TV STAR’S FAST FORTUNE
How Rebeccab went from f scrimping for a Starbucks coffee to buying a Porsche
What did your parents teach you about money?
TO be careful with money and respect it. My mother worked for the police doing special investigations on behalf of insurance companies while my father owned his own business.
He earned most of the money and my mum was good at managing it. As a result, we had a better lifestyle than many other people would have had on the same money.
What was your first paid work?
WHILE I was still at school, I worked part-time as a waitress earning £ 2.50 an hour. I remember one of my first customers asking me what wines we had and I said: ‘Well, we’ve got red and white, but only white is in the fridge.’ I was 14.
Have you ever struggled to make ends meet?
YES. When I was at Bath University, I really fancied a caramel coffee cappuccino from Starbucks and checked my bank account, only to find there was not enough money in there. That made me think long and hard about how I was managing my money. I went out and got a part- time job selling gas and electricity.
Have you ever been paid silly money for a job?
YES. I was once paid £1,900 to do the voiceover for a car commercial. It only took me half an hour. But jobs like that do not come around every day.
What was the best year of your life in terms of the money you made?
A LAST year. My second-hand car sales company, RJ Prestige Cars, turned over £1 million and I made £35,000 on a property I sold. I also obtained £100,000 in sponsorship to enable me to race. My dad al ways encouraged me to find something I would love doing and then try to make money from it. That is what I have done.
What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought yourself for fun?
LAST year, I went halves on a £90,000 blue Porsche GT4. I drove it all over the place and sold it a month later for slightly more than we had paid for it. Working in the car trade, I have access to vehicles other people might not have – cars you need contacts to be able to buy.
What is the best money decision you have made?
LEARNING about cars from my dad. He restored and maintained classic cars in his spare time and there was a lot of motor talk at home. He once rebuilt a Dolomite Sprint engine in two weeks, alongside his full time job.
From age 14, I was always out in the garage with him, helping with wire brushing parts and fixing things. I love the car business and am so glad I have found an enjoyable job because it never feels like hard work. The funny thing is that when I was born my uncle said to my dad: ‘What are you going to do with a girl? You like cars and fishing.’
The first car forum that I joined, I signed myself up as ‘Jackson’ because I did not want anyone to know my sex. I did not want people to prejudge me and assume I did not know anything about cars – when actually my knowledge was extensive thanks to my dad.
When I went to the first forum, they all looked at me in shock and said, ‘Oh my God, Jackson’s a girl.’ The memory makes me laugh even now.
Do you have a pension or invest in the stock market?
I STARTED saving into a pension last year. I save the minimum that, as an employee, you are automatically enrolled to do. I believe there are better ways to protect yourself for the future than a pension. For example, I am considering purchasing some commercial property. I have invested in the stock market in the past but it was not successful. I am looking at doing it again with £10,000 savings, but I am only interested in investing in what I know about – cars and motor companies.
Do you own any property?
YES I do. I own my home in Reading, Berkshire. It has three bedrooms and a huge south-facing garden. I bought it in October last year for £554,000. I have had to spend £30,000 to get it into a liveable state because it had not had any attention since the 1970s.
But I am planning to knock it down eventually and build a five- bedroom property in its place. Then I estimate it will be worth around £1 million.
Do you pay off your credit cards?
NOT always. It depends on whatever else is happening and my cash flow. Occasionally I pay interest, but only when I am doing something else with my money that will earn me more than I would pay in interest.
What is the one luxury you like to treat yourself to?
EXPENSIVE toiletries. I love the smell of Molton Brown fiery pink pepper products – I have got the shower gel, the moisturiser and the perfume.
If you were Chancellor, what is the first thing you would do?
I WOULD hire a cost-saving company to go through the accounts of the National Health Service with a fine-tooth comb. We are lucky to have the NHS but it is overstretched.
Do you think it’s important to give to charity?
YES – I give both my money and time on a regular basis. It always feels good to help others. I do the Race for Life every year for Breast Cancer Awareness, and support Circus Star which provides free tickets for disadvantaged and disabled children to go to the circus.
What Is your number one financial priority?
TO be in the position where I can make choices, because that is what money buys you.