Saving since childhood helps residents of Itajaí buy a car and apartment

Resident of Itajaí (SC), mechanical engineer Tiago Cesa Desordi de Medeiros, 36 years old, learned to save money as a child, when he got his first savings account at the age of four. Today, he passes the same habit on to his son, Eduardo, aged one and a half, who has already had a savings account since the first month of his life. Even as a child, he remembers how he was encouraged to keep the cash gifts he received from his family, his lunch change and even coins he found around the house in his piggy bank. What started as fun was crucial for him to learn, in adult life, the importance of maintaining a security reserve. "My parents' initiative changed my life. I certainly wouldn't have achieved the things I have without the habit of saving. Every month I went to the bank to check my savings statement and deposit what I had managed to save. It was fun to see the money growing", he says. The savings were used to buy small goods that his parents could not purchase or said were his responsibility, such as a scooter, skateboard components and even popsicles from the summers he spent in Balneário Camboriú. Later, when he was about to complete his Mechanical Engineering course in the city of Santo Ângelo (RS), he had the opportunity to do an internship in a nearby city, but he would need to live alone. It was then that Tiago's savings began to show their importance. He rented an apartment with friends and used the money saved to furnish the space. "The family's financial situation was not good and my parents' concern was how they were going to keep me paying rent in another city. The solution was to share an apartment, and I used my savings to buy a bed and other furniture that I needed", he reveals. Saving to buy In the following years, even with an intern's salary, he managed to replenish his balance and never gave up the habit of saving. He saved money and, in 2020, bought his first car outright. "I learned that first we earn money, then we spend it. Many people do the opposite. First they buy and then figure out how to pay," he comments. According to Tiago, one of the biggest mistakes is waiting for the ideal moment to start investing. In practice, this moment almost never arrives. To overcome the challenge, he suggests starting small. "People wait for money to spare, waiting for the perfect scenario or the ideal investment. But, if I start small and maintain consistency, regardless of the modality, the balance will grow", he advises. He explains that the greatest satisfaction is precisely in following this evolution. Little by little, according to Tiago, it is possible to see a deposit of little value become an asset, which makes it all worth it. In the opinion of the consultant, member and collaborator of Viacredi, an Ailos cooperative, creating the habit of saving is more important than spending months trying to find out what the best investment is. "People say they will start when they have more money, when they receive their thirteenth payment or when the situation improves. The secret is not to wait. The most important thing is to create discipline" he explains. It was from this principle that Tiago achieved other goals throughout his life, including the purchase of an apartment. Today, the habit of saving is beginning to be passed on to the next generation. Eduardo, her one and a half year old son, received a savings account when he was just a month old. Most used investment in Brazil Savings remain among the main financial instruments for Brazilians. According to the Brazilian Investor X-Ray survey, carried out by the Brazilian Association of Financial and Capital Market Entities (Anbima) in partnership with Datafolha, the country reached 60.6 million investors in 2025, equivalent to 36% of the population. Savings remains the most used modality, accounting for 22% of applications. At Viacredi, the modality was launched in October 2021 and according to Mirio Schumacher Jr., director of Operations at the cooperative, the product attracts those interested in liquidity, security and benefits of cooperativism. "The member can easily save resources, have access to money when necessary and also participate in the distribution of the cooperative's surplus. In addition to the monthly remuneration, the modality also provides for the distribution of surplus to the members" states Mírio. About Viacredi The largest credit cooperative in Brazil in terms of number of members, Viacredi is an Ailos cooperative, with more than 1 million members, presence in 28 municipalities in Santa Catarina and Paraná, 112 Service Points, more than 2 thousand employees and 987 leaders of the Membership - cooperative committee and delegates. There are over R$17.5 billion in assets, R$9.7 billion in credit operations and over R$12.7 billion in total deposits. In 2026, Viacredi plans to invest R$32 million in education, development and social impact actions, expanding opportunities and generating more than 880 thousand participations in initiatives that strengthen people, businesses and communities. Established in 1951, the Cooperative's purpose is to unite people to transform lives, always committed to cooperative principles, its members and the communities where it is present. Find out more information on the Viacredi website.