Pensando no futuro: planejamento e decisões em finanças pessoais a partir da educação financeira

Abstract

This study aims to understand how financial education helps in planning and making decisions about personal finances. This goal is based on the precarious state of formal financial education in Brazil and, simultaneously, the vast amount of fragmented information on the subject within society; both factors that hinder how people learn and manage their finances. Thus, using a basic approach and a qualitative methodology, it also aims to identify some of the greatest difficulties faced by people in the process of financial organization, understand how individuals can make more assertive decisions, and identify the most recommended practices to improve results in this area. To this end, several works were analyzed which, in summary, showed that financial education has a direct influence on individuals' ability to plan and make decisions involving their savings, and that one of the most effective ways to improve success in this regard is through early exposure to knowledge in this area. Regarding the most common difficulties in this area, issues stemming from a lack of financial literacy stand out, such as not knowing where to begin to get organized, get out of debt, and so on. Furthermore, numerous points addressed in the works were listed as suggestions and best practices for improving the achievement of personal goals and monetary returns, such as the development of a financial plan, prioritizing rationality over emotional aspects when making decisions, and using investments as a way to accelerate gains, among others. Thus, the results obtained focus on deepening the discussions and subsequently synthesizing some of the most relevant contributions present in works dealing with personal finance.