How Targets Work in Purpose Budget

What a target does

A target answers one question for you: “How much should I fund this category this month?” It doesn’t move money automatically — it calculates an amount so you can fund consistently.

The three target types

1) Monthly Funding

Use this for monthly bills or regular contributions. Example: “$75/month for Phone.”

2) Weekly Funding

Use this for expenses you think about weekly (groceries, fuel, allowance). Purpose Budget converts weekly to monthly by counting the weeks that actually fall in the month you’re viewing:

This month’s target = Weekly amount × Fridays in the month (4 or 5)

That’s why the same weekly target asks for a little more in a five-Friday month than in a four-Friday month.

3) Savings Target

Use this for a deadline (annual bills, a trip, holiday spending) or an open-ended savings goal. You set the total and optionally a date; when a date is set, Purpose Budget calculates a monthly pace and shows "Assign $X this month to stay on track" plus how many months remain. For example, "$3,600 by December" with 9 months left becomes "$400/month."

Leave the date blank to create a balance target — for example, "$5,000 Emergency Fund" with no deadline. Purpose Budget shows you the remaining gap without a monthly pace, so you can fund at your own speed.

Two “modes” you’ll see when you set a target

Monthly Funding and Weekly Funding targets let you pick a Target Behavior — two common goal behaviors:

• Save a fixed amount (contribution-based): the progress focuses on what you’ve assigned toward the goal.
• Maintain a balance (balance-based): the progress focuses on what is currently available in the category.

This matters because spending affects these two goals differently. If you’re saving for a vacation, spending from the category should reduce your progress. If you’re maintaining a minimum balance for a checking buffer, spending should prompt you to top back up.

What “underfunded” means for targets

If a category is underfunded, it means the amount you’ve assigned so far is less than what the target recommends for the current month.

Underfunded is a planning tool — not a “you did something wrong” warning. It simply shows what you would need to assign to hit the target on schedule.

How Auto-Assign uses targets

Auto-Assign looks at your targets (and their priority) to suggest funding amounts quickly. It’s best when:

• You have targets on your essential bills and true expenses.
• You set higher priority on “must fund” categories.
• You review any underfunded categories before the month gets busy.

If your target progress looks confusing

Start here:

1. Make sure you understand Assigned vs Available.
2. If the category includes credit card activity, read How Credit Cards Work.

Want the longer walkthrough?

The Learn guide includes more examples and screenshots: Category Targets & Auto-Assign.