This website also provides LINKS to a number of other websites created by the author that provide free downloads of various types of timing devices, and information on time management, which are presented below:

 

www.TechForText.com/Time

The above is a webpage that lists a number of websites

 

www.TechForText.com/Time-Management

 

www.TechForText.com/Timing-Devices-Created-with-Spreadsheet-Software

 

www.TechForText.com/Clocks

 

www.TechForText.com/Project-Timers-and-Calendars

 

www.TechForText.com/Elapsed-Timers

 

www.TechForText.com/Experimental-Elapsed-Timers

 

 

BUDGETING TIME, IN A WAY THAT IS

SIMILAR TO BUDGETING MONEY

 

Basic Concepts for Budgeting Time

 

NOTE: To simplify the following text, I am using the word PROJECT to represent any objective, including, plans for a set of daily activities, cooking a meal, knitting a sweater, assembling a cabinet, building a house, obtaining a college degree, opening a business, etc.

           Many of the concepts we use to budget money can be used to budget time, and the software-based calculation devices provided by this website are based on this concept.  To explain this time management strategy, I will review some simple ideas involved with budgeting money, and then I will apply them to budgeting time, as follows:

 

When we make a purchase, most of us consider the price of the products or services.  It is a good idea to carefully evaluate how much time would be required to complete a PROJECT.  This can include adding up the estimated time to complete each sub-goal involved with the project, with the calculation devices provided on this website.

We usually want to obtain the highest possible value, for each item we buy.  When we plan a PROJECT we should evaluate its value, in terms of benefits, versus the time required to complete it.  This can help us decide if the PROJECT is a good investment for our time and effort.  Sometimes, we can redesign a PROJECT so it requires less time to complete.  Redesigning can sometimes improve the overall functionality and benefits of a PROJECT.

 

When items are expensive, such as automobiles, and homes, we may invest a considerable amount of time and effort comparing prices and features available from various sellers.  With long-term PROJECTS that require weeks to months or years to complete, it is a good idea to evaluate MANY ALTERNATIVES and choose the best option.  An example is college studies to obtain a Bachelor's degree, which ideally involves evaluating a number of colleges, and many potential majors, especially in relation to employment needs.

 

People often plan budgets, which are usually for a week, or a month, and for businesses it may involve several months to one year.  Some of these budgets are for general expenses, and some are for dealing with the money needed for a specific PROJECT.  Budgets generally involve a adding up a list of expenses, and subtracting the total from the money allocated for the budget.  This concept of budgeting can be applied to time management, in terms of daily or weekly chores, or for a specific PROJECT.  Most of the calculation devices provided by this website have input boxes to create a list with the estimated time required to complete a set of task, or a series of sub-goals from a PROJECT.  Some of these devices have input boxes to enter the amount of time you can spend each day on the PROJECT.  See the example below, which is a screen shot of calculation device 4.  

 

4) SCREENSHOT

 

 

 

The Differences Between Budgeting Time And Money

 

There are a couple of differences between budgeting money and Time.  If you do nothing with your money, you can save it for future purchases, but if you do nothing with your time it vanishes.  Another major difference is every day of our lives we receive 24-hours of time automatically, without any effort.  With money, there are no absolute guarantees, and it is easy to go over our budgets.  When budgeting time, for a PROJECT, we often have the option of increasing the number of days to complete the PROJECT, if we need more time.

 

 

Wasted Time

 

Occasionally, almost all of us inadvertently waste some money.  This problem also applies to time.  That is most of us waste some time, on occasions, and some of us frequently waste a great deal of time throughout the day, with inefficient planning and work strategies.  The following questions, along with the calculation devices on this website, may help you estimate the amount of time you inadvertently waste per day, per week, and per month.  With this awareness, you can probably reduce the amount of time you waste.

 

How much time do you spend traveling each day on the average?  What percentage of your workday do you use for traveling?  Are there any ways that you can reduce the amount of time you spend traveling?  Are there any strategies you can use to make better use of your time when you are traveling, such as reading important material, or working with a laptop computer? 

 

How much time do you spend waiting?  Examples are waiting on line for tickets, for buses, for trains. Waiting in airports for luggage to be checked, and for planes to arrive, is another example.  Waiting for various service providers, such as doctors and dentists, can also consume much time, for some people.  Are there any strategies that you can use to reduce the amount of time waiting?  Are there any useful tasks that you can complete while you are waiting, such as reading important material, or working with a laptop computer?

 

How much time do you spend each day on the average with conflict related problems?  Examples are arguments, domestic disputes, and the most time-consuming is usually legal disputes.  Most of these problems can probably be eliminated, by providing some friendly respect, and understanding for the needs and feelings of the individuals you are interacting with.  Always try to make your social and business actions rewarding for the people you are dealing with, and when this fails make corrections, to satisfy the displease individual.  This strategy can save a considerable amount of time, and it can help us retain employees, or retain our employment, as well as our relationships.

 

 

THE SOFTWARE FOR BUDGETING TIME

 

Important Note about Timing Devices

Created With Spreadsheet Software

 

It is important to understand that timing devices that were created with Microsoft Excel, or similar spreadsheet software, must be updated to obtain the correct time and date.  For example, if a timing device created with spreadsheet software is opened on your computer on August 31, 2012, at 4:26 PM, it will indicate the above time and date.  This date and time will not change, even if you leave the software opened on your computer for a week, unless you update it.  You can update the spreadsheet versions either by entering or deleting numbers, and clicking with the mouse, or by opening and closing the software.  When a JavaScript timing device is created with spreadsheet software, the exact same concept applies.  That is the software will not register any changes in date or time unless it is updated as indicated above.  However, with the JavaScript versions, I often provide an update button, which the user can press to update the date and time.

      All of the above usually does not result in any practical problems, because most people frequently open and close software, and/or enter or delete data, which automatically updates the time and date.  When this is a problem, alternative timing software should be used. 

      It is also important to understand that the spreadsheet and JavaScript devices access the date and time on your computer's clock.  Thus, if your computer’s timing mechanism is incorrect the time and/or date on the spreadsheet and JavaScript devices will also be incorrect.

 

 

 

The Links to Download The

Calculation Devices For Budgeting Time

 

Below there are seven zipped folders, which contain seven varieties of calculation devices for calculating the time required to complete a number of tasks associated with daily activities, or for weekly, monthly, or yearly PROJECTS. (Remove the software from the zipped folder before you use it.  This applies to both the Excel and JavaScript versions.)  Each zipped folder contains files for Microsoft 2003, 2007-2010, and a JavaScript version of the calculation device.  To download any of the following left click on the blue link with the mouse:

 

1) This is a simple calculator for adding up time, in minutes and hours.

 

1) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link.  This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

      2) This device is for listing a series of tasks, and for calculating the time to complete all of the tasks on the list.

 

2) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link.  This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

      3) This device is similar to the above, except it has an additional feature to enter the number of hours per day you expect to work on the project, which is very useful.  With this feature, the calculator indicates how many days are required to complete the PROJECT.

 

3) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link.  This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

      4) This calculation device is similar to the above, except that the layout is different.  The main instructions are on the bottom of the calculator, which is probably more convenient for most people.

 

4) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link. This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

      5) This calculator has the features mentioned above.  However, it also has an input box to enter the time that was allotted for a PROJECT.  With this feature, the calculator work similar to a budget worksheet for money. As you enter tasks, the estimated time for each task is subtracted from the allotted time.

 

5) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link. This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

      6) This calculator is similar to the above, except it has a better layout.  Specifically, the primary instructions are on the very bottom of the calculator.

 

6) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link.  This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

      7) This calculator has all the features mentioned above, and an input box to enter a start date of the PROJECT.

 

7) An ONLINE JavaScript version of the above is available by, clicking on this link.  This will open directly in your web browser, without downloading.

 

 

The following is a website (created by the author), and it has additional calculation devices that are very useful for budgeting time, especially in relation to a project.

www.TechForText.com/Project-Timers-and-Calendars

 

 

The JavaScript Embedded Calculation Device

 

Just below, there is a calculation device for budgeting time embedded directly in this Webpage.  If you want a printer friendly version of this calculation device, left click on these words. (This is calculation device 7)