What is a budget line in personal finance?

• A. A graph of stock prices over time.
• B. A plan that lists income and expenses showing possible consumption combinations given current income and prices.
• C. A forecast of future interest rates.
• D. A schedule of tax brackets.

Answer: (B)

A budget line shows the combinations of two goods a person can afford with their current income and the prices of those goods. It’s a plan that lists what you could buy given what you earn and what things cost, illustrating the trade-offs you face when deciding how to spend. The line reflects opportunity costs—buying more of one good means giving up some of the other because the budget is limited. If income rises or prices fall, the line shifts outward to show more affordable options; if income falls or prices rise, it shifts inward. It’s not about stock prices, forecasts of interest rates, or tax brackets.