Until December 20, 2021, the payment of the 13th salary will be responsible for injecting BRL 232.6 billion into Brazilian economy, according to data from the Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (Dieese).
When well managed, the resource can help the worker to balance finances, take some plans off paper or be the first step towards organizing the financial future. For this, it is important to define how the money will be used. “Falling into financial disarray at the end of the year is an imminent risk, even more so this year, which still we are facing reflections of an intense crisis”, warns the president of the Brazilian Association of Educators Financial (Abefin), Reinaldo Domingos.
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In the evaluation of consultant and financial educator Valdilei Jacob, the correct way to use the 13th is the one that helps the worker to improve his condition. “To do this, it is necessary for the person to be aware of their financial life, through month-to-month monitoring, knowing what money comes in, what comes out, where it goes, what are your debts and what are your short, medium and long term goals”, he guides.
Given this information, specialists explain that it is possible to establish priorities for the use of money.
For those who are in default, the resource can help to get out of this situation, clear the name and recover the credit. "It is important to start with those debts that are overdue and that have higher interest rates, such as the credit card, which must be paid in full and not just partially", warns Jacob.
According to him, it is recommended to negotiate debts with creditors. “Workers should also pay attention to the various ‘Feirões Limpa-nome’ held by stores and institutions at the end of the year.”
For those who have outstanding debts, even if they are not overdue, the money can be used to pay them off, as long as it does not jeopardize other financial commitments, according to experts. Advances and cash payments help claim discounts.
This is also an option to use the 13th salary, but caution is needed. “The ideal is to act, at this moment, according to the standard of living, respecting the budget”, stresses Domingos.
For this, he advises to make a list of people who will be presented, research prices and prioritize promotions. “After Christmas, it is common to have sales and promotions, so if you can leave it for gifts during this period, you will find good prices.”
Saving means saving money for later use. “It is always a good alternative, as long as the person has already resolved the other situations: basic needs met, debts paid, emergency reserve”, exemplifies Jacob.
The expert recalls that the beginning of the year reserves extra expenses such as IPTU, IPVA, uniforms, enrollment and school supplies. Saving the 13th can be a solution for extra expenses in January.
Those with accounts in blue can allocate the money to invest, which means making the money saved yield. It is advisable that the first investment aims to create an emergency reserve. Those who already have it can seek to diversify their portfolio.
In view of the high Selic rate, fixed income products such as Direct Treasury and CDB with daily liquidity are more attractive. Those interested in taking their first steps in variable income can opt for real estate funds to invest, considered safer options compared to other assets.
Jacob highlights the importance of studying each application modality. “Before any type of investment, an in-depth study is necessary to ensure safety. Today there are several materials available on the Internet, as well as specialists who talk about the subject in a didactic and easy-to-understand language.”
Domingos assesses that investing could be the first step towards making 2022 a year of achievements. “The year 2021 was difficult, but that cannot make us stop dreaming.”