Q1. Big Money Monster is a business school. The school bases its budgets on two measures of activity: number of students and number of courses. The school uses the following data in its budgeting: Fixed cost per month Variable cost per student Variable cost per course Faculty wages $4,000 $0 $20 Course supplies $1,000 $10 $50 Administrative expenses $2,000 $20 $30 In July, the school budgeted for 300 students and 15 courses. Actual results for the month appear below: Number of Students 280 Number of Courses 18 Faculty wages $4,200 Course supplies $4,800 Administrative expenses $8,300 What is the spending variance for course supplies (choose the closest answer)

Big Money Monster

The spending variance for course supplies is:

$50 Unfavorable.

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

                                       Fixed cost   Variable cost   Variable cost    Total

                                       per month    per student     per course

Faculty wages                   $4,000             $0                   $20

Course supplies                $1,000             $10                  $50

Administrative expenses $2,000            $20                  $30

Budgeted number of students = 300

Budgeted number of courses = 15

Actual number of students = 280

Actual number of courses = 18

Actual Faculty wages = $4,200

Actual Course supplies = $4,800

Budgeted Costs:

                                       Fixed cost   Variable cost   Variable cost    Total

                                       per month    per student     per course

Faculty wages                   $4,000             $0                   $20          $4,300

Course supplies                $1,000             $10                  $50            4,750

Administrative expenses $2,000            $20                  $30            8,450

Budgeted costs:

Faculty wages = $4,000 + $0 + $20 * 15 = $4,300

Course supplies = $1,000 + $10 * 300 + $50 * 15 = $4,750

Administrative expenses = $2,000 + $20 * 300 + $30 * 15 = $8,450

Budgeted Cost of Course Supplies = $4,750

Actual Cost of Course Supplies =         4,800

Spending variance for Course Supplies = 50 Unfavorable

a.