Orçamento sem Falhas - Nath Finanças

Do you feel at ease when you hear the word "bills"? Would you say that you know how to handle your money wisely? Is your money management "on point"?

If the answer was no, it's time to learn how to organize your personal finances! In her book "Orçamento sem Falhas", Nath Finanças brings indispensable teachings for you to learn how to better manage your money.

Are you interested? Then, let's read this summary that was made especially for you who want to build your own flawless budget!

About the book "Orçamento sem Falhas"

In the book, the author approaches the topic of financial education in a relaxed, didactic, and interactive way.

The book "Orçamentos sem Falhas: Saia do Vermelho e aprenda a poupar com pouco dinheiro", "Flawless Budget: Get out of the red and learn to save with little money" in a free English translation, which contains 128 pages divided into 13 chapters and a glossary, puts on paper the teachings that have made Nath Finanças a digital reference on the subject.

Furthermore, she explains important financial concepts and teaches how to set up your own planning with simple tactics and saving little money, besides she warns about the dangers of mixing emotions and money.

About the author Nath Finanças

Nathália Rodrigues, also known as Nath Finanças, despite having a degree in business administration, is currently an entrepreneur and works with financial consultancy.

Nath Finanças is considered a digital reference in financial education (almost 25 thousand subscribers on Youtube; more than 300 thousand followers on Instagram, besides having her own podcast on Spotify).

She was listed in the Forbes Under 30 of 2020 as one of the most influential figures in the Brazilian financial world.

To whom is this book indicated?

In the book, the author talks mainly to interns, freelancers and people with lower wages.

But this is the ideal type of book for you who want to expand your financial education or just understand how to create a personal financial plan!

It is a must-have for anyone who wants to handle their own money wisely.

So, are you willing to learn how to balance your finances and plan for your future? If so, stay with us, because this book shows you exactly how to do it!

Main ideas of the book "Orçamento sem Falhas"

In "Orçamento sem Falhas", the author addresses several points so that you can set up your own budget in a simple way and saving a small amount of money.

There are 4 questions we should ask ourselves that serve as a guide to set your budget up. They are:

1. How do we deal with money?
2. How do we create and follow our own financial planning?
3. How to spare money and get out of the red?
4. How to understand financial tools and use them to our advantage?

Ready to learn how to get setted up?

Download the "Orçamento Sem Falhas" Book Summary in PDF for free

Do you have no time to read now? Then download the free PDF and read wherever and whenever you want:

How do we deal with money?

"Time is money." - Benjamin Franklin

Have you ever stopped to think about how money came about or why it is so important? The author explains that it is believed to have emerged and assumed such importance because it enables equivalence in the exchange of different products.

She clarifies, then, that over time labor became a commodity sold for money. Selling your effort and time for a monthly salary may not induce you to think about how much your time really costs or how important it is.

But, your time is one of the most important things to take in consideration when you are putting together a financial plan.

In the book, Nath asks the reader questions such as, "if you are self-employed, have you considered the hours you put in to get paid a specific amount?"; "if you have a debt, do you know how long it will take and everything you will need to give up to pay it off?".

Besides time, some other factors must be taken in consideration when setting up your budget.

The first learnings... and future learnings

Here the author explains that the first experiences, or lack of, we have with money come from childhood. Although we share the same starting point when it comes to financial education, each family approaches the subject in its own way.

For example, some families started teaching their children to save money after the hyperinflation period Brazil faced in the 1980s, which was not a family habit in previous generations.

Thus, family habits shape our first ideas of how to deal with money, but they don't prevent us from learning different things over time, that allow us to understand and know how to deal with the financial world.

The power of no: avoiding traps

In this part of the book, the influence of emotions on decision making is pointed out. How many times have you said yes to something even though you didn't want or couldn't do it? Most Brazilians have a hard time saying "no".

We make excuses such as "I'll check my schedule and let you know" or the famous "we'll buy it later".

Making excuses creates emotional traps that get in the way of making smart decisions.

To free ourselves from the influence of social pressure and the embarrassment we must understand and accept our reality. Embrace the power of no!

Desires versus Needs

This is the time to reflect on what is really necessary for your life and what is a temporary desire.

We will see below a list of points that will help you. They are:

• Our emotions and consumerism: Our emotions are amplifiers at the same time that they are amplified by the impulse to consume;
• Sense of "belonging": The purchasing power is linked to our status in the social dynamic. Know your limits and don't be ashamed of them;
• "Do I need it or do I want it?": Write down your income and expenses and analyze what on the list is superfluous and what is really necessary;
• Smart shopping: It is better to invest in higher quality products that last longer than to spend low amounts of money over and over again on disposable products;
• Priorities and balance: Bills are not a cringe, but living just to pay them is. You don't have to cut your "treats" out of your budget, but you must set your priorities and find the balance between desires and needs.

How do we create and follow our own financial planning?

"The future is now." - Nath Finanças

Many times we don't have a macro view of our finances and end up living from month to month. Thinking this way causes us to not have a long-term financial organization.

To set up this budget, you need to keep in mind some techniques that we will see below.

Write it down

It is difficult to follow a plan that is only in our heads. So writing down your plan will help you to follow it.

But if you prefer to use Excel spreadsheets or other budgeting templates, no problem! Use the tool you are most comfortable with, the important thing is to be organized.

And what should you put in your plan? Use the following guidelines:

• Income (what you earn);
• Expenses (what you spend);
• Goals (what you want to achieve with your money).

Create goals

Now that you have written down your planning, it is time to set the goals you want to achieve!

The author suggests the following steps to set your goals:

• Consider achievable goals: Think about something that is within your budget so to avoid frustration;
• Break down your goals into smaller objectives: You need to break down your goal into smaller objectives so that you are not only guided by the larger goal;
• Prepare a strategy: Think about how you will save money, how much you will save and for how long;
• Start simple: Often, starting to save is the hardest part of the process. The first step can be to save $2.00 and increase the amount over time. The important thing is to get started!

Build your own plan

There are two components that define your finances:

1. Expenses;
2. Income.

Expenses, as explained earlier, represent the money you spend. The author defines them in four ways:

1. Fixed expenses: Things that you pay every month with the same amount (rent, gym, health insurance);
2. Variable expenses: Things you pay for every month, but which may have different amounts every month (gas, electricity, water);
3. Extra expenses: Those that are not monthly, but need to be paid (property taxes, vehicle taxes, school supplies);
4. Goals: We saw right above.

The income, as well as the expenses, can be fixed or variable, depending on your job. If your monthly income is variable, you should calculate the average monthly amount.

Have an emergency fund

Having savings will help you a lot in case you need extra money for some unforeseen event, or even to maintain yourself in case of salary reduction.

But remember, your emergency fund must be as achievable as your goals! Use a budget forecast to help you to define your emergency fund and follow these three golden rules:

1. Set aside a portion of your salary for the fund on the payday;
2. Keep the money in a safe place (don't leave it with your monthly money);
3. Have easy access to it (after all, you need to be able to have it on hand in case of an emergency).

Daily savings

Household savings is one of the most important parts of personal finance. It is a result of your everyday spending. The author gives some tips on how to save money and cut down on expenses:

• Grocery: Analyze prices before buying; buy non-perishable food monthly and perishable food weekly; make a shopping list and stick to it;
• Physical or virtual stores: Search and compare prices; look for the store that is most advantageous to you;
• Services: Reflect on whether you prefer to spend your time doing something or if you prefer to spend money for someone else to do it for you;
• Bills: Practice conscious consumption; find out if you have public benefits such as the Social Tariff for Electricity and save money when paying your bills;
• Homemade food: Eat homemade food (take a lunch box to work, snacks when you go to the beach, among other things);
• The power of cents: Cents are very useful and can be used in many situations, do not underestimate them.

How to save money and get out of the red?

There are two "villains" when it comes to personal finance: debts and credit cards. The first truly is the big villain, but the second is more of an anti-hero than a villain.

Debts

In the book, the author points out that the main causes of unpaid debts are unemployment, wage reduction and lack of financial organization. And, therefore, she shows ways to pay off your debts.

Here they go:

• Save money: Prioritize paying your debts and avoid spending on unnecessary things;
• Start with the highest interest rates and negotiate your debts: Start with the highest interest rate debts that impact your pocket the most; negotiate your debts and make debt restructuring;
• Don't restart the cycle: Don't repeat the same habits that got you into debt in the first place!;
• Fix your credit: Putting together a good strategy and following it will allow you to fix your credit and make it better.

Remember to be conscious and always control your expenses!

Credit Card

With the proper knowledge and awareness, a credit card can save you in many situations or be a tool to organize your financial life. Take the following information into consideration before using it:

• Our wage is the only source of money we have, credit is borrowed money (don't get into the vicious cycle of living to pay the card bill);
• Equated monthly installment are monthly debts, try to pay in cash. But you can, cautiously, use installment payments if necessary;
• Define what is urgent and save money to buy in cash the things that are not urgent;
• Avoid retroactive interest (retroactive means that the amount of the invoice you were unable to pay will be more expensive because of the extra interest);
• Set a monthly spending limit and block the cards you don't use;
• Use the credit card instead of going into overdraft.

How to understand the financial tools and use them to our advantage?

Expanding your financial knowledge also means knowing the financial tools available in the market. Let's take a look at each one of them below.

Banks

One of the first complications in dealing with the bank happens when we need to open an account, be it a checking or a savings account. So pay attention when you sign the contract when you open your account.

Many times you end up paying for banking services that you don't need just because you didn't read the contract. Contracts can change, but what doesn't change is the anatomy of the account.

• The bank code: All Brazilian banks have a three-digit code;
• The branch number: When you open an account, you are linked to one of the bank's branches, and each branch has its own code;
• The account number: This is your individual account code, linked to your name and CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registration).

As explained before, you need to pay attention to the service package that you are purchasing from the bank. The law guarantees that you have a no-fee bank account and a free package of services (Pacote de Serviços Essenciais, approved by Resolution Nº. 3919).

The following services are included in this package:

• Debit card for purchases and withdrawals;
• 4 withdrawals per month;
• 2 transfers per month between interbank accounts;
• 1 checkbook per month with 10 sheets.

TED, DOC and Pix

There are numerous ways to make a payment or transfer money. For example, you can withdraw money and pay the bill in cash or you can pay at the bank.

Or you can do a TED (Available Electronic Transfer), a DOC (Credit Order Document) or even a PIX (Instant Payment). But what is the difference between them?

• TED: There is no maximum transfer value; it takes between five minutes and an hour to be transfered; it has a fee; there is a time limit for sending (usually 5 pm);
• DOC: Can only be made for amounts below R$ 5, 000.00; takes a business day to be transfered; it has a fee; there is a time limit for sending (9: 59 pm);
• Pix: No maximum amount; takes seconds to be transfered; free of charge; no time limit.

Internet Banking, Applications, and Digital Banking

The digital age has led all banks to have their own websites and apps. There you can make consultations and transactions from your computer or cell phone, free of charge.

But, one caveat that must be made, use these resources on a secure device and avoid being scammed. Remember:

• Banks, financial and payment institutions never ask for your data on Whatsapp or social networks;
• They, also, do not send e-mails or SMS with links for people to click and register;
• All registration or any request for data is always made within the virtual bank account or the institution's apps.

Investments

Can you think how much food you could buy with $50 five years ago? Surely it is much more than nowadays.

But do you know why this happens? The answer is simple: with time and inflation, money loses value.

Therefore, saving money just for the sake of saving money is not a smart strategy. Making investments increases your money value.

First, it is fundamental to demystify the idea that you need to be rich to invest or that investing is complicated.

You need to know two things to be able to start investing:

1. The level of risk of the investment, since it can be high or low;
2. Your investor profile, which can be conservative, moderate, or aggressive.

Study the risk levels of each type of investment, understand your profile, and develop intelligent strategies that allow you to make increasingly assertive choices.

What do other authors say about it?

In the book "Me Poupe!", the author Nathalia Arcuri believes that you need to follow 4 steps to manage your money wisely: be aware that it is possible to change your habits; learn to control your finances and set goals; learn to divide everything you earn into percentages and learn about investments.

For the author of the book "The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money", Jill Schlesinger, financial education is essential to understand how to organize your budget and how self-knowledge is indispensable to make this budget aligned to your life purpose.

Finally, in the book "How to Organize Your Financial Life", by Gustavo Cerbasi, we see tips for you to make assertive choices involving your money. He makes the journey of self-knowledge to achieve a faithful and current analysis of your financial life.

Okay, but how can I apply this to my life?

You now have enough information and references to start organizing yourself and building a budget without flaws and consistent with your reality.

But to help you, let's highlight the things you need to keep in mind when putting together your plan:

• Think about how you deal with your money;
• Create and follow a budget that is compatible and achievable within your economic truth;
• Think about which tools you can use in your favor.

Did you like this summary of the book "Orçamento sem Falhas"?

Are you ready to get out of the red with little money? Tell us what you thought and how you put this knowledge into practice in the comments.

You can purchase the full book by clicking on the image below: