# Getting a Month Ahead > This article explains how to assign the rest of your money if the current month has already been fully funded. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/getting-a-month-ahead-HJidy13C5 Last updated: 2026-08-11T21:21:41.864Z Get a month ahead by assigning money into future months. Learn why your most accurate Ready to Assign number will be in the future-most month (and how to keep it from going red and negative). #### In This Article [Overview](#overview) [How to Get a Month Ahead](#how) [Future Assigning and Ready to Assign](#future) [How to Transition Away From a Next Month's Money Category](#transition) [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](#faq) * * * ## Video Transcript, chapters, and full screen view button are available in the video controls bar. * * * ## Overview Getting a month ahead in YNAB means your spending for next month is completely funded before the new month rolls around.  Why get a month ahead? There are countless benefits to this proactive approach: * You can pay bills when they arrive, not when your paycheck does. * Late fees and overdraft charges become a thing of the past. * Financial emergencies feel more like minor inconveniences. * You are perpetually ahead of expenses, providing space to breathe and reflect.  [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Get a Month Ahead ### iOS Getting a month ahead relies on the [targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) you've set. Before you begin, create targets in the current month for any expenses you'd like to be ahead on. All targets are taken into consideration **except for undated custom targets with the "Have a balance of..." option**.  When you have money available in Ready to Assign in the current month and have already covered this month's expenses and spending, follow these steps to [get a month ahead](#transcript): 1. Tap the _Plan_ tab. 2. In the current month [cover any overspending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/overspending-in-ynab-a-guide-ryWoxEyi#cover) first.  3. Next, [assign money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) to fund your categories through the end of the month. 4. While still in the _Plan_ tab, tap the current month at the top, then tap the next month.  5. In the future month, you'll notice your dollars still in Ready to Assign. Follow the **same prioritization sequence** you used in the current month, [assigning money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) until Ready to Assign is $0.00. **\*Pro tip:** Don't want to manually enter amounts in each category? Try out [Auto-Assign](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/auto-assign-a-guide-r1gBNbBJo)—if you've set up [targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) and [scheduled transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/scheduled-transactions-a-guide-BygrAIFA9) for your categories, this feature will help speed up the assigning process! 6. When you tap _Save Assignments_, you'll be returned to the _Plan_ tab. 7. Tap _Today_ at the top of the screen to return to the current month. Once you've completed those steps, you have two ways to view and manage your future months moving forward: * **From the Home tab:** Tap the month name in the _Assigned in Future Months_ section\* to jump directly to that month's plan. * **From the Plan tab:** Tap the current month at the top, then select the future month from the list. \*In the _Assigned in Future Months_ section, a pie icon shows the progress you've made toward fully funding next month. The pie icon is based on targets; funding categories with targets in the future month will fill the pie. A checkmark means you're fully funded for the month **and** provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate. Drop us a note on [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@spendfulness) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ynab.official/) so we can celebrate as a community, too! If you'd like to get ahead by two or three months, you can! To make that next month appear in the Home tab, take the following steps: 1. Tap _Plan_. 2. Tap the current month at the top of the screen. 3. Tap the month you'd like to begin funding. 4. Assign any amount of money to at least one category. The next time you visit the Home tab, that month will also be available for use and review. Collect those checkmarks to the left of each month to create even more financial space, flexibility, and breathing room! ### Android Getting a month ahead relies on the [targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) you've set. Before you begin, create targets in the current month for any expenses you'd like to be ahead on. All targets are taken into consideration except for undated custom targets with the "Have a balance of..." option.  When you have money available in Ready to Assign in the current month and have already covered this month's expenses and spending, follow these steps to get a month ahead: 1. Tap the _Plan_ tab. 2. In the current month [cover any overspending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/overspending-in-ynab-a-guide-ryWoxEyi#cover) first.  3. Next, [assign money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) to fund your categories through the end of the month. 4. While still in the _Plan_ tab, tap the current month at the top, then tap the next month. 5. In the future month, you'll notice your dollars still in Ready to Assign. Follow the **same prioritization sequence** you used in the current month, [assigning money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) until Ready to Assign is $0.00. **\*Pro tip:** Don't want to manually enter amounts in each category? Try out [Auto-Assign](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/auto-assign-a-guide-r1gBNbBJo)—if you've set up [targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) and [scheduled transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/scheduled-transactions-a-guide-BygrAIFA9) for your categories, this feature will help speed up the assigning process! 6. When you tap _Save Assignments_, you'll be returned to the _Plan_ tab. 7. Tap _Today_ at the top of the screen to return to the current month. Once you've completed those steps, you have two ways to view and manage your future months moving forward: * **From the Home tab:** Tap the month name in the _Assigned in Future Months_ section\* to jump directly to that month's plan. * **From the Plan tab:** Tap the current month at the top, then select the future month from the list. \*In the _Assigned in Future Months_ section, a pie icon shows the progress you've made toward fully funding next month. The pie icon is based on targets; funding categories with targets in the future month will fill the pie. A checkmark means you're fully funded for the month **and** provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate. Drop us a note on [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@spendfulness) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ynab.official/) so we can celebrate as a community, too! If you'd like to get ahead by two or three months, you can! To make that next month appear in the Home tab, take the following steps: 1. Tap _Plan_. 2. Tap the current month at the top of the screen. 3. Tap the month you'd like to begin funding. 4. Assign any amount of money to at least one category. The next time you visit the Home tab, that month will also be available for use and review. Collect those checkmarks to the left of each month to create even more financial space, flexibility, and breathing room! ### Web Getting a month ahead relies on the [targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) you've set. Before you begin, create targets in the current month for any expenses you'd like to be ahead on. All targets are taken into consideration **except for undated custom targets with the "Have a balance of..." option**.  When you have money available in Ready to Assign in the current month and have already covered this month's expenses and spending, follow these steps to [get a month ahead](#transcript): 1. From the **web app**, click on _Plan_ in the left sidebar (located immediately below the name of your plan). 2. In the [plan header](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/the-plan-header-BkmiuJ_C9), click the arrow to the right of the month and year to move forward to the next month. 3. In the future month, you'll notice your dollars still in Ready to Assign. 4. Follow the **same prioritization sequence** you used in the current month, [assigning money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) until Ready to Assign is $0.00. **\*Pro tip:** Don't want to manually enter amounts in each category? Try out [Auto-Assign](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/auto-assign-a-guide-r1gBNbBJo)—your [targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) and [scheduled transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/scheduled-transactions-a-guide-BygrAIFA9) for your categories help speed up the assigning process! 5. Click _Today_ to the right of the month and year to navigate back to the current month.  Once you've completed those steps, you have two ways to view and manage your future months moving forward: * **In the right sidebar:** Tap the month name in the _Assigned in Future Months_ section\* to jump directly to that month's plan. * **From the Plan Header:** Tap the current month at the top, then select the future month from the list. \*In the _Assigned in Future Months_ section, a pie icon shows the progress you've made toward fully funding next month. The pie icon is based on targets; funding categories with targets in the future month will fill the pie. A checkmark means you're fully funded for the month **and** provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate. Drop us a note on [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@spendfulness) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ynab.official/) so we can celebrate as a community, too! If you'd like to get ahead by two or three months, you can! Assign money as far into the future as you'd like (as long as you've assigned money in at least one category in the previous month). Next month will always be shown under Assigned in Future Months, as will any other future month you've assigned money to. Collect those checkmarks to the left of each month to create even more financial space, flexibility, and breathing room! [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Future Assigning and Ready to Assign Once you assign money into the future, your most up-to-date Ready to Assign number is in that future month. Picture this:  * Ready to Assign is $0.00 in the current month and funds have been assigned in the future. * Then, $200 is added to the Auto Maintenance category this month. * Ready to Assign will remain $0.00 in the current month, and the $200 decreases Ready to Assign in the future month.  Only [move money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/moving-money-in-your-plan-ryyCKbBJi) between categories once Ready to Assign hits $0.00. If you move money before then you can end up with a negative balance in a future month. And if you're overassigned in the future, move money from spending categories back to Ready to Assign until it reaches $0.00 again. To know what funds are assigned in the future, review the _Assigned in Future Months_ section (Home tab on iOS/Android, right sidebar on web). When Ready to Assign is negative in the future, that section will have a red alert. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Transition Away From a Next Month's Money Category If you've been YNABing for a while, you may remember the "Next Month's Money Category" option for getting a month ahead. There's nothing in the app to prevent you from creating this type of category in the current month as a holding category for next month's money. However, **we no longer recommend this option**.  Why? As part of the YNAB Method, you'll consider resilience and ask, "What can I set aside for next month's spending?" We have a number of features that help you reflect on your progress toward getting ahead **if you assign money directly to future months**. If you'd like to make use of these features and need to transition **away** from your Next Month's Money category, follow these steps: 1. [Move](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/moving-money-in-your-plan-ryyCKbBJi#categories) all the money in your Next Month's Money category to Ready to Assign. 2. [Hide](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/adding-removing-and-customizing-categories-a-guide-HJFO5j909#hide) or [delete](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/adding-removing-and-customizing-categories-a-guide-HJFO5j909#delete) the Next Month's Money category.  3. [Follow the steps above](#how) to get a month ahead. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### Why does new income show as available in the current month, even though I want to save it for next month? Ready to Assign always reflects your earliest unassigned dollars, so new income lands in the current month's Ready to Assign first — even if you're already a month or more ahead. To keep that income earmarked for next month, [assign it directly into next month's categories](#how) instead of leaving it in the current month. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Help Us Help You! Our Knowledge Base team reviews article feedback responses weekly, and we actively revise these articles to make them as helpful as possible. That's where you come in! Our articles are scored based on the _Yes_ or _No_ ratings received below. We also collect freeform feedback for any _No_ ratings (so our team can focus in on what you were specifically searching for!). **Success**: Found what you were searching for? It would be super helpful if you click _Yes_ below. **Suggestions**: Didn't find what you're searching for and you'd like to share what terms or topics you wanted? Click _No_ below. 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