An open hand, carefully used
Top Billing presenter, entrepreneur and former ballerina Lorna MasekoLukhele tells Jana
Marais of her dreams of a house in Monaco and giving more money to charity How responsible are you with money — are you stingy, careless or too conservative?
and I’m have a very learnt generous that when person you give, You you can’t receive. live your life with a closed hand. A closed hand is similar to a closed heart — not much blessing flows through it. Have you ever been “summoned” by your bank manager? For what?
No, thank God. If you could buy a house anywhere in the world, where would you choose to live?
I would love a house in either the Seychelles or the Maldives, and if I had to push the envelope a little further, Monaco. Do you carry cash, or do you prefer a card?
I use my card to pay for everything — I don’t like carrying cash as it’s not safe. Are you an easy tipper, or do they have to work hard for it?
I’d like to think I tip fairly. If I’m not impressed by the service, it will reflect in the tip — good service equals a very good tip. I can’t handle bad service. Do you believe in personal financial advisers? Do you have one?
I actually do. I’m not financially trained, so I need a person to guide me on how to use and invest my money the best way. These people spend their lives with money, so they know best. What is the most expensive item you have ever bought? How much was it, and how special was it for you?
Probably throwing my hubby his 30th. If money was not an issue, what is the most expensive item you would buy?
I would give a lot more money to charity. That’s just something I’ve always said I would do as and when I make more money. How did your childhood experience influence your attitude to money?
I was privileged enough to travel the world at a really early age.
I was therefore exposed to the best of the good life and that allowed me to see and experience the finer things in life, which I then knew needed a lot of money to enjoy. How does your profession influence the way you deal with your personal finances?
Money allows you to do a lot of things.
It doesn’t solve a lot of problems but it can assist. Do you have a budget? Do you stick to it? How often are you over your monthly budget?
I do have a budget and try to keep to it as best as possible. My mom was big on advising us to save money, so that has always been one of my key principles. Should you be given R5-million now, how would you spend it?
Give some to charity, invest some, do something fabulous for my parents and close friends, pay off our house and go on holiday.