It is useful for decisions such as a new job, different housing cost, one-income period, major purchase, or lower-income contingency.

The copy is independent of the source, so experimenting with it does not overwrite the original scenario.

1. 1

   Choose Duplicate

   Use the Duplicate action on a scenario card or in the Scenario Workspace.

2. 2

   Open the copy

   The application creates a scenario named with “Copy” and opens its workspace.

3. 3

   Confirm the copied assumptions

   Income, Bills, Living Costs, one-time events, starting cash, projection length, description, and color are copied into new independent records.

Rename the copy for the decision it represents, then adjust only the assumptions that differ. You might replace an income, change a housing Bill, add a temporary Living Cost, change the starting cash, or schedule a one-time event.

Edits to the copy do not change the original, and later edits to the original do not update the copy automatically.

The Compare Scenarios workspace lets you select up to four scenarios. The baseline is selected initially when available, and selecting at least two produces the most useful side-by-side view.

• Projected cash balance across the calendar timeline
• Projection length
• Projected ending cash
• Total net change over the scenario
• Lowest projected balance
• The first projected month below zero, when one exists

A difference in ending cash or net change comes from the income, Bills, Living Costs, one-time events, starting cash, dates, and projection length inside each scenario. Review the monthly details in each scenario to understand which inflow or outflow produced a gap.

Do not look only at the final balance. A scenario can finish in a workable position while passing through a lower or negative balance along the way.

• Change one major assumption at a time when you want to isolate its effect.
• Use matching starting cash and projection lengths when the goal is a direct comparison.
• Give each scenario a specific name that states the decision or assumption.
• Check start and end dates before attributing a difference to the amount alone.
• Compare a cautious case as well as the outcome you hope to achieve.