For many Brazilians, the Refund of Income Tax It is extra money that is most often used to pay bills and other expenses. However, for those who do not have a right destination and do not have debts, this value can be an opportunity to start or strengthen a emergency reserve.
This is because building a reserve is essential for financial security. According to experts heard by InfomoneyIn addition to saving, the recommendation is to direct this money to appropriate investments-ensuring its profitability and preserving purchasing power, and always keeping it available for emergencies.
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Why is the emergency reserve essential?
For those who do not know, the emergency reserve is a fund designed to cover unexpected expenses, such as health problems, dismissal or urgent repairs in the house or car. Neon’s financial educator Daiane Alves points out that it is an amount that can be used in the case of financial unforeseen events. “So that it should not be considered or even used to cover excesses,” he says.
The value of the reservation is not fixed and will depend on each person’s monthly expense. However, to know what is the ideal amount to accumulate, the ideal is that the reserve can cover at least six months of all fixed and essential monthly expenses.
To calculate this amount, it is necessary to list all essential costs, such as housing, food and consumer accounts, and multiply this total for six. If a person has a living cost of $ 4,000 per month, for example, the ideal emergency reserve would be $ 24,000.
The refund of IR as a starting point
The idea of building the emergency reserve itself is quite simple, but the practice can be challenging, especially for those who do not have a habit of saving. And that is precisely why experts emphasize that income tax refund can be the first step towards this goal.
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“This often unexpected value can be fully directed to the formation of this financial mattress, without impacting your regular monthly budget,” says Jeff Patzlaff, Financial Planner and investment specialist.
Remember that the refund of income tax will hardly be sufficient to completely cover the six months of suggested expenses. Still, experts reinforce that this value can serve as an incentive for those who have difficulty saving money monthly.
“It’s a way to start reserve, and it can be a motivator to maintain, because the fact that you already see a value saved, motivates to keep keeping to reach the goal,” says Daiane. After that, the educator recommends treating the reserve as a fixed expense and not something that will be spared only if there is money left.
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In this sense, Patzlaff also suggests that it is necessary to adopt a strategy to complement the value gradually. “An effective approach is to separate 20% of earnings every month to strengthen this reserve,” he says.
Where to invest the emergency reserve?
When thinking of saving money, many people still resort to savings as the main destination. However, although the booklet fulfills this function, it is not recommended by the experts since, in the long run, it is not always able to preserve the value over time.
“Historically, savings offers returns less than other fixed income options, especially during periods of high interest rates,” Patzlaff explains. This is because when the Selic rate is above 8.5% per year – as it currently occurs at 14.25% – savings yield is 0.5% to month plus the variation in the referential rate (TR).
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“The annual yield is approximately 6.17%,” says the planner. Moreover, another unfavorable point is the fact that savings interest rates are credited only once a month. This can be disadvantageous if there is a need to rescue resources before the birthday, leading to loss of performance.
In the same reasoning, Daiane Alves warns that although it is a safe investment, savings yield less than other fixed income options. “And it can devalue money over time, as savings do not accompany inflation,” he says.
Among the most advantageous alternatives for the emergency reserve are the Selic Treasury contributions, which offers daily liquidity and follows Selic, providing greater profitability with security, as well as solid banks with daily liquidity and di funds. It is worth mentioning that these investments allow for rapid rescue for situations of necessity without major losses.