According to the 2023 Pulses survey by Ipsos, 61% of Brazilians face difficulties saving money. A fact that exemplifies this issue is related to some developed countries, which have higher household savings rates, while Brazil is well below the global average.
This scenario is worsened by inflation and economic instability, which increase the population's difficulty in maintaining a financial reserve. However, the lack of information and discipline regarding personal finance management are critical and even more urgent factors that contribute to this situation.
SecondMarilucia Silva Pertile, co-founder ofStart Growth, which provides expertise, capital, and experience for startups, fintechs focused on the personal economy have been offering new solutions to face this challenge. A fintech Smart SaveA recent initiative by the company is a notable example of how innovation can help solve common financial problems. "The solution allows users to automatically save and invest money based on their daily purchases, functioning as a modern 'digital safe'," he explains.
Digital safe
For the investor, Smart Save brings a revolution in the way Brazilians save because it directly affects one of the population's main weaknesses in relation to spending: the lack of control over bank statements and credit card limits.
The Smart Save proposal is simple but promises to be effective: with each purchase made using a credit card, debit card, or Pix, an additional amount (pre-set) is saved as an investment through rounding up the change. "They offer our vault of the past, but in digital format. It is a B2C fintech that processes in a way we haven't seen before," he emphasizes.
Challenges and opportunities for financial education
The lack of financial knowledge among the majority of the population is a significant obstacle to the country's savings capacity. However, according to the specialist, investing in innovative solutions that help them overcome these challenges can be a way for them to start interested in investment opportunities. "They can reach both audiences who have difficulty saving money and those who want to learn how to invest but don't know where to start," reinforces Marilucia.
