Question 90 • ****Spring 2026 Financial Math - MA2007 MQS21QXV
Sammy makes $2,362/month as a baseball coach. He is making a budget, and has created the following chart in order to divide his monthly paycheck into his various accounts:Expense type FrequencyAccountMonthly amountItemsEssential (fixed)MonthlyChecking$1,292Rent, car, insuranceEssential (variable)MonthlyChecking$420Basic groceries, telephone, electricity, cable TV, batting practiceNon-essentialMonthlyCash$260Snack items, restaurants, gifts, moviesOther (predictable)AnnualSavings$130Health exams, clothing, food, baseball coach magazineOther (unpredictable)AnnualEmergency savings$210Non-insured healthcare, repairs, and income replacementOther (long-term)5 yearsVacation savings$50VacationTotal $2,362 Sammy makes monthly deposits from each paycheck into the various accounts, and then spends from those accounts only for their defined purposes. He knows that it is not a perfect system, but thinks that it will help to assure coverage for future expenses. Using his essential expenses as a guideline, how much will Sammy need to save if he wants to have 3 times the amount of his living expenses in the bank as part of his emergency savings. How long will it take him to achieve his goal?
Answer
A
$1,712; approximately 8 months
B
$5,136; approximately 24 months
C
$6,486; approximately 30 months
D
$2,162; approximately 6 months
Explanation
Sammy’s essential monthly expenses are $1,292 + $420 = $1,712. Three times that amount is $1,712 × 3 = $5,136, which is his emergency-savings goal. He deposits $210 per month into emergency savings, so reaching $5,136 takes about $5,136 ÷ $210 ≈ 24.5 months—approximately 24 months. The matching choice is $5,136; approximately 24 months.
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