Cover Story
“ I won ’ t do things for free even if it is something I love ”
Even as she admits to not being financially savvy , Kalki Koechlin knows that money is important . Having started her career at a young age , she lists purchasing her own house and investing in land as her smartest investment . Indulgences include holidays and travelling to music festivals
First pay cheque
I got paid as a waitress in London . I had so many things to pay for — like my rent — that I wasn ’ t in any state to buy myself something . I think the first time I earned enough money to buy something , I spent it on a really warm coat because London was freezing .
Most expensive purchase
I have my own house . Two years back I started paying the loan and I just finished . I was so sick and tired of renting . Being a single girl and an actress , it was hard to find something . It is lovely that I don ’ t have to answer those ‘ society ’ questions now . I can paint my walls a certain colour , and grow my vegetables the way I want .
My greatest indulgence
I take a few holidays every year . I went to this cool music festival last year . I think that ’ s where I indulge . I would love to go to the Burning Man Festival , but it ’ s very expensive . When I go shopping , I go to either vintage stores or handcrafted places . But I ’ m not much of a shopper when it comes to designer stuff or even high street stuff . I ’ m trying to get away from that because it is so destructive . I ’ m trying to be more sustainable with the clothes I buy . I mostly shop from Auroville .
Where I invest my money
I helped my mom invest in her property in Pondicherry . It ’ s a beautiful house , and she has a great eye for furniture . She ’ s used colonial furniture and redone it , so the house is stunning . So investing in my mother and in land is my smartest investment .
Rules of money negotiation
I have made a rule for myself in the last two years that I won ’ t do things for free . I have found now that I don ’ t want to do things for free . A lot of my time went in just performing or speaking at places for free . I realised that this is the work I love to do , so why shouldn ’ t I be paid for it .
My go-to financial advisor
My next-door neighbour , Akshay . I don ’ t even know his last name . He tells me where to invest — like he ’ ll say ‘ now the market is down , you must invest ’. Because I ’ ll be like ‘ this is extra money I have . I don ’ t need it ’! And he ’ ll be like ‘ no , no , no ’!
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Outlook Money March 2018 www . outlookmoney . com