Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A financial literacy day was held at the Strogino Cultural Center. Participants learned how to set up their savings for rapid growth, manage their credit wisely, and protect themselves from fraud. Experts believe that with the arrival of warmer weather, people are making new plans, making it the perfect time to do a post-winter financial spring cleaning.
"We aimed to make the program engaging for people of all ages, so that everyone could learn sound financial management skills. Adults learned how to safely use financial products, manage their personal finances, and take their first steps in investing. Children were given a simple explanation of how the city budget is formed and how to manage their pocket money wisely," she noted.
Elena Zyabbarova, Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital's Department of Finance.
One of the key topics of the spring season is responsible borrowing. At the masterclass "Spring Financial Decisions: Loans Under Control," Olga Milova, an expert from the Central Federal District (CFD) of the Bank of Russia, discussed with participants how to plan for credit obligations and avoid debt traps during the intense spring spending season. The speaker focused on one of the safety tools: self-imposed loan prohibitions.
"This is a simple and effective way to protect yourself from scammers who take out loans in your name. I strongly recommend everyone set up a self-ban. It only takes a few minutes on the government services portal and will save you money and stress," Olga Milova emphasized.
Another question that concerned participants was, "Where and under what conditions is it best to invest today?" Anastasia Romanenko, Deputy Head of the Financial Literacy Department at the Central Federal District Headquarters of the Bank of Russia, and Ekaterina Konina, Chief Expert of the same department, explained which financial products can serve as an alternative to bank deposits, how to calculate their real return taking inflation into account, and which contract clauses are essential to pay attention to.
For those ready to move forward and explore more advanced investment instruments, Yulia Volgina, Business Group Manager at VTB Bank, presented a step-by-step process for beginners during the workshop. Participants learned how much to start investing with, what risks to consider, and what to pay attention to to avoid losing money.
Another topic that always remains relevant is cybersecurity. During the workshop, we examined in detail the psychological tactics of scammers, learned how to recognize fake websites, and practiced algorithms for dealing with data that has already fallen into the hands of criminals.
Once you've mastered the basic safety rules, it's logical to think about how to put your savings to work. Anastasia Kudryavtseva, Head of Financial and Digital Literacy Development at Alfa-Bank, introduced participants to the latest digital tools. Guests learned how savings accounts work, which mobile apps really help manage spending, and how to protect your savings so they always stay safe.
Taxes were an equally important topic. Svetlana Belyaeva, head of the working group on tax disputes at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, provided a detailed explanation of how to obtain tax deductions for education, medical treatment, and sports. Participants received a step-by-step action plan and discussed common mistakes when filing tax returns.
Using the legendary film "Spring on Zarechnaya Street" as an example, viewers joined Svetlana Tolkacheva, a financier and author of a textbook and Rutube channel on financial literacy, to discuss the financial behavior of the characters, their attitudes toward work and education, and draw parallels with modern approaches to career choice and personal finance management.
The organizers prepared a special program for young Muscovites. Experts led creative activities for children aged six to 10, helping them master the basics of financial literacy in an accessible format. During the "Friendship Garden: Planting a Money Tree" lesson, employees of the 21st Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the City of Moscow explained how taxes contribute to the capital's development. And during the "Tulip Mania" lesson, children created felt flowers and simultaneously learned about the relationship between supply, demand, and pricing, using the famous Dutch tulip mania of the 17th century as an example.
Teenagers were taught how to manage money through play. They learned how to distinguish momentary weaknesses from grand economic plans, learned about marketing pitfalls that can lead to unnecessary purchases, and even built a flower from a construction set, with each petal symbolizing a step toward a financial goal. Special attention was paid to a lesson on countering fraud. An expert discussed the rules of safe communication on social media, new fraudulent schemes, and explained how to install reliable protection on gadgets.
Interactive zones were open throughout the day in the lobby. Guests could test their knowledge with a financial assessment, practice financial literacy skills on VR simulators, catch scammers at a slot machine, take a neurotest, and take a quiz at the "That Very Sound" audio kiosk.
The event was organized by Moscow Department of Finance and the capital's financial literacy center, together with partners.
More news about financial literacy in the capital is available on the portal Open Budget of the City of Moscow, V Telegram channel and messenger MAX.
Get the latest news quickly on official Moscow messaging channels. MAX And Telegram.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.