Guides

Money guides for life in Portugal

Clear explanations of budgets, open banking, income tax and saving, written for Portuguese reality and reviewed by the people who build Navefi.

9 min read
The best personal finance apps in Portugal
How to choose a personal finance app in Portugal, based on what you need: Portuguese bank coverage, the meal card, income tax deductions, investments or expense splitting.
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8 min read
How to build a monthly budget in Portugal
A practical method for a monthly budget with a Portuguese salary, holiday and Christmas allowances, a meal card, and annual costs such as vehicle tax and insurance.
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7 min read
Open banking in Portugal: how it works and what is safe
What PSD2 is, what an app sees when it connects your Portuguese bank account, what it cannot do, and how to revoke access.
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8 min read
Portuguese IRS deductible expenses: a practical guide
Which expenses count towards Portuguese income tax deductions, how the ceilings work, and why deciding in October beats finding out in April.
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5 min read
The Portuguese meal card, explained
Why a meal allowance on a card needs its own budget line, how to estimate the monthly load, and how to avoid a balance sitting idle.
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6 min read
The 50/30/20 rule adapted to Portugal
The 50/30/20 rule was designed for American salaries. What changes when it is applied to Portuguese income, with expensive housing and holiday and Christmas allowances.
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Navefi compared, without the hype

Where Navefi wins, where it does not, and how to decide.

NavefivsExcel
Navefi vs Excel for personal finance
The spreadsheet is the most used personal finance tool in the world. There is no point pretending it is bad. There is a point in seeing where it costs you.
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Navefivsyour bank’s app
Navefi vs your bank’s app
Portuguese bank apps have improved a great deal and nearly all now show a spending summary. Their limit is not quality, it is perimeter.
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Navefivsinternational apps
Navefi vs international personal finance apps
There are excellent international apps, with years of development and design well above average. The problem is not their quality. It is the country they were made for.
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Create an account, import a statement or connect a bank, and get the first honest picture of your finances before your coffee goes cold.