"I'm debt free!"
"You told me today you owe your mom $1000"
"That doesn't count"
"Of course it counts"
"No it doesn't, I owe her for holiday flights, they don't count"
This reminds me of a conversation a friend and I had but in reverse. Last September, my assets minus debt/liabilities was -30,000$. Recent university graduate with loans, single parent (I was seventeen when I became a father). Poor financial and life choices.
In March, I told my dear friend: "I'm excited. I'm up to -15,000 networth."
DF: "Shouldn't the number be higher?" (A smaller negative.)
Me: "Why?"
DF: "For that -30,000 you included car debt but now your car is paid off and you could consider it an asset. So -10,000$?"
Me: "Oh :O. You make a good point."
I am at approximately -3,000 now.