Health apps: are they safe?

There are now more mobile devices in the world than people. Mobile phones have changed the way we live, work, communicate and even our quality of life, wellbeing and health.

An app is a standalone piece of software that is made to perform a specific task and is optimised for use on smartphones, tablets or smartwatches based on the features available. Health apps are known as mobile Health (mHealth), and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) it is a “delivery of health information and services using mobile technologies”.

What is a health application?

It falls within the field of eHealth, understood as the use of communication and information technologies applied to health services (computers, mobile phones, GPS, connected medical instrument monitors, medical robots, etc.). These are computer programmes that are used on mobile platforms and are often connected to medical devices that tell us how to improve our health or prevent risks. There are also diagnostic applications for treating patients or communicating with our healthcare system.

The European Commission states that medical and public health practice is compatible with mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, personal digital assistants and other wireless devices. It also includes in this category applications related to health information to the population, medication reminders sent by SMS, telemedicine, training and guidance systems and even lifestyle and wellness applications created with the aim of maintaining or improving the population’s healthy habits through the practice of sport and wellness.

How are they monitored and what quality criteria is used?

In Catalonia, a method for evaluating mobile health applications using objective variables, called iSYScore, has been used for some time now.

The criteria used by iSYScore to select the most suitable mobile health apps is based on the opinions of users, developers and health professionals, and is based on three key factors: popularity, trust and usefulness.

What are the problems with these applications?

Basically, the lack of loyalty. There are few apps that have achieved long-term stability. A study confirms that 70% of chronically ill people who have used them stop using them after six months. And 80% of apps are abandoned after only two weeks. To improve these figures, personalisation based on different profiles would be advisable. Each person is unique, and these apps act in a generic way.

Another problem to be faced is that of data ownership and data protection, as well as the loss of credibility the product may have if it doesn’t work for the first users who try it.

Tips for choosing a reliable application

1. Be informed: Search and compare applications on search engines such as Google. 
2. Reviews: Search forums for user opinions. 
3. List of options: Choose between 4 or 5 applications.
4. Reliability:  Make sure they are based on scientific evidence, and a good place to do this is to look for references in PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information).
5. Test: It would be advisable to test (try out) the application with a friend. If, for example, you suffer from insomnia, it is important that your friend does not suffer from insomnia so that you can share how it went.
6. Who is behind it? To be a quality (reliable) application, it is important that technicians, health professionals (who will be different depending on the purpose of the product) and experts in legislation and data management have been involved in the process. 
7. Obsolescence: Clinical studies require time and in the world of new technologies time passes very quickly and therefore needs to be taken into account.

Following these simple steps will ensure that the applications you use are quite reliable.

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Artificial intelligence generates equal parts of admiration and rejection. The advantages of a digitalised world clash with the desire not to lose traditional practices. The fear, primarily, is of losing the human side, but what if technology could help us to enhance it?

In recent years, research in scientific fields has been strengthened thanks to the incorporation of AI, artificial intelligence. Universities, companies, and projects are joining forces to advance and improve both disease diagnosis and treatment, with special emphasis on improving the quality of life of patients, both physically and psychologically.

Artificial intelligence reaches the field of mental health and is part of this crusade, between therapists and patients, to speed up the diagnosis process, facilitate its recognition and improve the precision of each treatment.

Algorithms to prevent disease

In everything that affects mental health, the prevention factor is key. For this reason, entities, companies, and organisations are joining forces – increasingly sophisticated – to make tools available to the population that facilitate the process of asking for help. Diagnosis, treatment, and recovery depend on this first step.

Countries such as the United States have taken action, and more and more research centres are turning to AI. We find projects such as The Trevor Project, which, through AI, has created a safe space for the LGBTQI+ community, especially as a support for young people. The reason is as simple as it is worrying: they estimate that in the United States alone, 1.8 million young people consider suicide every year, and at least one young person attempts suicide every 45 seconds. If we expand these figures, calculated only in relation to the LGBTQI+ collective, among the total population, the figures increase considerably.

Catalonia has also developed research projects and companies oriented towards AI for mental health. For example, the STOP Project, led by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, is aimed at detecting depression and preventing suicide and eating disorders. They do this thanks to an algorithm that acts focused on social networks, a space where users are especially vulnerable. Thanks to the latest campaigns carried out, the project has managed to increase by 60% the calls to the Telèfon de l’Esperança, a foundation that accompanies all those who feel lonely or may need help.

The right words can save lives

AI has made it possible to take a step forward, and businesses from different fields are creating algorithms to help. The first advantage of digital tools is accessibility, allowing therapeutic resources to be at hand anywhere and at any time. This is a key advantage, although it may minimise its effect on profiles of people who are not very technological or without resources.

The sophistication of AI systems is such that they are capable of analysing the patient’s behaviour, facial expressions, tone of voice, or the language they use. With all this data, the X-ray of a patient can be much more realistic, and the diagnosis more accurate. Two key factors in mental health, especially if we take into account that half of the patients receive erroneous diagnoses, according to Aimentia, a Catalan company that develops digital tools for professionals in the field of mental health.

Other algorithms go further and analyse conversations between patients and therapists with the aim of providing professionals with a more accurate approach when communicating with patients. The goal of all these projects is clear: to get mental health problems, which according to the WHO affect one in four people, treated and cured.

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If you don’t quite understand why, despite living in a so-called meritocracy, your efforts are not rewarded, don’t worry, a computer model of wealth creation overturns the notion that economic success is linked to talent and individual effort, concluding that luck plays a much more important role.

The lottery of opportunity is handed out at birth, but we have little chance of winning. This seems to be the conclusion of the thesis defended by a group of scientists led by Alessandro Pluchino, professor of Theoretical Physics and Mathematical Modelling at the University of Catania.

Pluchino and his team developed a computer model that uses simulations to analyse the distribution of wealth and success in a hypothetical population, to test the extent to which factors such as human talent and luck play a role.

The aim was to dissect to what extent the role of chance influences the widely dominant meritocratic paradigm in Western cultures, which is based on the notion that success is mainly, if not exclusively, due to personal qualities such as talent, intelligence, skills, effort or risk-taking.

How does the computer model work?

The team fed data from a hypothetical population of people with the average distribution of talent and intelligence into the simulator. The computer model then generated a simulation equivalent to a 40-year working life, introducing fortunate and unfortunate events over time, which equate to opportunities to increase or decrease wealth.

Following this method, the researchers found that, more often than not, wealth is linked to luck rather than talent: “Our model shows that while it is true that some degree of talent is necessary to succeed in life, the most talented people rarely achieve the highest peaks, being outperformed by moderately talented but significantly luckier individuals.

In the end, the team checked whether the resulting wealth distribution matched that of the real world, where 80% of the population owns 20% of the wealth. And it did, again and again. Put another way, the results confirmed that, despite differences in talent and effort, chance plays a crucial role in determining who becomes extremely wealthy. This means that many talented and hard-working people will not be rich simply because they have not been as lucky as others.

On the other hand, the simulations also showed that opportunities are unevenly distributed. People who already have certain advantages, such as a good level of education or a good network of contacts, are more likely to encounter opportunities that can lead to large economic gains, while those who start from a less privileged position often find it more difficult to access the same opportunities.

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The automation of work is creating an occupational metamorphosis, in which tasks usually done by humans are transferred to a set of technologies. Economics is not spared, and artificial intelligence is also gaining ground. But are economic forecasting algorithms a real alternative to economists?

As a result of the digitisation process of the last decades, huge amounts of data are being generated that are transforming the methods by which we analyse statistical models. Storing, registering, and analysing this constant flow of information has become an essential task for many sectors of the economy.

A technological revolution has opened up new possibilities in economic and financial forecasting capabilities. The analysis of these large databases, known as ‘big data’, would not be possible without artificial intelligence (AI). A rather broad term that encompasses a whole range of ideas.

Even so, there are two concepts in this field: machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), mathematical algorithms that allow computers to identify patterns in data and make predictions by imitating humans. Two computational advances that form the basis of economic forecasting with artificial intelligence.

An algorithmic crystal ball

Experts often compare algorithmic forecasting to “a crystal ball”. Indeed, this metaphor is the title of an internal study published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in which the authors of the research, Jin-Kyu Jung, Manasa Patnam and Anna Ter-Martirosyan, try to establish whether macroeconomic forecasting algorithms can improve on the results predicted by IMF economists themselves.

The study applies three different machine learning algorithms to a common economic forecasting problem, and the results are surprising. In all three cases, the algorithmic prediction far surpassed the benchmark performance of IMF economists.

In their observations, the authors warn that there are still factors that require further research. They also state that, for these predictions to be truly effective, real-time observations would have to be included. They explain that there is some freedom in the introduction of the parameters used by the algorithms, and that this may be key to determining their effectiveness.

Even so, in their conclusion they agree on the fact that the potential of machine learning in terms of statistical analysis of economic data is evident; and that, although these predictions made by algorithms cannot fully replace the work of economists, they represent a valuable additional reference when making decisions on economic forecasting.

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Finding a place to live has ceased to be a basic need and has become a global competition. It is no longer just about paying for a roof, but about entering —or being excluded from— a market dominated by large capital. In Spain, many families spend more than 40% of their income on rent, while in Catalonia poverty is increasing despite economic growth. And housing prices keep rising. The question is clear: how did an essential right become the world’s main financial asset… and who is paying the price?

For decades, housing was a pillar of life security. A place to live, build a family, and create stability. But this paradigm broke down at the end of the 20th century, when the financialization of the economy transformed real estate into an investment vehicle within the global system. Like stocks or bonds, but with one key difference: it is limited and essential. This dual nature makes it an extraordinarily attractive asset.

In a context of low interest rates and excess liquidity, large capital quickly identified this opportunity. Investing in housing offered returns, security, and guaranteed demand. The result has been an uneven competition, where citizens no longer compete with each other but with global funds with almost unlimited capacity. Thus, the real estate market has stopped responding to social needs and now follows purely financial logic.

This process is not accidental. It responds to an economic model that turns real assets into instruments of rent extraction. It is no longer necessary to control territories: it is enough to control key assets. And among them all, housing stands above the rest. Because it is not just an investment. It is a vital necessity. And this is precisely where its strength… and its danger lie.

Wages that do not keep up

Wages are not keeping pace with housing costs, and this is the core of the problem. According to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, more than €1,300 per month is needed to live with dignity, a figure many workers do not reach. Meanwhile, housing can absorb up to 34% of household spending, or up to 45% when utilities are included.

This mismatch is consolidating a new reality: that of the working poor—people with jobs who cannot guarantee a decent standard of living. Working no longer guarantees living. And this is the real paradigm shift.

At the same time, inflation has accelerated this imbalance in a silent but forceful way. Liquidity injected by central banks is not distributed evenly, but flows into assets: stocks, commodities… and housing. This generates asset inflation that drives prices up without wages adjusting at the same pace, eroding the purchasing power of the majority.

Moreover, this inflation has a perverse fiscal effect. Rising prices increase taxes such as VAT and can push workers into higher income tax brackets without a real improvement in income. The result is clear: people pay more but live worse. A dynamic that reveals the fracture between the real economy and the financial economy.

When the market stops serving society

The housing problem is not only social, it is structural. The current economic model operates as an extractive system that concentrates wealth through key assets, and housing is its clearest example. It generates recurring income, appreciates over time, and is essential for living. This combination makes it a perfect tool for extracting income from the population.

It is not a flaw in the system. It is the system working exactly as designed, reinforced by dynamics of crony capitalism, where relationships between political and economic power can favor large asset holders. Thus, the market ceases to respond to supply and demand logic and instead operates according to concentrated interests. The result is a system that perpetuates inequality and limits access to a fundamental right.

Catalonia clearly exemplifies this contradiction. The economy grows, tourism reaches record levels, and investment increases, yet poverty also rises. The economy grows, but not well-being. And this is not a contradiction: it is a consequence. Housing is the clearest reflection: as prices rise, more and more people are excluded or access it under precarious conditions.

Living inside an asset

The paradigm shift is radical. Before, we lived in homes; today, we live inside financial assets. This means that rent no longer pays only for a service, but feeds a return, often global and detached from the local territory. Here emerges the great paradox: the more housing values increase, the more the economic capacity of the society living in them weakens.

Faced with this scenario, public debate often remains superficial. There is talk of price regulation, subsidies, or social housing, but rarely is the root of the problem addressed. And the issue is not only social, but systemic: an economic model that turns basic needs into instruments of profitability and places profit above collective well-being. Without understanding this, any response will be incomplete.

What we are witnessing is a silent but constant transfer of wealth. From labor income to asset owners. From the middle class to large capital. Housing has become the main channel of this process, effectively redefining the social contract on which the stability of modern societies was built.

Understanding this shift is the first step toward regaining control. Only through financial education can we identify the mechanisms that affect us and make informed decisions. Because when housing becomes an asset, the right to live becomes a privilege.

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We talk about anxiety, insomnia, and exhaustion. But we often ignore one of their main causes: economic insecurity.

When we think about mental health, we tend to look inward. Self-esteem, emotions, lifestyle. But there is an external, persistent, and silent factor that deeply shapes the well-being of millions of people: money. Or, more precisely, the lack of control over it.

Financial stress does not always make noise. It does not appear as a sudden crisis, but as a constant drip of worries that eventually affects the body, the mind, and personal relationships.

When Money Affects Health

Barely making it to the end of the month. Not understanding why the numbers do not add up. Living with the feeling that any unexpected expense could destabilize everything. This sustained tension generates chronic stress, one of the main risk factors for physical and mental health.

Various studies by the World Health Organization indicate that prolonged stress is linked to sleep disorders, cardiovascular problems, anxiety, and depression. When the source of stress is economic, the issue worsens: one cannot “switch off” from money. It is present every day.

Financial insecurity does not only impact the individual. It has a direct impact on relationships, parenting, social life, and even work performance. The mind is occupied. Concentration decreases. Emotional exhaustion accumulates.

Living in Survival Mode

When money is scarce or perceived as a constant threat, the brain enters survival mode. It prioritizes the short term. It reacts, but does not plan. And this has consequences.

Economic uncertainty often leads to:

• Debt to cover immediate needs. 
• Dependence on credit as a recurring solution. 
• Inaction out of fear of making mistakes. 
• Impulsive decisions made from distress.
  

This pattern is not a matter of lacking intelligence or responsibility. It is a human response to stress. But it is also a vicious cycle: decisions made from fear usually worsen the financial situation, which further increases stress.

When Fear Makes Decisions for Us

One of the most harmful effects of financial stress is that we delegate decisions to fear. We do not review numbers. We do not plan. Furthermore, we do not ask. We avoid checking the account or the bills because they cause anxiety.

This avoidance may bring temporary relief, but in the long term it worsens the problem. Lack of information fuels the feeling of loss of control. And loss of control is one of the main sources of anxiety.

According to data from the Bank of Spain, a significant portion of the population acknowledges not understanding the basic financial products they use. This knowledge gap is not only economic; it is emotional.

Financial Education as Preventive Care

This is where a key, often underestimated element comes into play: financial education. Not as a formula to get rich, but as a preventive health tool. Understanding how money works reduces anxiety. It does not eliminate risks, but it allows us to understand them, anticipate them, and manage them wisely. Knowledge does not guarantee certainty, but it does provide control. And control reduces stress.

Having a clear vision transforms the relationship with money. What was once a diffuse threat becomes a concrete, manageable, and plannable issue. Therefore, it is essential to understand basic concepts such as:

• Income and expenses 
• Debts and deadlines 
• Real saving capacity 
• Available options

Finances and Well-Being: An Inseparable Relationship

For years, the world of economics has been separated from the world of well-being. As if money were a cold, technical matter unrelated to emotional health. The reality is precisely the opposite.

Financial peace of mind does not depend on having a lot of money, but on feeling that one has control and sound judgment. There are people with high incomes who live in anxiety, and others with limited resources but clear management who sleep peacefully.

Taking care of finances is also taking care of the mind. Putting numbers in order is a way to reduce mental noise. To regain decision-making margin. To stop living in constant reaction mode.

The First Step Is Not to Earn More, but to Understand Better

Faced with financial stress, we often think the solution is to earn more money. And in some cases, it is. But many times, the first step is not increasing income, but better understanding what is happening with the money we already have.

Clarity reduces fear. Planning reduces uncertainty. And information transforms stress into action. It is not an immediate process. But it is deeply liberating.

Taking care of health also means taking care of finances. At La Plaça d’11Onze, we understand money as a tool at the service of life, not as a source of suffering. Because regaining economic control is not only a rational decision; it is an act of emotional well-being.

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Every year, at the end of March and October, we move our clocks forward or backward with apparent normality. But behind this routine gesture lies a structural anomaly that directly impacts our health, our economy, and our way of life. Catalonia —and the entire Iberian Peninsula— lives in a time zone that does not correspond to it. And this is not harmless. The question is inevitable: why do we accept it… and who benefits?

Geographically, Catalonia is aligned with the Greenwich meridian. This means that, by natural position, it should follow the same time as Portugal or the United Kingdom (UTC+0 in winter). However, reality is different: we follow Central European Time (UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer), shared with cities such as Berlin or Paris.

This anomaly is not the result of chance, but of a political decision. In 1940, the Franco regime advanced the clock to align with Nazi Germany. What was meant to be a temporary adjustment became a structural legacy that, decades later, still conditions the way we live.

The consequences are evident: the sun rises and sets later than it should, our social schedules do not match our biological rhythms, and we end up living in a permanent misalignment. A seemingly small mismatch… with a profound impact on our daily lives.

The biological clock does not understand politics

Our body does not understand decrees or political decisions, as it functions according to circadian rhythms, a biological mechanism mainly regulated by sunlight. This internal clock determines when we feel sleepy, when we are alert, and when our body performs best.

When official time moves away from solar time, this balance is broken. We sleep less and worse, accumulated fatigue increases, and our ability to concentrate is affected. In the long term, this misalignment is also associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular problems.

Several chronobiology studies define this phenomenon as permanent “social jet lag”, comparable to living in a constant time shift. And here lies the great paradox: in a society obsessed with productivity, we are organizing time in a way that actually undermines it.

Low productivity, but long working hours

Spain is one of the European countries with the longest working hours, yet with below-average productivity. This is no coincidence. Time misalignment directly impacts performance: more fatigue means lower work capacity, more hours do not equal greater efficiency, and poorer rest leads to more sick leave.

To this scenario we must add an extended time culture —late lunches, late dinners, and prime-time slots that stretch well into the night— which amplifies the problem. The result is a model that prioritizes presence over actual performance.

At the same time, one of the main justifications for the time change —energy savings— has become obsolete. Several studies by the European Commission indicate that the impact is minimal, and even negative in some cases. Consumption patterns have changed: more climate control, more technology, and less dependence on natural light. We thus maintain a measure designed for a 20th-century industrial economy… in a 21st-century digital economy.

Who decides time?

This is where the debate becomes truly interesting. Time is not only a technical matter, but also a tool of social and economic control. Deciding official time ultimately means deciding when we work, when we consume, when we rest, and how we live. It is not a minor detail: it is an invisible architecture that structures our daily lives.

This reality fits into a broader logic: that of a system that prioritizes apparent economic efficiency over real well-being. As happens in financial, monetary, or fiscal domains, we often accept as normal structures that respond to political decisions and specific interests. Time, like money, is not neutral.

The debate about abolishing the time change has been on the table in the European Union for years, yet it remains stalled. Perhaps because the underlying question is deeper than it seems: what schedule do we want as a society? Do we want to live aligned with natural rhythms… or with market dynamics? Recovering a schedule consistent with our geography is not just a matter of comfort; it is about health, productivity, and quality of life.

Time is a resource. Perhaps the most valuable one we have. And managing it poorly has a cost that we pay every day, often without realizing it. At 11Onze, we believe that understanding these dynamics is the first step toward making more informed and freer decisions. Because only when we question what seems normal can we begin to regain control —of time, of money, and ultimately, of our lives.

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The reasoning is both simple and powerful: the most important and profitable asset of any company is its employees. So what could be better than keeping the organisation’s most important asset in its natural state, where its full potential manifests itself?

However, this reasoning does not apply exclusively to the workplace. Its connotations are paramount, since all people are workers, at least potentially, whether in active work, post-work, academia, or any other situation. It is evident, then, that happiness transcends any of these reasoning, to go to the common denominator: the human being.

Scientific research into happiness

Talking about happiness is nothing new, Aristotle was already making profound dissertations in the 4th century B.C. However, in recent years, the concept of positive psychology, which is a current of psychology that studies the bases of psychological well-being and happiness, as well as human strengths and virtues, has gained momentum. It differs from other psychology currents and its historical precedents in that it is based on the scientific method. Psychologist Martin Seligman laid its foundations at the end of the 1990s, and other authors, such as Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, have added to it with their contributions.

At first glance, the purpose of positive psychology may sound too arrogant: ‘now science wants to tell us what happiness is? But there are many dissenting voices who believe that happiness goes far beyond the processing of a simple set of measurable values in the realm of psychology.

Debates aside, we all know, without needing to learn it, when we feel good and, above all, when we feel bad. It is innate. The fact is that our organism goes smoothly with wellbeing, while it starts to give warning signals when we experience discomfort.

What do the experts say?

Given that companies are above all groups of people, it may seem basic to ensure the well-being and satisfaction of workers at work. However, in the business logic linked to the Industrial Revolution (still very present everywhere), the general paradigm has been quite the opposite: to make them work to the maximum in order to obtain higher profits. A vision in which their personal well-being is far from the company’s concern.

Studies on the subject conclude that the experience of workers who feel at ease in their organisation is far more precious than even the material goods they may receive as gratification. This is because this experience has no shelf life; it can always be recalled and enjoyed again.

Employee happiness as a barometer of business health

So now it is no longer just about focusing on the famous customer experience (CX), but the employee experience also plays a key role in the success of the organisation. Both from the company’s point of view, because a happy, creative or empathetic employee is synonymous with a more productive worker, and from the worker’s point of view, because we spend almost a third of our lives at work.

A good sign of the consolidation of this trend is the emergence of several indices, such as the Global Workplace Happiness Index, which measure happiness in the workplace. Likewise, the figure known as Chief Happiness Officer or director of well-being is consolidating in those organisations that are committed to the value of people and the profitability of a happy employee.

What a strange mix and, at the same time, what a fruitful synergy when the focus of the organisation is on people!

At 11Onze we have believed in this fundamental value from the beginning, which is shared by all the people who make up our community. And it works!

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Physical health is not an aesthetic matter or an aspirational luxury: it is a key economic asset. A fit body—strong, mobile and functional—reduces future expenses, increases autonomy and protects personal wealth. Exactly like a good financial decision. What today looks like time invested, tomorrow translates into freedom and room for manoeuvre.

We invest time and money to protect savings, but we often neglect the asset that supports everything: the body. Poor physical condition does not only take a toll on health; it also erodes income, multiplies expenses and limits opportunities. Being fit is a silent investment, not very visible in the short term, but decisive when the unexpected arrives.

Recurring sick leave, chronic fatigue, lower productivity and increasing use of medication are part of the invisible bill of a neglected body. Added to this are frequently avoidable conditions—lower back pain, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes—that end up becoming structural expense, both personal and public. According to the World Health Organization, a large part of chronic diseases is associated with modifiable lifestyle habits. In other words: not taking care of the body is taking on a mortgage of future expense that is paid in instalments, but with increasing interest.

The economic reading is clear. Physical energy conditions the capacity to work; mobility guarantees everyday autonomy; chronic pain, on the other hand, steals focus, time, and performance. A neglected body is an asset that depreciates quickly. A cared-for body, by contrast, maintains value over time, exactly like a well-managed investment.

Strength, autonomy, and future: the return of an active body

Muscle strength and mobility are, probably, the cheapest insurance that exists. Training the body is not an aesthetic or sporting matter, but profoundly preventive. Reducing the risk of falls, protecting joints, strengthening bones and preserving functional capacity is key, especially from the age of 40 or 50. In the case of women, maintaining strength is also an essential tool against osteoporosis and the loss of future autonomy.

Medical research is clear: it is not about doing sport, but about being able to live. Walking without pain, lifting everyday weights, maintaining balance and moving safely. Strength is not display; it is accumulated autonomy. Every muscle trained today is one less limitation tomorrow, an avoided expense and preserved freedom.

Dependence does not arrive all at once. It is built over the years, often silently. Passive ageing brings high family costs, loss of personal dignity and increasing pressure on public systems. By contrast, active ageing makes it possible to preserve autonomy, reduce healthcare spending and maintain quality of life. Eurostat data show accelerated ageing of the European population, while reports from the Bank of Spain warn about growing pressure on healthcare expenditure. Physical health, in this context, is also a collective good.

And all of this is not a matter of time or money, but of priorities. Being fit does not require a gym or large resources: everyday movement, basic strength and consistency. Walk more, sit less, train essential muscles. From 11Onze’s perspective, the logic is the same as with saving: it does not have to be perfect; it has to be sustained. Consistency, not heroism, is what generates return… also when we talk about the body.

The body is also wealth

The body is also wealth. Taking care of it is one of the most profitable decisions that can be made over a lifetime. It is not listed on the stock market, and it does not generate headlines, but it conditions all other investments: the time we can dedicate, the money we can earn or save, the freedom to decide and the quality of life we can sustain over the years.

Just like savings, the body needs attention, judgement, and consistency. It does not accept miraculous solutions or immediate returns, but it responds reliably to sustained decisions. Because, in the end, it is the personal capital that supports everything: without health, no other wealth is fully usable.

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Even though financial literacy is a necessary skill that is essential for our daily lives, only one in three adult European citizens have minimal financial literacy. We explain which steps you can take to optimise your finances.

Having finances under control, i.e. financial well-being is essential for our peace of mind and a basic pillar for achieving our personal goals. Knowing the basics of home economics and personal finance will help you to optimise your money and be more efficient with your spending.

Set financial goals

Clearly define your short, medium and long-term financial objectives, setting realistic and achievable goals. Whether you want to save for an emergency, buy a house or pay for your children’s education, breaking down your financial goals into smaller, achievable steps will allow you to celebrate achievements as you go along.

Create a budget

Write down how much money you earn each month and how much you spend in an Excel spreadsheet, diary or personal finance application to create a budget tailored to your situation. This budget should include income such as wages, investments, state benefits and fixed expenses such as rent/mortgage, credit, food and other non-essential expenses such as eating out, holidays and savings.

Pay bills on time

Ensure you are up-to-date with your bill payments by setting up a direct debit, i.e., authorising your bank to automatically debit your current account regularly and recurrently for the services you use: water, electricity, gas, mobile phone, etc. You can also use bill payment applications and set up payment reminders by email or SMS.

Prioritise debt repayment

Less debt means more funds available for unforeseen expenses and more emotional well-being. Prioritise repayment of debts with higher interest rates, and consider possible debt consolidation to reduce interest.

Save regularly

Establish an automatic savings routine with a reverse budgeting strategy, which involves choosing a savings goal, such as paying for school fees, deciding how much you want to contribute each month and setting this amount aside before spreading out the rest of your expenses. Of course, you don’t have to set a goal, but having a purpose can always motivate you to make the effort if none other than for an emergency fund.

11Onze is always by your side

Empowering citizens through financial education has been at the heart of 11Onze since its inception. Expanding our community’s knowledge of economics and finance, making all the necessary tools available to them, is one of the founding pillars of the first community fintech in Catalonia.

Since the launch of 11Onze Escola, a project that offers training sessions on the world of fintech so that schools, companies and professional associations throughout the country can teach their students the basics of economics and financial matters, we have a unique platform that complements the school curriculum by educating young people in monetary matters and provides them with tools for the creation of wealth.

With the same purpose of training our community, we promote the lessons in the Learning section, which offers content such as the series El Diner, the Formacions 11Onze made by the employees themselves or our short Courses. In addition, in the Descobreix section of 11Onze TV you will also find pieces by our agents on topics of interest for our day-to-day work. Because from the very beginning it was clear to us that without a good financial education, we will hardly be a free society that can decide its future.

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