How to Track Your Net Worth (Step-by-Step Guide)
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Your net worth is the single best measure of your financial health. Here's how to calculate it and why tracking it over time matters.
What Is Net Worth?
Net worth is a simple calculation: everything you own minus everything you owe. It's the clearest snapshot of your financial position at any point in time. Unlike income, which measures money flowing in, net worth measures what you've actually built.
Net Worth = Total Assets − Total Liabilities
Why Track Your Net Worth?
- See the full picture. Income alone doesn't tell you if you're building wealth or going deeper into debt. Net worth shows both sides.
- Measure real progress. Monthly snapshots reveal trends that daily spending habits can't. Are you moving in the right direction?
- Make better decisions. When you can see how a purchase or debt payoff changes your net worth, you make more informed choices.
- Stay motivated. Watching your net worth grow over months and years is one of the most motivating things in personal finance.
What to Include in Your Net Worth
Assets (What You Own)
- Bank accounts (checking, savings, money market)
- Investment accounts (brokerage, stocks, bonds, crypto)
- Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA, pension)
- Real estate (home equity, rental properties)
- Vehicles (current market value)
- Other valuables (business equity, collectibles, etc.)
Liabilities (What You Owe)
- Mortgage balance
- Car loans
- Student loans
- Credit card balances
- Personal loans
- Any other debts
Methods for Tracking Net Worth
Spreadsheets
Flexible but tedious. You have to build formulas, maintain the sheet, and remember to update it. Easy to make errors. No mobile-friendly experience.
Apps That Require Bank Login
Apps like Mint and YNAB connect directly to your bank accounts via services like Plaid. They automate data collection but require you to share your bank credentials with a third party. Your financial data lives on their servers.
Offline Net Worth Trackers
Apps like CustomWorth let you track net worth without connecting your bank. You manually enter balances, keeping your data private and on your device. Simple, fast, and no credentials to share.
How CustomWorth Makes It Easy
CustomWorth is a free net worth tracker for iPhone that works 100% offline. No bank login, no accounts, no tracking. Just download from the App Store and start adding your assets and liabilities. Take snapshots to track your progress over time.
- Download CustomWorth from the App Store. It's free with no ads or subscriptions.
- Add your assets (bank accounts, investments, property, etc.) with current balances.
- Add your liabilities (loans, credit cards, mortgage, etc.).
- View your net worth on the dashboard, calculated instantly.
- Take snapshots weekly or monthly to track your progress over time.
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Start Tracking Your Net Worth Today
Free. Offline. Private. No bank login required.
Download CustomWorth