# The Inspector > The Inspector will help you better understand your income and expenses in past, present, and future months. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/the-inspector-an-overview-ryylY7OCq Last updated: 2026-09-03T22:44:10.517Z Locate the Inspector on the right sidebar (web app only). Use it to access Auto-Assign and review valuable plan information. View a summary of your monthly plan.  When no categories are selected, the Inspector reflects the entire plan. Use [Focused Views](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/focused-views-a-guide-BksnNYqLh) or select a specific category or category group to display sections for specific categories. Return to a month overview by de-selecting the categories. Select each one or all at once by clicking the checkbox (found immediately under the _Category Group_ option on the top left side of your plan). This article will explain each Inspector section. The inspector will always be visible, but you can click the arrow to the right of the title of each section to collapse it. #### Additional Information for Credit Card Accounts When you click on or tap your Credit Card Payment category, you'll find [additional information](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/credit-card-activity-an-overview-Sk2mLluA9) to use while planning. This includes [an alert if your Credit Card Payment category is underfunded](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/underfunded-cc-alert-a-guide-rkeh40G5h). #### In This Article [Cost To Be Me](#cost-to-be-me) [Auto-Assign](#auto-assign) [Available in \[Current Month\]](#available) [Assigned in the Future](#future) [For You](#for-you) * * * ## Cost to Be Me ![The Cost to Be Me section of the Inspector](https://cdn.bfldr.com/NIEXAZS5/at/rnggrs6k99p33tj8p4h98kmr/Cost-To-Be-Me-Web-Help-Article.png?auto=webp&format=png) With Cost to Be Me, we've created a space for planning. It calculates and displays the money you need to fully fund the current month based on this month's targets. It also allows you to enter your expected income for the month, providing you an opportunity to immediately check whether the expected income for the month will cover the amount needed. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Auto-Assign The options in [Auto-Assign](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/auto-assign-a-guide-r1gBNbBJo) allow you to take quick action in your plan. You can use Auto-Assign to quickly assign money from Ready to Assign to your categories. You can also use the numbers to help you plan your plan each month by reviewing your average assigning and spending history, or what you assigned and spent last month.  ![The Auto Assign section of the Inspector](https://cdn.bfldr.com/NIEXAZS5/at/37hrkghtpgmz36hkw7fb6zb/Auto-Assign-Web-Help-Article.png?auto=webp&format=png) #### Focused Views When using a [Focused View](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/focused-views-a-guide-BksnNYqLh), Auto-Assign options will only apply to categories in that view. This includes Available in \[Current Month\]. The summary is based on what view is applied. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Available in \[Current Month\] ![The amount available in January is highlighted in the January Summary section of the Inspector](https://cdn.bfldr.com/NIEXAZS5/at/vkpf24fzmgjwcxhmvh933nps/Available-Current-Month-Web-Help-Article.png?auto=webp&format=png) The Available in \[Current Month\] section is a summary of your **entire** plan for the month.  The important number in this section is the **Available in \[Current Month\]** number, because this is the total of all the Available amounts in the current month's plan. If you were to add up each category's Available balance this month, you'd get this number. (To trust your plan, you want to make sure that this Available in \[Current Month\] number equals the amount of money you have in your Cash accounts. You can check that by performing a [YNAB Checkup](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/checkup-S1vJzWGzo). But what makes up the current month's Available number? It's the combination of three things:  * The positive amounts you had **Left Over from Last Month:** last month's positive Available amounts, that [rolled over](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/when-the-month-rolls-over-a-guide-rkyyd6qC9) into this month's categories.) * Money you **Assigned** this month: new funds you received this month and assigned from this month's Ready to Assign_._ * The **Activity** in each category: money you spent, or received through refunds or [reimbursements](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reimbursements-in-ynab-H1W7ilhC5). Add up your leftover amounts from last month with the new money you assigned this month, subtract this month's spending (offset by any returns), and you'll get **Available in \[Current Month\].**  [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Assigned in the Future ![The Assigned in Future Months section of the Inspector shows money assigned two months in the future in February and March](https://cdn.bfldr.com/NIEXAZS5/at/2bqhmpm5f6b7cgmqwpgwc/Assigned-Future-Months-Web-Help-Article.png?auto=webp&format=png) Planning ahead? The Assigned in the Future section is where you can access a summary of what you've assigned to each future month of your plan. The **Assigned in the Future** number is the total of all money you've assigned to any future month in your plan. The breakdown below Assigned in the Future will show what you've assigned into each individual future month. #### When Assigned in the Future is Negative You can use the **web app** to determine whether Ready to Assign is negative in any future month. First, cover any [cash overspending](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/overspending-in-ynab-a-guide-ryWoxEyi#types) in the current month. Then, check the Assigned in the Future section of the right sidebar. If Ready to Assign is negative in any future month, you'll notice a red alert there. If Ready to Assign is negative in the future, you'll need to un-assign money in that future month until Ready to Assign is no longer negative. Click on the banner in this section to jump immediately to the month with the negative Ready to Assign, and [move money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/moving-money-in-your-plan-ryyCKbBJi) from your plan categories back to Ready to Assign, until Ready to Assign is no longer negative in all months. Read more about the causes behind [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) * * * ## For You Recommended podcasts, blog posts, and videos, based on your plan are all included in this section. While you can't customize the content, you can click the arrow to the right of "For You" to collapse the section. ![The For You section of the Inspector](https://cdn.bfldr.com/NIEXAZS5/at/qpbxhkx78pw79ng38hpwjbq/For-You-Inspector-Web-Help-Article.png?auto=webp&format=png) [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. You'll then be able to submit your feedback about this article. **Please note:** the feedback submissions are anonymous, and we’re not able to respond, so make sure to use the next option if you have a specific scenario or question you would like a response to. **Support**: If you have a question or would like a response to your specific question, [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!