Net worth is everything you own minus everything you owe. Enter your account balances and the realistic value of things you could sell, then your debts, and this calculator shows your net worth today. Repeating it every few months shows whether you are moving in the right direction.
A worked example
Maya is a hypothetical person and all example amounts are US dollars, not a real customer story.
Maya has 4,200 in checking and savings, 18,500 in a retirement account, a car worth 9,000 and 800 of other items she could sell: 32,500 in total. She owes 2,300 on credit cards, 21,000 in student debt and 6,400 on her car: 29,700 in total. Her net worth is 2,800. Next year, the number can rise even with the same income if her debts fall while her savings grow.
What to include
Use current balances from statements, not amounts you hope to have. Value a home or vehicle at what it could realistically sell for, not what you paid. Include every debt, including medical bills and money owed to family if you intend to repay it. Leave out everyday belongings that you would not sell. The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances measures household net worth the same basic way: the value of assets minus debts.
If your result is negative
A negative net worth means you owe more than you own today. It is a snapshot, not a verdict. Paying debt with cash you already own reduces both assets and debts by the same amount. For example, 1,000 in cash minus 500 owed equals 500; after a 100 payment, 900 minus 400 still equals 500. This simplified example excludes fees and other changes.
Net worth increases only when the overall difference between assets and debts increases. New income retained as savings can help, but moving money between your own accounts does not create extra assets. Use the monthly budget template to plan real cash needs separately from this snapshot.
Limits of a single number
Net worth does not show whether you can pay this month’s bills. A household with a valuable home and no cash can struggle with a sudden cost, so look at it alongside your emergency fund target. Retirement accounts may also carry tax or withdrawal rules, so their full balance is not always available to spend.
Use one currency for every asset and debt. Display currency changes labels only; convert mixed-currency balances consistently before entering them. Do not count the same account or jointly owned asset twice; use a consistent household or personal scope. This tool does not estimate sale costs, tax or withdrawal charges, and is general education rather than personalized advice.