eMoney Fundamentals Certification Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Net cash flow is the difference between cash inflows and cash outflows. When outflows exceed inflows, the result is negative net cash flow. The Smiths show negative cash flow in certain years because their total cash outlays—spending, debt payments, and other expenses—are greater than the cash coming in from income and other sources in those years. In short, they’re spending more than they earn in those periods, so they have to use savings or borrow to cover the gap, which registers as negative cash flow. Other factors like a drop in income, higher taxes, or lower investment returns can make the gap larger, but the defining cause of a negative figure is outflows exceeding inflows.