Managing Assets and Debts in Greenback
Net worth isn’t a mystery; it’s a math problem. Assets minus debts, updated as the real world changes. Greenback pulls in what it can from connected accounts, and lets you add the rest—homes, vehicles, vintage guitars, student loans, and that one credit card you’re finally conquering. This guide helps you model your real life faithfully, so the number you see actually means something.
Understanding Assets and Debts
Assets
Assets are the things you own that carry value—cash you can count today, property that appreciates, portfolios that compound, and personal items that matter enough to track. If it meaningfully moves your financial picture, it belongs here.
Debts (Liabilities)
Debts are promises to pay later—credit cards, student loans, car notes, mortgages, or anything else that asks for monthly attention. Capturing them honestly turns net worth into a trustworthy truth, not wishful thinking.
Adding Manual Assets
Open the Assets & Debts tab and add what your banks can’t see. Give each asset a clear name, choose a category you’ll recognize later, and enter a realistic current value (not the hopeful one). If it’s tied to a connected account, link it; if not, you’re still covered.
Asset Categories
Common groupings include cash and equivalents, real estate, vehicles, investments, personal property, retirement, and business assets. Use “Other” sparingly—custom categories make recurring items easier to analyze.
Adding Manual Debts
In the Debts section, add each obligation you want in the picture. Name it specifically, assign a sensible category, include the current balance (and APR if it helps you plan), and keep the start date accurate so payoff progress looks right over time.
Debt Categories
Credit cards, student loans, auto loans, mortgages, personal or business loans, medical bills, and taxes are the usual suspects. If you owe it, it counts.
Editing and Updating Assets/Debts
Markets move and balances change. Tap any item to edit its details and keep values current—especially for investments and fast‑moving debts. Your net worth chart will thank you.
Tracking Appreciation/Depreciation
Greenback tracks history so you can see what’s appreciating, what’s depreciating, and which paydown plans are actually working.
Viewing Asset and Debt Information
At a glance, you’ll see totals, category breakdowns, item‑level details, and history. Together they explain not only what your net worth is, but why—and how it’s changing.
Best Practices
Update values on a monthly cadence (and after big life events). Use fair market estimates, not optimistic ones. Track what matters and group what doesn’t. And as always, protect your privacy and security along the way.
Practical Scenarios
Emergency funds that live outside your bank? Add them as cash assets and update as you save or spend. Real estate? Record the property and refresh the value when comps or appraisals change. Credit cards? Track each one separately and watch payoff progress turn into momentum. For investments that aren’t linked, manual entries keep the big picture honest. Student loans with different terms belong as separate items so repayment timelines stay clear.
Troubleshooting
If your net worth didn’t budge after an update, refresh the dashboard and confirm the item saved as expected. Numbers look off? Recheck values and categories—small typos make big graphs. Can’t find something you added? Verify the right tab, then re‑create it if needed.
Power Tools
Asset allocation views show diversification at a glance. Debt‑to‑asset ratios quantify leverage and motivation alike. And historical tracking transforms memory into evidence—perfect for planning, not guessing.
Getting Help
If you want a reality check—or you hit an edge case—we’re here. Visit Settings → Support and we’ll help you model your situation cleanly. The more your inputs reflect your real life, the more your net worth becomes a compass, not just a number.