Neara quarter of French people surveyed (24%) say they are overdrawn on their current account every month or almost. This is the finding of a study carried out by the comparator Lesfurets.com and CSA Research last January (on a sample of 1,007 French people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over). And this overdraft begins on the 18th of the monthan average date which – good news! – moves back slightly in the calendar compared to last year, with two days saved (it was the 16th of the month in 2025).
This chronicity reveals a budgetary imbalance structural that marginal adjustments are not enough to correct. However, there are different levers to get out of the red, in addition to good management of the monthly budget. The first step? “ Set up alerts when the balance approaches zero or when the balance reaches the authorized overdraft limit », advises Xavier Prin, marketing and communications director of BoursoBank.
Stock up and lower bank charges
It will take you a few months to build it up but have precautionary savings can get you out of the overdraft trap. The interest? Dip into it to absorb unforeseen expenses (car breakdown, regulations from an energy supplier, professional blow). How much ? Between 3 and 6 months of current expenses. But be careful, these savings must be deposited in a savings account (A or LDDS) for immediate availability.
If you consider that your banking fees are too high in your traditional bank, turn to online banks which are much cheaper. “ At BoursoBank, this represents a saving of 220 euros per year, with an overdraft of less than 7%. », Reveals the marketing director. The other advantage? Greater autonomy to manage your bank account (instant transfers, card blocking, savings management).
Discovered: negotiate and shift
Often underestimated, renegotiate your authorized overdraft can be an act of preventive management. His interest? Adjust this safety net to your real income to the nearest euro and avoid payment rejection fees, which are much more punitive than simple fees. It is therefore possible to obtain an agios franchise (zero fees up to a certain threshold) or a reduction in lending rates. However, be careful, not all banks offer this possibility. Another solution? That of turning to personal loans but thearbitration must be calculated seriously given the difference in costs.
“ Shift the collection date fixed charges are part of good management of a bank accountanalyzes Xavier Prin. Often, we can find ourselves overdrawn for the wrong reasons, because the salary arrives behind the fixed costs, which we must either advance or retreat “. By synchronizing everythingyou eliminate the risk of overdrafting in the middle of the month. Which makes it a good strategy as long as you know what you have left in your bank account, once the charges have been paid at the start of the month. Moreover, most service providers allow you to change this date free of charge.
