How do I fit a graph to data?

[Rod]

I work at a non-profit agency. We receive funds on an annual basis for our
work, which we distribute under contract to other agencies. The full details
aren't important, the main point is the rate of "burn" through the money. We
use different mechanisms to ensure that it lasts throughout the fiscal year,
such as breaking it up into smaller chucks, etc. I watch the burn rate to
see how it is going. I record this on a daily basis in an Excel spreadsheet.
Due to business practices with the other agencies, the burn rate isn't a
simple linear graph with a negative slope. However, I would think that Excel
could fairly accurately estimate a graph to match the plotted values. My
problem is I have no idea how to do that.

So, that is my question. How do I make Excel plot some graph to our burn
rate, so that I can estimate pretty accurately when we're going to run out of
money for a fund in a given period?

 

[Bernard Liengme]

You could read about the Trendline feature of Excel charts and then progress
to using functions such as Forecast and Linest.

However, there is no way of telling how good the forecast will be.
Prediction works with things like water leaking from a tank which obey laws
of physics. Your flow of money is subject to many seasonal and erratic
events.

best wishes