Final answer:
The function of money that allows individuals to buy goods today and pay in the future is the standard of deferred payment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the functions of money, it is the standard of deferred payment that allows individuals to buy goods today and pay for them at a future date. This function is essential for the working of the credit market, enabling agreements like loans and payment plans where the payment is deferred to a later time.
Money thereby serves as a medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account, and importantly as a standard of deferred payment. It's this last function that facilitates economic transactions where payment is not immediate but is scheduled for the future, illustrating the versatility and comprehensive role of money in an economy.