As every year, December becomes the month where Peruvians have the greatest liquidity in their pockets, since many of them receive the payment of the gratification from December. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE), more than five million people will benefit from this extra income.
José Carlos Kohagura, academic coordinator of Banking Business Administration at the Certus Institute, points out that this additional amount must be used responsibly.
“The end of the year parties are usually the propitious scenario to spend without measure that extra income that corresponds to us. It is estimated that a Peruvian can spend more than S/ 900 on their Christmas purchases, which is equivalent to almost a minimum wage. For this reason, given this panorama, it is essential to evaluate our personal finances and prepare a financial plan, which will help us prioritize our expenses and evaluate the best alternatives to manage our money.” Kohagura points out.
The finance expert indicates that before spending it is necessary to create a culture of savings to have financial support in the event of any eventuality or opt for other recommendations that allow you to make money profitable. For this reason, it gives you some tips so that you can give your gratification a good boost:
It is advisable to reserve emergency money in case of any eventuality that may arise, for example, in situations of political and economic instability, health, job loss, etc. Likewise, the savings will serve to meet a long-term goal; for example, for a home, travel, education, etc.
“This is a habit that must be cultivated, whether you earn a lot or a little, and it must be included in the monthly budget, considering a percentage that can be from 10%, in such a way that it allows us to accumulate the funds without altering the amount expenses”, stresses Kohagura.
- Cancel or amortize debts
A good savings alternative is to cancel or pay a part of a debt that generates a higher cost, this will reduce high monthly interest charges and avoid penalties. It is important to know that the borrowing capacity limit is between 35% and 40% of the monthly net income.
Investing in education is an opportunity to grow professionally in an increasingly competitive labor market. It is important that people invest in their training, as this will allow them to earn a good income, career advancement and better job opportunities.
- Start or invest in a business
The bonus received by workers can serve as capital to invest in a business. Taking advantage of dates like Christmas and New Year will be key for the entrepreneur to double his sales, generating a higher income, which could be used for a future investment.
It is a profitable option that safely generates greater long-term profitability, since this money will be managed and invested by fund management companies with the aim of maximizing results.
Finally, José Kohagura encourages the population to make responsible use of their bonus. Likewise, he points out the importance of adopting a savings culture and maintaining an active financial education to properly use these extra benefits such as gratification. “Let’s remember that, in Peru, only 28% of people have financial education.”, concludes the specialist.
