How to Use Targets
June 9 2025 4:12am • Est. Read Time: 9 MINUse targets to determine how much you would like to spend, save, or set aside over time in a category. Add, customize, and interpret targets in your plan.
Links with a ↗️ icon will open in a new tab.
Want to learn more about targets? Getting Started with Targets ↗️
Curious about our recent update to targets? Our 2024 Update to Targets: What Has Changed and How to Transition ↗️
In This Article
- How to Create a Target
- How to Edit or Delete a Target
- Monitoring Target Alerts and Progress
- Explains how to check the progress you're making toward targets
- Related Resources
How to Create a Target
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- Click on Plan in the left sidebar (located immediately below the name of your plan).
- Select the category for your target.
- In the right sidebar, click Create Target.
- Select how often you want the target to repeat (its cadence): Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or Custom. If you don’t want a target to repeat, choose the custom option.
- Fill in the details of your target.
- Click Save Target. You're done!
If you choose the “Set aside another...” behavior, the target will prompt you to assign the entire target amount again. If you choose to “Refill up to...” behavior, the target will only ask you to replace what you spent or unassigned last period.
If using a custom target, you have the option to “Have a balance of...” behavior. This target is not meant to be spent from until the end of the target period, so if you’d like to spend as you go, choose the ‘Set aside...” behavior instead. You have the option to repeat targets with a “Set aside...” behavior, but this isn't possible for targets with a “Have a balance of...” behavior.
You can create a target for any of your categories while in Edit Plan (the pencil icon ), or by tapping the Details button when a non-credit card category is selected in your plan.
How to Create a Target From Edit Plan
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the screen. Categories or Spotlight can be toggled on.
- Enter Edit Plan by tapping the Edit (pencil) icon in the top right corner of the app.
- Tap Add Target to the right of the category.
- Use the buttons at the top of the number pad to select how often you want the target to repeat (its cadence): Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or Custom. If you don’t want a target to repeat, choose the custom option.
- Tap I need and enter the target amount.
- If needed, adjust the date and behavior of the target.
- Tap Save Target.
- If you're ready to leave Edit Plan, tap Done in the top right corner.
How to Create a Target from Category Details
This method is not available for Credit Card Payment categories.
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the app, then toggle on Categories at the top.
- Tap to select a category in your plan.
- Tap Details .
- Select Create Target.
- Use the buttons at the top of the number pad to select how often you want the target to repeat (its cadence): Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or Custom. If you don’t want a target to repeat, choose the custom option.
- Fill in the details of your target.
- To finish, tap Save Target.
If you choose the “Set aside another...” behavior, the target will prompt you to assign the entire target amount again. If you choose to “Refill up to...” behavior, the target will only ask you to replace what you spent or unassigned last period.
If using a custom target, you have the option to “Have a balance of...” behavior. This target is not meant to be spent from until the end of the target period, so if you’d like to spend as you go, choose the ‘Set aside...” behavior instead. You have the option to repeat targets with a “Set aside...” behavior, but this isn't possible for targets with a “Have a balance of...” behavior.
You can create a target for any of your categories while in Edit Mode (the pencil icon ), or by tapping the Details button when a non-credit card category is selected in your plan.
How to Create a Target from Edit Mode
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the screen. Categories or Spotlight can be toggled on.
- Tap the Edit mode pencil icon at the top right.
- Tap into the field underneath the desired category name.
- Use the number pad to tap in a target amount.
- Use the buttons at the top of the number pad to select how often you want the target to repeat (its cadence): Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or Custom. If you don’t want a target to repeat, choose the custom option.
- If needed, adjust the details of the target. You may need to click the > arrow on the right of the screen (directly above the number pad). If you adjust the details of the target, you'll need to tap Save Target to continue.
- Tap Save in the lower right corner.
- If you're ready to leave Edit Plan, tap the arrow in the top left corner.
How to Create a Target from Category Details
This method is not available for Credit Card Payment categories.
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the app, then toggle on Categories at the top.
- Tap to select a category in your plan.
- Tap Details .
- Select Create Target.
- Use the buttons at the top of the number pad to select how often you want the target to repeat (its cadence): Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or Custom. If you don’t want a target to repeat, choose the custom option.
- Fill in the details of your target.
- To finish, tap Save Target.
If you choose the “Set aside another...” behavior, the target will prompt you to assign the entire target amount again. If you choose to “Refill up to...” behavior, the target will only ask you to replace what you spent or unassigned last period.
If using a custom target, you have the option to “Have a balance of...” behavior. This target is not meant to be spent from until the end of the target period, so if you’d like to spend as you go, choose the ‘Set aside...” behavior instead. You have the option to repeat targets with a “Set aside...” behavior, but this isn't possible for targets with a “Have a balance of...” behavior.
How to Edit or Delete a Target
A good plan is a flexible one, and that includes the ability to change your target amount. You can edit a target's behavior or amount to reflect a change in your priorities, delete it altogether if you’ve reached it (or, if it no longer aligns with your priorities at all).
If you're still using one of our former target types ↗️ and choose to edit it, you may see the target disappear in previous months when it resets. This is especially important to keep in mind if you're editing the target in a future month.
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- Click on Plan in the left sidebar (located immediately below the name of your plan).
- Select the category.
- In the right sidebar, click Edit Target by the target details.
- To remove, click Delete in the bottom left of the target window.
- To edit the details instead, make your desired changes and click Save Target.
How to Edit or Remove a Target from Category Details
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the app, then toggle on Categories at the top.
- Tap the category.
- Tap Details .
- Tap the Edit Target button. You may need to scroll down.
- To remove the target entirely, tap Delete Target.
- To edit the target instead, make your desired changes, tapping Done and then Save Target.
How to Edit or Remove a Target From Edit Plan
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the screen. Categories or Spotlight can be toggled on.
- Enter Edit Plan by tapping the Edit (pencil) icon in the top right corner of the app.
- Tap the category.
- Tap Edit Target.
- Tap Delete Target to remove it entirely. Or, adjust the target and tap Save Target to continue. If the option you need no longer appears, you can cancel and try again.
- If you're ready to leave Edit Plan, tap Done in the top right corner.
How to Edit or Remove a Target from Category Details
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the app, then toggle on Categories at the top.
- Tap the category.
- Tap Details .
- Tap the Edit Target button. You may need to scroll down.
- To remove the target entirely, tap Delete Target.
- To edit it instead, make your desired changes, tapping Done and then Save Target.
How to Edit or Remove a Target from Edit Plan
- Tap the Plan tab at the bottom of the screen. Categories or Spotlight can be toggled on.
- Enter Edit Plan by tapping the Edit (pencil) icon in the top right corner of the app.
- Tap the category.
- Tap Edit Target.
- Tap Delete Target to remove it entirely. Or, adjust the target and tap Save Target to continue. If the option you need no longer appears, you can cancel and try again.
- If you're ready to leave Edit Plan, tap the arrow in the top left corner.
Monitoring Target Alerts and Progress
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- Once you've set a target, the category will have a donut chart in the target section of the right sidebar when you select the category. This lets you know your progress toward completing your target, and whether or not you're on track.
- The progress pie chart icon in the Available column will appear in yellow if you're off-track this month, and it will appear as a green checked circle once you've assigned your target amount.
- You can also review your progress for all categories on the Plan page if you have Progress Bars ↗️ enabled.
Try using targets to create a template ↗️. Assign your funds faster—while keeping your priorities in mind!
How do refunds affect targets?
If your target is not showing met even though there is more in the Available column than the target needs, it may be due to a refund. Refunds are inflow transactions categorized directly to the spending category. They aren't counted towards a target, because the assumption is they were counted when the funds were originally assigned to the category (before being spent, then refunded). Once the target period rolls over, any refund money still in the category will then count towards the next target period.
Tap on a category and select Details to review your progress toward a target and assign money to the category. If you don't have enough money available to fully fund the target, you'll be able to move money ↗️ from whichever category you'd like.
As you're giving every dollar a job, look to your targets for guidance:
- If your target is underfunded, a yellow available amount will be shown in the category.
- A donut chart will be available after tapping a category and selecting Details. This lets you know your progress toward completing your target, and whether or not you're on track. No Details option after clicking on a Credit Card Payment category? Tapping on this type of category takes you directly to a screen with custom, detailed credit card information.
- For more visibility into all your targets at once, Progress Bars ↗️ can help you track your target progress from the main Plan tab.
- Try using targets to create a template ↗️. Assign your funds faster—while keeping your priorities in mind!
How do refunds affect targets?
If your target is not showing met even though there is more in the Available column than the target needs, it may be due to a refund. Refunds are inflow transactions categorized directly to the spending category. They aren't counted towards a target, because the assumption is they were counted when the funds were originally assigned to the category (before being spent, then refunded). Once the target period rolls over, any refund money still in the category will then count towards the next target period.
Tap on a category and select Details to review your progress toward a target and assign money to the category. If you don't have enough money available to fully fund the target, you'll be able to move money ↗️ from whichever category you'd like.
As you're giving every dollar a job, look to your targets for guidance:
- If your target is underfunded, a yellow available amount will be shown in the category.
- A donut chart will be available after tapping a category and selecting Details. This lets you know your progress toward completing your target, and whether or not you're on track. No Details option after clicking on a Credit Card Payment category? Tapping on this type of category takes you directly to a screen with custom, detailed credit card information.
- For more visibility into all your targets at once, Progress Bars ↗️ can help you track your target progress from the main Plan tab.
- Try using targets to create a template ↗️. Assign your funds faster—while keeping your priorities in mind!
How do refunds affect targets?
If your target is not showing met even though there is more in the Available column than the target needs, it may be due to a refund. Refunds are inflow transactions categorized directly to the spending category. They aren't counted towards a target, because the assumption is they were counted when the funds were originally assigned to the category (before being spent, then refunded). Once the target period rolls over, any refund money still in the category will then count towards the next target period.
Related Resources
Didn't find the information you needed? Check out these related options!
New to Targets? Want to learn how they work? Getting Started with Targets ↗️ |
Target not calculating or displaying as expected? Need some help from our Support team with your specific scenario? How to Get Help in YNAB ↗️ |
Want to create a template to keep your spending priorities in mind? Creating a Plan Template: A Guide ↗️ |
Want to use Auto-Assign to quickly fund your targets? Auto-Assign: A Guide ↗️ |
Want to track your targets visually? Want to learn what the colors and shading mean and how these visuals are affected by your targets? Progress Bars: A Guide ↗️ |
Want to temporarily snooze a target to prevent being alerted with yellow or red in your plan? Snooze a Target ↗️ |
Wondering about the different target options in categories paired with accounts? Want to learn more about these special target types? Targets for Categories Paired with Accounts: An Overview ↗️ |
Notice your targets haven't been completely funded? Want to fund them quickly? Underfunded: A Guide ↗️ |
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