# Funding and cash-timing worksheet

Use the actual offer. Keep unknown amounts blank and mark them unconfirmed. An unknown expense is not zero. Do not add benefits from different programs or convert currencies without recording an explicit exchange-rate assumption.

## Compare the offer

| Item | Confirmed amount or arrangement | Currency | Evidence and date |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cash award or wages | | | |
| Housing you must pay | | | |
| Meals you must pay | | | |
| Travel you must pay | | | |
| Local transport | | | |
| Insurance or required fees | | | |
| Continuing costs at home | | | |
| Other costs or deductions | | | |

For each support item, distinguish direct provision, advance, reimbursement, self-payment and an unconfirmed arrangement. A refundable deposit affects upfront cash even if you expect to recover it; do not automatically treat it as a final expense.

## Put payments on their actual dates

| Date due or received | Event | Cash in | Cash out | Confirmed or estimated? | Running balance |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Starting point | Available cash | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |

Process rows in date order. The lowest balance identifies the modeled funding gap. A stipend paid later does not cover an earlier deposit unless you have another usable source of cash.

## Ask before committing

Which costs require prior approval?

When does the first payment actually become available?

What conditions affect later installments?

Is housing guaranteed, and for which dates?

What happens if the program dates change?

Which remaining unknown could change your decision?

## Original worked example

All numbers in this example are fictional, not a named program's offer. A pays $8,000; the student pays $4,000 housing, $700 travel, $1,200 meals and $300 transport. Remaining cash before taxes and other costs is $1,800. B pays $5,500 and provides housing and travel directly; meals and transport still cost $1,500. Remaining cash is $4,000. B leaves $2,200 more despite a smaller cash stipend.

Separately, $500 starting cash cannot cover a $1,200 deposit, $450 travel and $350 initial living expenses before payment. The upfront shortfall is $1,500. Do not mix this timing example with the final-cost comparison.

Read the full explanation: https://internshipdeadlines.com/guides/funded-research-programs-cost-comparison