Goal Target met, but shows negative balance in the next month
I have a category for debt payments set at 1k goal each month. For this month, the budgeted amount of 1k is met. The budgeted column shows 1k, activity shows -1k, and available shows 0 since I have paid the 1k due this month. When I move to the next month (March), it shows -1k in the budgeted category and my requires 2k for my goal to be met in order to cover the supposed negative 1k and another 1k for March. I can't seem to figure this out, this category has never been used to cover overspending or transfer funds to a different category. The amount has been paid in full for the past year each month and has never had a negative balance. Thanks in advance for any help!
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Do you mean it shows -1000 in the budget *column* for the debt category in March?
What is the number in the available column in March?
If it's your budgeted column, the only way that number changes is by an action from you (type -1000, use Move Money Tool) in the month that you're looking at.
Slightly related: Do you have other categories budgeted in March?
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Move Light Sound Life Yes it shows -1k in the budgeted column for March. Interestingly in April the budgeted column is shown a 0. In the available column for March, it shows 0 and says that 2k is required to hit monthly goal and the box on the right also says that there is -1k budgeted for March. As far as other categories, I have every one budgeted and goal met for March
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Move Light Sound Life I think I may just ignore it for March, as the negative balance isn't carrying over to future months
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Green Motherboard Yeah, I'd say that if you're happy with the available amount, ignore the goal.
Just to be thorough, I'd like to amend my previous statement,
Move Light Sound Life said:
the only way that number changes is by an action from you (type -1000, use Move Money Tool)There is a third way, which is using the quick-budget buttons. Those buttons get their numbers from either goals or scheduled transactions.
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Green Motherboard said:
Interestingly in April the budgeted column is shown a 0The budget columns are always 0 for new months until you put into or take money out of a category (by typing, MMT, or quick budget buttons).
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Move Light Sound Life said:
Yeah, I'd say that if you're happy with the available amount, ignore the goal.And just to make sure you're happy, if you intend to make a $1000 payment in March, your Available Amount needs to show (positive) $1000.
The budgeted column is like showing your work on your math homework. It's how you get the answer. It can be positive, negative, or zero, and it does not have to match the available or activity for the month.
The goal just tries to remind you of what you thought you wanted to do each month and/or minimize repetitive typing into the budget column each month. A goal doesn't actually enter the budget equation.
The available column is the answer for how much money you've got in a category, ready to either pay a bill or sit there and be saved.
My guess is that your March available is -$1000 because your February available of $0 plus March's budgeted column of -1000 means the available column is -$1000 and red. This is a problem. You need to eradicate red negative numbers or you've got more money in categories than you've got in the bank.
