> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.setaside.money/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Free-to-Spend

> Understand the money available after your Expenses are funded.

Your bank balance tells you where your money is. **Free-to-Spend** tells you what is left after the money you have set aside is accounted for.

## Read the two numbers together

* **Set aside in Expenses:** money already earmarked for bills, Goals, and tracked credit card payments.
* **Free-to-Spend:** the amount the app reports as available after those commitments.

Creating an Expense target describes your intention. Funding it sets money aside. The target and the balance are different numbers.

<Note>Saving funding settings does not increase an Expense balance. Money is set aside when funding actually happens.</Note>

## A simple example

If the app shows $2,352.68 in available cash, $1,940 set aside, and $412.68 Free-to-Spend, the $1,940 already has a job. This example is illustrative; use the app's calculated number for your own account.

## If the number changes unexpectedly

Review recent transactions, Expense transfers, credit card activity, and connection freshness. Check the selected personal or shared account before comparing two screens.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Expenses and Goals" icon="bullseye" href="/guides/expenses">Give each commitment a clear purpose.</Card>
  <Card title="Credit cards" icon="credit-card" href="/guides/credit-cards">See how card spending sets money aside.</Card>
</CardGroup>


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