Net Worth: Member Guide

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How much are you worth? As a human being, your value is priceless, and has no relation whatsoever to what accountants and bankers call net worth. Net worth is merely a way of calculating where you stand financially-do you have assets to call your own, or do you they really belong to your creditors? It’s a way of checking the scoreboard in the financial game of life.

Icebreaker
Who is a financial role model to you? Talk about the characteristics that you admire. How have they impacted your financial well-being?
Things to Talk About
Net worth is a convenient way to keep track of how you are doing financially. Are you moving ahead or falling behind in pursuing your goals?Pick the question your Club finds most interesting. If there’s still time, pick another one — or make up your own!

  • Have you ever calculated your net worth? Was the result surprising to you?
  • What emotions come to mind when you hear the words “net worth”?
  • Do you think your net worth is positive or negative right now? Why?
  • Do you judge other people (and yourself) based on net worth? Do you think other people judge you?
  • What is the relationship between net worth and self-worth in your life? If one impacts the other, how does that work for you?
AS USUAL.
Catch Yourself Doing Something Right
Share your success with your fellow Club members:

  • What Money Miracle (unexpected good fortune) did you have since last meeting?
  • What did you do since last meeting to become a Money Star (a money-savvy gal in charge of her finances)? How did you further your financial goals?
What Will You Do Today?
Choose one Small Step to do before next meeting, and pledge to the group to do it. To select that 15-minute exercise, ask yourself these questions:

  • What are your money challenges before the next meeting?
  • What do you need to focus on?
  • What is the next step in your life — and what can you do before the next meeting to achieve it?

Don’t drive yourself crazy. Remember, you can do anything for 15 minutes! For example:

  • I will create a big sign with my realistic net worth goal for six months from now. I will hang this sign over my desk, on the refrigerator, or any other location where I will see it each day to remind myself of my financial goals.

Or

  • I will spend 15 minutes thinking about all of the things in my life that are priceless to me-family, friends, experiences, learning, the beauty of nature. I will remind myself that there is more worth to life than money.

Or

  • I will spend 15 minutes getting ready to calculate my net worth for the Just For You exercise. I will prepare everything so that my net worth calculation will go smoothly.

You get the picture. This is like Goldilocks. Don’t try to do too much. Don’t try to do too little. Do it just right.

More Cool Ideas for Small Steps.

Money Attraction Affirmations
Choose one affirmation to motivate you to achieve your goals, something like:

  • I am in control of my financial future.
  • I am honest with myself about where I stand financially.
  • I accept responsibility for my financial choices.
  • I value and enjoy my life, regardless of my financial status.
The Money Zone for Next Meeting
Cast your vote: Does your Money Club want to stay in this Money Zone, or do you want to move on to the next Money Zone?If your group decides to Stay in the Zone then, future Money Star, check out these fun articles so you can discuss them at your next meeting. Even if your group decides to move to the next Zone, you still can explore these on your own.Increasing Your Net Worth
Discussion questions:

  • Can you think of any other windfalls you are due to receive soon?
  • How can you use these windfalls to improve your net worth?

How Much Money Does it Take to Change Your Life?
Discussion questions:

  • What thoughts came to mind as you read this article?
  • Have you had any experiences with “marginal utility” in your own life?

Another Way to Look at Net Worth
Discussion questions:

  • What do you think is most important about net worth?
  • How can you balance your net worth with a feeling of purpose?
Just For You
Before the next Money Club meeting, do the Just for You Exercise called Finding Your Net Worth .Don’t skip a meeting if you don’t get this done. Half of life is showing up, Money Clubs included. You can tell the group you didn’t get it done, and they will encourage you (not bug you) to make a date to do it soon.Discussion questions for your club meeting:

  • When you think about calculating your net worth, how does it make you feel – excited, scared, happy, guilty, or some other emotion? Why do you think that is?
  • How did you feel when you completed the calculation of your net worth? Did the final numbers surprise you? Why or why not?