Assets and Liabilities Explained

អានជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅក្នុងឆានែលតេលេក្រាម / Read the Khmer version in our Telegram channel.

What are Assets and Liabilities?

If you want to understand your financial situation and plan for your future, you need to know the difference between assets and liabilities. These are two key terms in accounting and finance that describe what you own and what you owe. In this blog post, we will explore the definition of both terms and give you one example for each.

An asset is anything that you own that has value. It can be tangible, such as a car or a house, or intangible, such as a patent or a brand name. Assets can generate income for you, such as rent from a property or dividends from a stock. They can also appreciate in value over time, such as a rare painting or a vintage guitar. Assets are recorded on the left side of the balance sheet, which shows the financial position of a business or an individual at a given point in time.

A liability is anything that you owe to someone else. It can be current, such as a credit card bill or a utility bill, or long-term, such as a mortgage or a student loan. Liabilities can cost you money, such as interest payments on a loan or penalties for late payments. They can also reduce your net worth, which is the difference between your assets and liabilities. Liabilities are recorded on the right side of the balance sheet.

Let’s look at an example of an asset and a liability for an individual. Suppose you have $10,000 in your savings account and $5,000 in your credit card debt. Your savings account is an asset because it has value and it earns interest for you. Your credit card debt is a liability because it is something that you owe and it charges interest from you. Your net worth is $10,000 - $5,000 = $5,000.

Knowing the difference between assets and liabilities can help you make better financial decisions and achieve your financial goals. You should aim to increase your assets and decrease your liabilities over time. This will increase your net worth and improve your financial health and wealth.