Educational materials on everyday finance
Moneliy MX publishes structured, accessible content covering the financial topics that affect most Mexican households. Below is a description of the main content areas available on this portal.
All content on Moneliy MX is informational only. We do not recommend specific financial products, institutions, or services. We do not act as a financial intermediary, broker, or advisor. Our materials are designed to help readers understand how financial systems work so they can make their own decisions.
CAT Guides: What the Annual Total Cost Really Means
The Costo Anual Total (CAT) is the standardized metric established by Banco de México to express the full annual cost of a consumer credit product. It goes beyond the nominal interest rate by including commissions, mandatory insurance premiums, and other charges that affect the real cost of borrowing. Our CAT guides explain how this metric is calculated, what it includes and excludes, why two loans with the same nominal rate can have different CATs, and how to use it when comparing credit offers. These guides draw on the official CAT disclosure regulations published by Banco de México.
Consumer Credit Fundamentals
Consumer credit in Mexico takes many forms. Personal loans, credit cards, revolving lines, store credit, payroll-deducted loans (créditos de nómina), and microloans each operate differently and carry distinct cost structures. Our guides cover the mechanics of each type, the terminology used in loan agreements, what lenders are legally required to disclose, and how amortization schedules work in practice. We also explain the role of credit bureaus in Mexico, what information they hold, and how credit history affects access to credit products.
Savings Options Explained and Compared
Saving money in Mexico involves choices that are not always well understood. Traditional bank savings accounts, CETES (government securities available through Cetesdirecto), investment societies regulated as SOFIPOs, and informal savings circles (tandas or cundinas) each serve different purposes and carry different characteristics. Our savings guides describe how each mechanism works, what protections apply (including IPAB deposit insurance for bank deposits), and the practical differences between formal and informal savings options. We do not recommend any specific product or institution.
Financial Contract Literacy
Signing a financial contract is a significant commitment. Many people do so without fully understanding the terms. Our contract literacy materials explain what standard clauses mean, which terms are commonly negotiable, how prepayment penalties work, what happens in case of default, and what rights consumers have under Mexican consumer protection law. We also publish checklists of questions to ask before signing any loan, credit card, or savings agreement. The goal is to make the review process less intimidating and more effective.
Everyday Financial Decisions
Beyond credit and savings, daily financial life involves decisions about budgeting, understanding bank fees, interpreting account statements, and thinking about debt in relation to income. Our everyday finance guides address these practical topics. We cover how to read a bank statement, what common fees are charged on Mexican bank accounts, how to think about the relationship between income and debt load, and how to approach basic financial planning without specialized knowledge.
Content for rural and underserved communities is also available
Specific guides for contexts outside formal banking networks.