The first installment of the 13th salary was deposited by Friday (28), injecting R$ 369.4 billion into the Brazilian economy in 2025, according to Dieese. Experts recommend using the benefit to pay off expensive debts, renovate properties, or invest in safe options like Tesouro Selic and CDBs. With interest rates at 15% per year, the choice depends on each person's financial profile.
The 13th salary, an annual benefit for formal workers, had its first installment paid by November 28, 2025, the last business day of the month. With about 59 million investors in the country, the amount represents an opportunity to organize finances, according to experts.
For those facing debts like overdraft, with rates over 130% per year, the priority is to pay them off, says Flávia Michels, economist at CredCrea. 'By getting rid of these bills, the budget breathes and opens space for new plans,' she states. Then, set aside 10% to 20% for emergencies before other applications.
For home renovations, as in the Climaco family in São Paulo, use at most 60% of the value, reserving margin for unforeseen issues that can represent 20% of the work without planning, warns architect Cristiane Schiavoni. 'The most common mistake is starting without a project,' she says. Prioritize infrastructure, bathrooms, and kitchen, and avoid long installments exceeding 20% of net income.
For property financing, amortizing reduces the term and interest. Simulations show that R$ 5,000 can eliminate 6 to 12 installments in a R$ 480,000 contract at 12% per year, according to Marcelo Da Cruz of Grupo Referência. 'This practice can shorten the debt by years and generate savings over R$ 150,000,' he explains. Compare the financing rate with investment yields; if above 15% Selic, amortize; otherwise, invest.
Investment options include LCA, LCI, and Tesouro Selic for daily liquidity, ideal for emergency reserves, recommends Harion Camargo. For advanced profiles, real estate funds, ETFs, or BDRs diversify, protecting against inflation and exchange rates like the dollar, suggests Fábio Macedo. B3 offers free financial education courses, with over 520,000 registered.
In summary, assess your stage: disorganized (control spending), bills paid (set goals), beginner (low risk), or growth (diversify). Always simulate to balance consumption and assets.
