# Getting Started: Assigning Your Money in YNAB

> Learn how to assign money in YNAB until Ready to Assign reaches zero, what each Ready to Assign state means, and how to use Auto-Assign to save time.

Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/getting-started-assigning-your-money-in-ynab-SyHCkywTZl

Last updated: 2026-10-24T17:48:47.595Z

Assigning money is how you make a plan for your spending. Each time you have money in **Ready to Assign**, your goal is to distribute it across your categories until you've assigned it all. Steps are included for iOS, Android, and Web.

#### In This Article

[Ready to Assign](#rta)

  

[How Do I Assign Money to a Category?](#assign)

  

[Auto-Assign](#auto)

  

[Want to Go Deeper?](#deeper)

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## Ready to Assign

When you first set up YNAB, Ready to Assign lives at the top of your _Plan_ and _Home_ tabs. This will be all the money in your cash accounts. It holds all the money that still needs a plan — and lets you know if you’ve assigned more than you have. Your goal is to assign money to your categories until Ready to Assign reaches $0.00.

Here's what you'll usually see:

1.  **Positive amount** — you have money waiting for you to ask "[What's it For?](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/the-ynab-method-an-overview-SJmiqpi6j)." Assign it to your categories until Ready to Assign reaches $0.00.  
      
    
2.  **Not showing** — every dollar has been assigned.  
      
    
3.  **Negative amount with a "Fix This" button** — you've assigned more money than you have. Tap the "Assigned Too Much" banner and remove money from categories until Ready to Assign is back to $0.00.
    

Seeing something different, like a negative amount in a future month? Check out [When Ready to Assign Is Negative](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/when-ready-to-assign-is-negative-an-overview-HylZA0zCc).

[Back to Top](#backtotop)

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## How Do I Assign Money to a Category?

Ask yourself, "[What is this money for?](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/the-ynab-method-an-overview-SJmiqpi6j) What does this money need to do before I get paid again?" Then:

### iOS

1.  Tap the _Plan_ tab.  
    
2.  Tap a category. A number pad will appear and the _Assigned_ column will become editable.  
    
3.  Type in the amount you'd like to assign, then tap _Done_. The category's _Assigned_ and _Available_ amounts will update.  
    
4.  Repeat for each category until Ready to Assign reaches $0.00.
    

### Android

1.  Tap the _Plan_ tab.  
    
2.  Tap a category. A number pad will appear and the _Assigned_ column will become editable.  
    
3.  Type in the amount you'd like to assign, then tap _Done_. The category's _Assigned_ and _Available_ amounts will update.  
    
4.  Repeat for each category until Ready to Assign reaches $0.00.
    

### Web

1.  Click _Plan_ in the left sidebar (located immediately below the name of your plan).  
    
2.  Click into the _Assigned_ column for a category, type the amount you'd like to assign, then press _Enter_ or _Return_. The _Assigned_ and _Available_ amounts will update.  
    
3.  Repeat for each category until Ready to Assign reaches $0.00.
    

#### How do I navigate between months?

**On mobile:** From the _Plan_ tab, tap the month and year at the top of the screen. Select the month you’d like or use the <> arrows to select the year.

**On web:** Click _Plan_ in the left sidebar, then click the month and year at the top of the screen. Select the month you’d like or use the <> arrows to select the year.

[Back to Top](#backtotop)

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## Auto-Assign

If you'd like to assign the money in Ready to Assign more quickly, you can do so if you've set up targets (using the _Underfunded_ Auto-Assign option) or if you have accumulated some history in YNAB (using the _Average Spent_, _Average Assigned_, _Assigned Last Month_, or _Spent Last Month_ Auto-Assign options). Check out the full [Auto-Assign guide](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/auto-assign-a-guide-r1gBNbBJo) for all your options.

[Back to Top](#backtotop)

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## Want to Go Deeper?

*   [Assigning Your Money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/assigning-your-money-a-guide-SypgkrNJi) — the full article covering all four Ready to Assign states in detail, manual assignment across all platforms, and tips for going forward.  
      
    
*   [Auto-Assign](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/auto-assign-a-guide-r1gBNbBJo) — a deep dive into every Auto-Assign option, including options exclusive to the web.  
      
    
*   [Moving Money in Your Plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/moving-money-in-your-plan-ryyCKbBJi) — for when you need to shift money between categories after you've assigned.  
      
    
*   [Getting Started: Frequently Asked Questions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/getting-started-frequently-asked-questions-r1EiQk75Ml) — what to do when you can't cover everything yet, or when you have money left over.
    

[Back to Top](#backtotop)

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## Help Us Help You

**Are you stuck or do you need more help?** [Tell the chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) to ensure that your message gets to our Support team!