OJK: Don't Wait Until You Have a Lot of Money to Start Saving
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has reminded the public, especially the younger generation, not to wait until they have a lot of money to start saving. The habit of setting aside money little by little needs to be built from an early age as part of financial management.
Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioners Friderica Widyasari Dewi said saving is one of the habits that can help build financial independence and prepare for future needs.
“Saving from an early age is very important for your future. Don’t wait until we have a lot of money to save. Precisely so that the money becomes plentiful, we must save little by little,” Friderica said at the peak of Indonesia Savings Day and Financial Literacy Month 2026 at Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Atas (SRMA) 13 Bekasi, Friday (28/8/2026).
According to the OJK, the habit of saving needs to be accompanied by an understanding of financial management. This is because broad access to financial services does not automatically make people able to use financial products wisely.
Nationally, the financial inclusion rate has reached 93.61 percent, while the financial literacy rate is only 69.57 percent. A similar situation is seen among students, whose financial literacy and inclusion rates remain below the national achievement.
The OJK is encouraging the habit of saving through the One Account One Student Programme (KEJAR). From September 2025 to June 2026, 679 thousand new student accounts have been opened.
Chief Executive of Supervision of Financial Services Business Actors’ Behaviour, Education and Consumer Protection at OJK Dicky Kartikoyono said saving is not merely leaving money aside, but setting aside a portion of money regularly.
This habit is considered capable of shaping discipline, patience, and the ability to control oneself in managing finances.
“The goal of improving financial literacy and inclusion carried out by the OJK is to build personal character that is disciplined, patient, able to control oneself, and able to manage finances,” said Dicky.
In addition to opening student accounts, the OJK together with the financial services industry has carried out more than 270 thousand Bank Goes to School activities in 122 thousand schools up to June 2026. This education is carried out to build the habit of saving while improving financial understanding from school age.