# Targets for Categories Paired with Accounts > YNAB has three special target types that can only be used when a category is paired with an account. This article covers the way each of these targets work. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/paired-targets-BJJI8rdC5 Last updated: 2026-07-02T17:12:22.797Z Explore YNAB's special target types for credit card and loan accounts. Pay a specific amount off every month, or calculate a monthly amount to pay off your balance by a chosen date.  #### Start Here! If you're just getting started, check out the [target](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/getting-started-with-targets-ryAEP08xC), [credit card](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/handling-credit-cards-overview-ry7cNub1s), or [loan account](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/loan-accounts-a-guide-HkNSkPHJi) basics first! #### In This Article [Credit Card Payment Category Targets](#cc-payment) [Monthly Debt Payment Targets](#debt) * * * ## Credit Card Payment Category Targets When adding a credit card account, a Credit Card Payment category is automatically created and paired with it. You then have the choice between two target types that are specific to those paired Credit Card Payment categories. Use targets with your loan accounts, too.  ### Option One: Pay Specific Amount Each Month This target type, only available in Credit Card Payment categories, will prompt you to assign a certain amount towards your balance each month, no matter what, without having a specific payoff date in mind. The target doesn't care how much you've paid towards your balance, or how much you've added to it.  Once you assign that monthly amount, the target will show as met. This is great for helping to pay down a balance that you want to make a specific monthly payment on, or where you don't have a payoff date in mind, but you want to work on getting that balance paid off over time.  Because this target type is based on a set monthly payment, the pie chart in the target inspector will only show the percentage of funding for the month that you're in. If the target shows 50% funded, that means the category is half funded for the month, not half funded for the balance owed on the card. ### Option Two: Pay off Balance by Date This target type will calculate a monthly amount to assign in order to pay off your credit card debt by a certain date that you choose. Since this target type is based on paying off the balance owed on the card, progress is based on the available amount in the category. The balance you're paying off changes as you spend on the card, so the amount needed to pay may be different every month. The amount will also adjust month to month if you are making slower or faster progress than your original plan. If you're using the card at the same time as you're paying down the balance, money moves from the spending category to the Credit Card Payment category, and shouldn't affect the amount needed to assign in order to fulfill the target, **unless** there is overspending!  If there is overspending on the card that isn't covered, then when the month rolls over and that additional balance is absorbed into the card, the next month's target prompt will be more, in order to make up for the additional debt created on the card. The target inspector's pie chart will show the percentage of the total balance that is funded, not just the percentage of the target itself. This means you can have a balance on the card and still be paid in full, if there is enough Available in the Credit Card Payment category to pay off the current balance of the card. It also means you can be on-track for that month's target even if the pie chart is less than 100% filled. **🤔 Not sure what type of credit card target you set up initially?** You can confirm by selecting the Credit Card category and checking the right sidebar Inspector. It will either say: "Pay Specific Amount Monthly" or "Pay Off Balance by Date", with additional details about the progress and timing of the target.  **Want more on how to create or edit a credit card target?** Check out [How to Use Targets](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks) for specific process steps! **Zz** **Can't find the option to snooze a credit card target?** Credit card targets can't be snoozed. If you'd like to share your feedback on this, use the [Feedback and Feature Request Form](https://ynab.typeform.com/to/Pt6cek) to send your thoughts and ideas directly to our Design team. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Monthly Debt Payment Targets When a category is paired to a loan account, a number of features become available in the plan inspector (right sidebar). You can record a payment by clicking the Record Payment button. In the web app, you can also access the loan payoff simulator to try out payoff strategies. Using the simulator, you can: * Set a loan payment amount, and YNAB will calculate the payoff date. * Choose a payoff date, and YNAB will calculate the monthly payment needed to meet that debt-free goal. * Simulate a one-time payment, and YNAB will show you the effect it has on the loan. Calculations are based on an amortization calculator, so the interest rate for the loan needs to be entered into the loan account for the target to be accurate. Any debt added to the loan account means you’ll need to delete and create a new Debt Payment target, since this type of target doesn’t take into account any new debt added after the target is created.  Once you [set the target](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-use-targets-rk5kkI9ks#process), YNAB will also calculate how much interest is saved if you increase the monthly payment amount (or how much you’ll need to increase the payment amount if you’d like to pay it off early). Note: The Monthly Debt Payment target is only available in a category paired to a loan account. **Every little bit that you’re able to put towards that loan every month will save you interest, and get you out of debt faster.** 🎉 With this target type, you can know exactly how much time and money that extra payment amount saves you, so you can make more informed decisions on where to focus your debt pay-down efforts. This type of target is based on a monthly payment, so the progress bar will show how much progress you’ve made towards your payment this month, not the progress towards paying off the total amount of the loan.  [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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