Jiménez warned about the economic challenges that the Dominican Republic will face this year and also recommended to successfully manage the difficulties.

He explained that the economic slowdown could limit job creation and salary increases, and assured that in this situation the most advisable thing is to effectively manage personal finances.

The professor at Harvard University also expressed his support for designing a personal or family budget at the beginning of the year with the purpose of planning income and expenses in a clear and organized manner.

According to him, the most secure income should be identified, such as salary, and the most necessary expenses such as food should be prioritized, down to the less necessary ones, such as recreation.

For those who have a financial surplus, the economist advised putting debt payment first, starting with those with higher interest rates.

He also suggested investing savings in safe financial instruments, such as government or Central Bank bonds, always through formal financial institutions to avoid scams.

For the economist, financial planning should not be a one-time exercise, but rather a personal and family habit.

For this reason, he considered that financial education should be included at all levels of the education system, as it is an essential skill for life.

ef/ro/mpv