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True North Budgeting True North

Track what you own, see what you're worth

Track what you own: home, car, investments, retirement accounts, and cash. Assets minus debts equals your net worth.

Net worth matters more than income. Someone earning $100k with $50k debt and no savings is worse off than someone earning $60k with $100k saved. Tracking assets shows your true financial position.

Overview at a Glance

At the top, see your total asset value, net equity (assets minus linked debt) with ownership status, total linked debt with leverage ratio, and how many assets you are tracking. Assets needing value updates are flagged for validation.

Six Asset Types

Categorize everything you own into one of six types for a clear, organized view of your holdings.

Home

Your primary residence or other real estate you own. Link a mortgage to see true equity instead of just the property value.

Car

Vehicles you own. Link an auto loan to see how much equity you actually have versus what you still owe.

Investment

Brokerage accounts, stocks, and other investment holdings. Update balances monthly to keep your net worth accurate.

Retirement

401k, IRA, pension, and other retirement accounts. These are long-term assets that grow over time and contribute significantly to net worth.

Cash

Bank accounts, emergency fund, and other cash reserves. Seeing your cash position alongside your budget reinforces the progress you are making.

Other

Anything else of value that does not fit the other categories. Use this for collectibles, precious metals, or other assets worth tracking.

Linking Assets to Debts

Link a debt to an asset to see true equity. The linked debt amount is subtracted from the asset value so your net worth reflects what you actually own, not just what things are worth on paper.

Home Value $300,000
Linked Debt

Mortgage

-$200,000
True Equity

What appears in your net worth

$100,000

Keep Values Current

Update asset values periodically to keep your net worth accurate. Investment accounts fluctuate and should be updated monthly or quarterly. Real estate values can be updated annually or when comparable sales data is available.

Review Tab

Assets not updated in 30 or more days appear in the Review tab for validation. This helps ensure your net worth stays accurate over time.

Validate

Confirming an asset updates its "last validated" date without changing the value. Use this when the value has not changed but you want to acknowledge you have reviewed it.

Update

Change the asset's value when it has increased or decreased. This updates both the value and the last validated date.

Pro Tips

Update investment balances monthly

Investment accounts fluctuate regularly. Monthly updates keep your net worth calculation meaningful and accurate.

Link mortgages to home assets

Seeing a $300k home in your net worth is misleading if you owe $200k on it. Linking the mortgage shows your true $100k equity.

Skip depreciating items

Do not include furniture, electronics, or other items that lose value quickly and have little resale value.

Common Mistakes

Overvaluing your home

Use recent comparable sales in your area rather than optimistic estimates. An inflated home value gives you a false sense of net worth.

Forgetting to update after large changes

Large deposits or withdrawals can significantly shift your net worth. Update asset values after major financial events.

Including personal items

Clothing, household items, and personal electronics have little resale value. Including them inflates your net worth without adding real financial value.

Understand what you own, not just what you owe

Track your assets alongside your budget for a complete view of your financial health.

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