“I won’t do things for free
even if it is something I love”
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’!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 festivalsCover Story
34 Outlook Money March 2018 http://www.outlookmoney.com