---
title: "Budget vs. actual: spotting cost problems early"
course: "PMGT 170 · Get projects done on time"
unit: "Delivering results"
lesson: 28 of 38
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/budget-vs-actual-spotting-cost-problems-early
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Budget vs. actual: spotting cost problems early

Lesson 28 of 38 in **Get projects done on time** (PMGT 170), unit "Delivering results". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Track actual spending against a budget baseline and identify significant variances
- Propose corrective actions when a project is trending over budget, considering resource and schedule trade-offs

## Teaching notes
Use an illustration showing a budget-vs-actual table with variances highlighted in red. The CrossTown pilot has spent $14,200 of its $18,000 budget at week 6, with coordination hours running over estimate. Ask the student to update the budget tracker, identify the overrun, and propose one corrective action.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 28 complete: Budget vs. actual: spotting cost problems early."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Scope creep" (lesson 29 of 38), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/scope-creep.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Is your project on track?
Next lesson: Scope creep