Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.

Ever wondered how financially healthy you really are? Not how much you earn, but how much you own. That’s where net worth comes in.
Your net worth gives you the clearest snapshot of your overall financial situation. It shows what you truly have, not just what’s in your bank account today.
And the best bit? You don’t need a financial adviser to work it out. You can calculate it yourself in about 15 minutes.
Here’s how…
Your net worth is simply:
Everything you own (your assets), MINUS
Everything you owe (your liabilities)
It’s the number that tells you what you’d have left if you sold all your assets and paid off all your debts.
Don’t worry if it’s not a huge number, or even if it’s negative right now. This is just your starting point, and tracking it regularly helps you see your progress over time.
Let’s start with the fun part, counting what you have.
List all your assets and their current market value, not what you paid for them, but what they’re worth today.
Here’s what to include:
Don’t overlook these:
Now for the less glamorous part, your liabilities. These are all your debts and financial obligations.
Include:
Add them all together for your total liabilities.
Now just subtract your total liabilities from your total assets.
Net Worth = Assets – Liabilities
Example:
Net worth = £80,000
That’s your current financial position.
Your net worth isn’t a one-time calculation. It’s a living number that changes as your financial situation evolves.
Track it every 3–6 months to see your progress. You might find your debts shrinking, your investments growing, and your confidence soaring.
Tip: Use a spreadsheet or free personal finance app to make tracking easy.
Knowing your net worth helps you:
It’s not about comparing yourself to anyone else; it’s about building your own financial freedom with clarity and confidence.
Your net worth is your financial compass; it shows where you are and helps you plan where you want to go.
So grab a notebook (or open a spreadsheet), list your assets and debts, and find out your number today.
You might be pleasantly surprised, and if not, you’ve just taken the first smart step toward building real wealth.
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Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies, are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence. When investing your capital is at risk.
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