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Installing on the card can yield profit: no interest, keeping R$ 5,000 invested and paying 10 installments of R$ 500 yields about R$ 250.
The topic of installments without interest has gained momentum in discussions about personal finance. Financial education journalist Nathalia Arcuri explained that, in certain scenarios, paying in installments can be more advantageous than paying in full, especially when there is no discount for immediate payment and the consumer already has the money on hand.
The logic is simple: you take the product, keep the capital invested, and, in the end, still accumulate financial returns.
But for the strategy to work, planning and discipline are necessary.
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The Risk of “Installment Salad”
Installments are often pointed out as one of the villains of indebtedness in Brazil. This happens because many consumers accumulate small purchases without realizing it.
A classic example: 10x of R$ 19.90 for a hair straightener, plus 10x of R$ 25 for a perfume, and another 12x of R$ 89.90 for an appliance.
In the end, the sum of the installments compromises the monthly budget and creates a snowball effect.
In this case, the problem is not the installment itself, but the lack of control.
Piling up installments without recording and calculating the impact on the budget is the gateway to long-term debts, even when there are no interest charges.
Four Situations Where Installments Make Sense
According to Nathalia Arcuri, there are four contexts in which interest-free installments can be smart:
Survival – when the consumer needs to replace essential items after a loss, such as during floods or accidents.
Economy – if repairing an appliance costs more than buying a new one, interest-free installments can prevent higher expenses.
Increased Income – using installments to acquire a work tool, such as a computer for video editing, can yield a financial return greater than the value of the installments.
Financial Strategy – when the buyer already has the cash on hand but chooses to keep the amount invested and pay in installments, taking advantage of investment returns.
How It Works in Practice
The calculation shown in the video exemplifies the strategy: a purchase of R$ 5,000 in 10x of R$ 500 without interest.
Those who already have the cash keep the amount invested, while paying the installments with their monthly income.
In the end, in addition to paying for the product, the consumer still accumulates approximately R$ 250 in returns.
This is possible because, currently, fixed-income investments in Brazil pay rates close to 15% per year.
When there is no discount for cash payment, interest-free installments mean making the money work while the good is already in use.
Necessary Care
Despite the advantages, experts warn of some points. The strategy only works if the consumer does not touch the invested amount and has enough income to cover the installments.
Otherwise, the risk is ending up dipping into the saved money and losing the effect of interest.
Moreover, it is essential to have control over all open installments. A simple spreadsheet can help visualize future commitments and avoid indebtedness.
Without discipline, installments can turn into a trap.
The analysis shows that installing without interest can be a way to make money, and not just to postpone payments.
However, this is only true when there is no discount for cash payment, the consumer already has the amount on hand, and keeps the invested capital throughout the installment period.
And you, have you used this strategy of interest-free installments to keep your money earning? Do you think it’s worth it or do you prefer to pay in cash?
Share your opinion in the comments.
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