The middle of the year arrives and also the moment in which both workers of private companies and the public sector are due to receive the first payment of the complementary annual salary (SAC), better known as aguinaldo.
Due to the current crisis context, for many this extra income is synonymous with pending purchases and payment of debts to catch up, but for others it can become an opportunity to make dollars or to invest it and generate profits.
But there are usually doubts about what is the amount that corresponds to receive until on what date the silver is credited, going through a not minor issue: what to do with the money so that it yields to the maximum.
The extra income of the Christmas bonus is sometimes synonymous with pending purchases and payment of debts to catch up. Photo: Martín Bonetto.
When is the Christmas bonus paid in 2023?
The Complementary Annual Salary is divided into two payments: a half bonus in June and another in December. Each half bonus corresponds to 50% of the highest monthly remuneration received by the worker within each of the semesters.
According to the provisions of Law 27,073, the first installment is paid on the last working day of June and the second installment on the last working day of December. There are companies that decide to pay it a few days before the stipulated date and it is valid, what should not happen is that they pay it later.
What to do with the money from the Christmas bonus to make it perform better?
In most cases, and particularly at this time in the country where economic uncertainty reigns and inflation does not stop escalating, the Christmas bonus is used for basic expenses, such as the payment of debts that accumulated in recent months or purchases of durable goods (refrigerator, air conditioning, etc.) that had been postponed.
Some can allocate it to saving through the purchase of dollars, so that the money does not lose value over time.
Here are some options and recommendations to use it in the most convenient way according to the needs and economic situation of each person.
1- Buy basic products and "stockearse":
At a time when the peso is constantly losing value and food prices do not stop increasing, looking for strategies to take care of the pocket and make the money yield became essential to be able to go through the current economic crisis.
To achieve significant savings and make smart purchases, it is convenient to acquire the products of the family basket in different points of sale.
In wholesalers, for example, you can find significant price differences with respect to supermarkets and neighborhood stores, but not in all areas.
The most convenient in these places, in addition to buying products in quantity or wholesale, are preserves, dry pasta, yerba and tomato puree, also certain cleaning products such as detergents or liquid laundry soap.
Also disposable diaper packs and shampoo. Given the evolution of prices that are expected to continue increasing, "stocking" is always advantageous.
Another convenient alternative that hypermarkets have are promotions with cards from different banks and the discounts they offer.
To learn more about the subject: What are the 10 products that should be bought at the wholesaler to save up to 30%
The Christmas bonus can be very useful to acquire everyday products in quantity. Photos: Emmanuel Fernández.
2- Buy dollars
In Argentina, there are several ways to buy dollars and, therefore, their value varies from one to another. Among the best known are the official dollar, which is acquired in official financial institutions, although with many limitations, and the famous parallel dollar or "blue".
Among the not so well known, the MEP dollar (Electronic Payment Market) or Stock Exchange dollar is available, whichis the price per currency that arises from an operation with sovereign bonds in the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.
It can be accessed through the home banking of the entity to which the interested user belongs or through a Settlement and Clearing Agent (ALYC) or broker. It consists of buying bonds or shares that are listed both in the local and foreign markets and selling them after a few days.
To know how to acquire Mep dollar you can access this link.
The payment of the Christmas bonus can be an opportunity to make dollars to protect the pesos. Photo: Reuters
3. Invest the money for extra profit
Both the money in pesos and dollars that is hoarded under the mattress will lose its value over time due to local inflation and also to the one that is impacting worldwide. For those who do not have the immediate need to spend the bonus, the ideal is to invest it to beat inflation and generate extra profits.
Taking into account the latest inflation figure that in April was 8.4% and that is expected to be even higher in May, today more than ever knowing what to invest in is key.
Currently there are different attractive instruments to start investing in the Stock Exchange, depending on the risk profile of each saver. To know how to start investing in the Stock Exchange, click here.
Next, the alternative to invest in the short and long term and protect your pesos:
. CER bonds: what they are and how much they yield
They are instruments whose capital isadjusted by the price of the reference stabilizing coefficient (hence the acronym CER), which reflect the variations of the consumer price index published by INDEC. In other words, they are bonds that are adjusted for inflation.
For this reason, they represent a good instrument to benefit from rising prices: the higher the inflation, the greater the adjustment that the invested capital will receive.
tag. How to invest in CER bonds: You need a principal account, that is, an investment account. This can be done through the bank, via homebanking or call center, or in a stock exchange company.
tag. Yield: In order to protect the value against inflation with direct coverage, the Head of Research at IOL Invertironline, Maximiliano Donzelli, recommends the T2X3, a bond that adjusts its capital by CER.
For those who want to invest thinking in the short term, they suggest the T2X3 national government bond that adjusts its capital by the CER, thus managing to accompany inflation. This bond maturing in August 2023 operates with a considerable volume and to date has a yield of CER+0.6%.
It should be noted that, if the inflationary trend continues in the coming months, this bond offers coverage against that scenario.
On the other hand, and for those people who want to invest in the long term, there is the DICP national government bond that adjusts its capital by the CER, thus managing to accompany inflation.
This bond maturing in 2033 pays semi-annual coupons at an annual rate of 5.83% and pays principal amortization beginning June 2024 in equal installments until maturity. To date, it has an annual yield of CER+14.0%.
LN
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