Use Cases
This page illustrates the Asset data model with concrete, real-life examples.
Examples
1.Checking Account
Scenario
You manually track your checking account balance.
Asset
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Checking Account |
| Asset Type | CASH |
| Categories | Bank Accounts, Liquid Assets |
| Quantity | null |
| Disposed | false |
| Tags | liquidity, emergency_fund |
Transactions
No transactions (manual tracking only for now).
Balance Snapshots
| Snapshot Date | Value | Currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | 10,000 | EUR | manual |
| 2024-02-01 | 10,450 | EUR | manual |
| 2024-03-01 | 9,800 | EUR | manual |
Portfolio Valuation Rule: Use the latest balance snapshot (€9,800).
2.Wardrobe
Scenario
You track your summer t-shirt collection. These t-shirts are both casual wear AND part of your workout clothes.
Asset
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Summer T-Shirts Collection |
| Asset Type | PERSONAL_PROPERTY |
| Categories | Clothing > T-Shirts, Athletic Wear, Casual Wear |
| Quantity | 15 |
| Disposed | false |
| Tags | summer, cotton, breathable |
Transactions
| Date | Type | Quantity | Unit Price | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-06-01 | ACQUIRE | 10 | 25 | EUR |
| 2023-08-15 | ACQUIRE | 5 | 30 | EUR |
Balance Snapshots
| Snapshot Date | Value | Currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | 225 | EUR | manual |
Asset belongs to THREE categories simultaneously
- Clothing > T-Shirts (hierarchy path)
- Athletic Wear (cross-cutting category)
- Casual Wear (cross-cutting category)
Total acquisition cost: €400 (10×25 + 5×30)
Current value: €225 (depreciation tracked via snapshot)
3.Real Estate
Scenario
You buy an apartment that serves as both your primary residence AND a rental investment (you rent out one room on Airbnb).
Asset
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Apartment Paris 11th |
| Asset Type | REAL_ESTATE |
| Categories | Real Estate > Residential > Apartments, Primary Residence, Income Generating Assets |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Disposed | true |
| Tags | paris, airbnb, partial_rental, sold |
Transactions
| Date | Type | Quantity | Unit Price | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-05-10 | ACQUIRE | 1 | 300,000 | EUR |
| 2023-09-20 | DISPOSE | 1 | 420,000 | EUR |
Balance Snapshots (Historical)
| Snapshot Date | Value | Currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-01 | 330,000 | EUR | manual |
| 2021-01-01 | 380,000 | EUR | manual |
Asset belongs to THREE categories simultaneously
- Real Estate > Residential > Apartments (hierarchy path)
- Primary Residence (legal classification)
- Income Generating Assets (functional classification)
Realized gain: €120,000 (€420k - €300k)
4. LEGO Set
Scenario
You found a LEGO Star Wars set at home. It's both a collectible investment AND part of your children's toy collection.
Asset
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon |
| Asset Type | PERSONAL_PROPERTY |
| Categories | Toys > Building Sets > LEGO, Collectibles > Investment Grade, Kids Room Items |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Disposed | false |
| Tags | star_wars, vintage, unopened, appreciating |
Transactions
| Date | Type | Quantity | Unit Price | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-08-15 | ACQUIRE | 1 | 0 | EUR |
Balance Snapshots
| Snapshot Date | Value | Currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | 350 | EUR | manual |
Acquisition price: €0 (found item)
Current market value: €350
5. Household Furniture
Useful with bulk items.
Scenario
You own 10 identical wooden chairs that serve multiple purposes: dining, office workspace, and guest seating.
Asset
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Wooden Dining Chairs |
| Asset Type | PERSONAL_PROPERTY |
| Categories | Home > Furniture > Dining, Office Equipment, Multi-Purpose Items |
| Quantity | 10 |
| Disposed | false |
| Tags | wood, stackable, versatile |
Transactions
| Date | Type | Quantity | Unit Price | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-06-01 | ACQUIRE | 10 | 40 | EUR |
Balance Snapshots
| Snapshot Date | Value | Currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | 300 | EUR | manual |
Asset belongs to THREE categories simultaneously
- Home > Furniture > Dining (primary use)
- Office Equipment (secondary use)
- Multi-Purpose Items (functional classification)
Total acquisition cost: €400 (10×40)
Current value: €300 (25% depreciation)
6. Mortgage Loan (Liability)
Scenario
You have a mortgage loan on your primary residence. This is a liability (negative asset).
Asset
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Mortgage - Paris Apartment |
| Asset Type | LOAN |
| Categories | Liabilities > Real Estate Loans, Long-Term Debt |
| Quantity | null |
| Disposed | false |
| Tags | mortgage, primary_residence, fixed_rate |
Transactions
| Date | Type | Quantity | Unit Price | Currency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-05-10 | ACQUIRE | 1 | -250,000 | EUR | Initial loan |
| 2016-01-01 | DISPOSE | 1 | 5,000 | EUR | Principal payment |
| 2017-01-01 | DISPOSE | 1 | 5,200 | EUR | Principal payment |
| 2018-01-01 | DISPOSE | 1 | 5,400 | EUR | Principal payment |
Balance Snapshots
| Snapshot Date | Value | Currency | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | -220,000 | EUR | manual | Remaining debt |
| 2024-02-01 | -219,500 | EUR | manual | After payment |
Key Points
- Initial acquisition is negative (-€250,000 = you owe this)
- DISPOSE transactions are positive (principal payments reduce the debt)
- Balance snapshots are negative (current debt owed)
- Portfolio valuation: This subtracts from total net worth
Liabilities
Liabilities are assets with negative values:
| Asset Type | Typical Balance | Portfolio Impact |
|---|---|---|
| CASH | Positive | Increases net worth |
| REAL_ESTATE | Positive | Increases net worth |
| LOAN | Negative | Decreases net worth |
| CREDIT_CARD | Negative | Decreases net worth |
| MORTGAGE | Negative | Decreases net worth |
Portfolio Calculation:
Net Worth = Sum of all asset balances (positive + negative)
Example:
Checking Account: +€10,000
Paris Apartment: +€420,000
Mortgage Loan: -€220,000
────────────────────────────────
Net Worth: +€210,000
Transaction Logic
For a LOAN asset:
ACQUIREwith negative unit_price = Taking out a loan (you owe money)DISPOSEwith positive unit_price = Paying off principal (reducing debt)
Example Flow:
2015-05-10: ACQUIRE 1 × -€250,000 = -€250,000 (loan originated)
2016-01-01: DISPOSE 1 × +€5,000 = -€245,000 (paid €5k principal)
2017-01-01: DISPOSE 1 × +€5,200 = -€239,800 (paid €5.2k principal)
Complete Picture
Assets (Positive):
- Checking Account: €10,000
- Paris Apartment: €420,000
Liabilities (Negative):
- Mortgage Loan: -€220,000
- Credit Card: -€2,000
Net Worth:
€10,000 + €420,000 - €220,000 - €2,000 = €208,000
This is tracked in Portfolio Snapshots.
Portfolio Example
All assets combined into a portfolio view.
Portfolio: "My Personal Wealth"
| Asset Name | Asset Type | Categories | Current Value | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking Account | CASH | Bank Accounts, Liquid Assets | 9,800 | EUR |
| Summer T-Shirts | PERSONAL_PROPERTY | Clothing > T-Shirts, Athletic Wear, Casual Wear | 225 | EUR |
| Apartment Paris | REAL_ESTATE | Residential > Apartments, Primary Residence, Income Generating | 0 | EUR |
| LEGO Millennium Falcon | PERSONAL_PROPERTY | Toys > LEGO, Collectibles, Kids Room | 350 | EUR |
| Wooden Chairs | PERSONAL_PROPERTY | Furniture > Dining, Office Equipment, Multi-Purpose | 300 | EUR |
Portfolio Snapshot
| Snapshot Date | Total Value | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | 10,675 | EUR |
Apartment is disposed (sold), so its current value is €0 in the portfolio.
Category in Action
Categories let you organize and filter assets.
Asset belongs to THREE categories simultaneously
- Toys > Building Sets > LEGO (what it is)
- Collectibles > Investment Grade (how you treat it)
- Kids Room Items (where it's stored)
Filtering by "Income Generating Assets"
- Apartment Paris 11th (partial Airbnb rental)
Filtering by "Multi-Purpose Items"
- Wooden Dining Chairs (used for dining, office, guests)
Filtering by "Collectibles"
- LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon
One asset can appear in multiple organizational contexts without duplication.