Mosman Ltd makes a single product. The projected sales for the first month of the coming year and the starting and ending inventory data are as follows:
 
Sales  80,000 units
Unit price  $12
Beginning inventory  6,000 units
Desired ending inventory  9,000 units
 
Every unit needs three kilograms of material costing $2 per kilogram. The beginning inventory of raw materials is 2,500 kilograms, and the company wants to have 4,500 kilograms of material in inventory at the end of the month. Each unit needs one hour of direct labour time, which is billed at $8 per hour.
 
Required:
 
(A) Prepare a production budget for the first month.                                 
  
(B) Prepare a direct materials purchases budget for the first month in kilograms and dollars.                                                                                                  
  
(C) With which estimate does budgeting start? Describe why this is so and give examples to illustrate your understanding.