With the arrival of 2025, many Brazilians are looking for ways to start the year with financial peace of mind, but how to organize efficiently and maintain it throughout the entire year. Financial planning expert from Me Poupe!, Marina Farias, shares valuable guidance for organizing budgets and achieving economic stability.
The first tip is to review expenses from the previous year to identify spending habits and opportunities to reduce costs. “Before thinking about the future, it’s important to understand how you spent in the past. Knowing where your money is going, being aware of your financial habits, and having a clear picture of income and daily expenses contribute to greater control throughout the year. Tools like spreadsheets and apps can help map these patterns,” she advises.
Setting clear financial goals is another essential step. Marina suggests using the SMART method, a technique that helps create objectives that are easily visualized and, as a result, easier to achieve. “The SMART method helps identify goals and what is needed to achieve each of them. This little English word works in Portuguese too—it means creating goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, with a defined deadline,” she explains.
Building an emergency fund—or what some call a ‘peace of mind’ reserve—is also crucial for handling unexpected financial situations. Marina recommends saving at least six months’ worth of monthly expenses, investing this amount in daily liquidity investments. “With it, you can be prepared for unexpected situations, such as slow business periods. This way, you can make decisions with greater peace of mind,” she says.
A key focus in such planning is avoiding debt, and to do this, it’s essential to control credit card use. Marina suggests always thinking of the number three: “Set a personal limit that does not exceed three times your monthly income, split payments into no more than three installments, and track spending in real time. Protect yourself by setting a personal limit. Additionally, if a purchase doesn’t fit your budget when divided into a maximum of three installments, it’s probably too expensive, and the best approach is to plan carefully how to split it to avoid strain,” she advises.
Finally, Marina emphasizes the importance of continuing to study personal finance to make more informed and effective decisions. “Those who stop acquiring new knowledge remain stuck in time. Education is the great leavening agent for your financial life,” she concludes.
