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Fill a zero-based budget request card and mark what is missing

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

You're turning a manager's rough note into a budget request card. Write a prompt for plain text with exactly six lines starting "Request:", "Amount:", "Why needed:", "If not funded:", "Alternatives considered:" and "Owner:". Use only what the note says. Where the note gives nothing, write exactly "Not provided" and don't invent anything. Show the math on the Amount line. Under 80 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Inventing alternatives. The AI lists spreadsheet automation or other vendors. Try: Add: 'If the note gives no information, write exactly: Not provided'.
  • Putting a price on the hours. The AI multiplies 6 hours by a rate it makes up. Try: Add: "No dollar value for the hours."
  • No seat math. The AI writes $36,000 without the calculation. Try: Say: "Amount: show seats x price = total per year."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the six lines
  • Asks for the math
  • Gives the missing-info rule
  • Uses only the note
  • Caps length

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