Why do more than half of Brazilians use credit? According to the study “Financial Acrobatics”, by Inter in partnership with Consumoteca, 56% of the population sought some type of credit in 2025. The data reveals an important change in which the resource is no longer an emergency and has become part of everyday budget management.
In a scenario of instability, with pressured income and an increase in the cost of living, credit appears as a tool to maintain financial balance. At the same time as it offers breathing space and allows commitments to be fulfilled, it can also generate anxiety, especially when approval is denied.
Credit in the Brazilian routine
Before being seen just as debt, credit today fulfills multiple functions in everyday financial life. It is used both for emergencies and to organize deadlines and maintain basic consumption. Among the main uses and perceptions, the following stand out:
- Maintain bill payments in times of stress;
- Save time using your credit card (39% use the limit);
- Cover unforeseen events and drops in income;
- Enable essential purchases when the budget is tight;
- Serve as an alternative when spending cuts are not enough;
This behavior shows that credit works as a kind of “” for many Brazilians.
Is credit a solution or a problem?
The answer depends on how it is used. The study points out that the resource plays two roles: it helps to avoid immediate default, but, on the other hand, it can deepen the debt cycle. See how this happens in practice:
- Offers immediate liquidity and flexibility;
- It can generate accumulation of debt;
- Helps maintain stability in the short term;
- Increases anxiety when there is no control;
- Lack of transparency and predictability in approval
Furthermore, the perception of a lack of clarity in granting criteria impacts the relationship with financial institutions, increasing frustration when credit is denied.
Learn how to use credit strategically
Credit can be an ally when used with planning and awareness, and the challenge is to integrate it in a healthy way into your financial life. Some practices can help:
- Use credit with a defined objective;
- Avoid committing future income beyond what is necessary;
- Prioritize financial organization before new debts;
- Monitor limits, deadlines and fees;
- Seek digital tools that bring more transparency.
The study reinforces that Brazilians have already developed their own strategies for dealing with money, often based on improvisation. The next step is to transform this behavior into more structured decisions in which credit stops being a constant risk and becomes a conscious resource within financial planning. Click and access the study in full.
