She is no novice to the television industry but definitely an amateur as far as managing her finances is concerned. Swetta Keswani who plays the wicked scheming woman in her shows has learnt the art of managing her finances well, though a wee bit late in her life, all with help of her dad.

Kavita Shyam spoke to the lovely actor on how she goes about managing her money...

How do you manage your finances?

My dad handles my money as I alone cannot handle it. Though I have been a commerce student and know what shares, stocks and bonds are all about but I prefer to take my family's help as they are experienced. So both my dad and myself manage the money besides when my friends suggest me a lot of things and I come home and tell my father about it.

What do you like to invest in?
I invest about five percent in jewellery (read diamonds) and 80 percent in property while the rest 15 percent I prefer to invest in the stocks, shares and bonds.

When did you start investing?
I started working when I was pretty young (around 13 years of age) but I started saving and investing much later from the age of 19 when dad started investing for me. After all it's a gamble to invest in such things and you can't be dead sure of which is the best.

Do you also dabble in the share market?
Since it's about speculation so I understand very little of it so my dad does it for me and I also ask my friends for suggestions.

Have you ever invested in property?
Yes, I have bought myself a flat in Malad (at Palm Court). I booked it one and a half years ago and I got the possession last year (in September). I am doing up the kitchen and soon the work for the rest of the interiors will start.

Are you an impulsive buyer?
Oh! I am one. I shop for clothes, shoes and bags. But as far as property is concerned I searched for a nice flat for nearly a year.

But as an actor, aren't you tempted to buy stuff to enhance your look?
I love to shop but being in this profession we have to keep ourselves up to date with fashion and try not being seen in the same clothes at the parties else we are badly written about. It isn't easy to look beautiful and different all the time.Also we are so used to pampering ourselves it is difficult to stop ourselves from cutting down on the shopping.

Have you bought a car?
Yes. My first car was a Maruti 800 which my dad gifted me and then I bought a silver Ford Icon three and a half years back.I travel about 60 kilometers per day for the shoots and all these years I used to drive down but now I have kept a driver since January.

Did you go in for loans while making the purchases?

Ya, Of course. I had to take loans from ICICI bank else I wouldn't have been able to buy the car and the flat.

What would you call yourself- a self-made woman or one who gets by with some help from the family?
I would like to believe that I am a totally self-made woman. I have bought myself many things on my own and have got the expertise of my family for the investments.
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