Financial competence as a factor of personal economic security

The article discusses the relevance of developing financial competence as a key factor in ensuring the economic security of an individual in modern conditions. The context of the study is the increasing role of financial knowledge and competencies in the context of economic risks and uncertainty, which is reflected in government strategies and programs. The interest in this topic is due to the need for an integrated approach to ensuring the economic security of an individual through the development of financial knowledge, skills, abilities and values. Despite many publications, issues of terminology and practical mechanisms for forming financially responsible behavior of citizens remain unresolved. It is emphasized that the insufficient level of financial knowledge of the population hinders the development of the financial market and slows down economic growth. Particular attention is paid to factors influencing the level of financial literacy, including demographic, socio-economic, behavioral and cultural aspects. The presented results of domestic and foreign studies confirm the relationship between financial literacy and economic security of an individual. The purpose of the study is to suggest directions for improving educational and awareness-raising measures. The objectives include the analysis of domestic and foreign approaches to defining financial literacy, identifying barriers and factors influencing the formation of competencies, as well as a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the results of the implemented educational programs. The study used general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, classification), analysis of literary sources, logical generalization. The study found that financial literacy is closely related to the level of economic security of an individual, reducing the debt burden and forming sustainable financial behavior. The conclusion emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to the development of financial competencies, including systemic education, educational campaigns, development of digital skills and increasing personal responsibility. The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of their application in the development of state strategies and improvement of educational programs. The limitations of the study are associated with an insufficient empirical base and the need for further research to assess the effectiveness of the measures being implemented.