How do I build my net worth?

Net worth is assets minus debts, so it rises when assets grow or debts shrink. These five moves do most of the work:

• Pay off high-interest debt first. Clearing a credit card at 24% is a guaranteed 24% return, and the interest you stop paying shows up in your net worth every month after.
• Take the full 401(k) match. It’s the only place your net worth jumps the moment you save.
• Invest on a schedule. Automatic monthly contributions to index funds work better than waiting for a good time.
• Let the house work. Each mortgage payment moves money from the debt column to the equity column, and owning long enough usually adds appreciation.
• Keep spending from rising with income. A raise that goes straight to investments moves the number faster than anything else on this list.

Then measure it. Checking once a month is enough to notice when a balance drifts. The net worth tracker app is built for that: enter balances, see what changed since last time.