Bea Alonzo has been smart about money matters.
In her exclusive Zoom interview with PEP.ph last Thursday, February 11, 2021, the 33-year-old actress gave credit to her mom Mary Anne Ranollo for teaching her how to manage her money wisely.
She said, "Ako, yung finances ko, I am very happy and very blessed na yung nanay ko masinop sa pera. So kahit na isang taon na akong hindi nagtatrabaho, okay pa naman kami. And I'm very happy that my mom really invested in properties and businesses na hindi nasayang. So, right now, parang feeling ko sustainable naman yung pamumuhay namin."
At the start of her showbiz career in 2001, Bea said she earned just enough money to support her family.
The Kapamilya actress recalled, "Nung umpisa, kasi po mababa lang suweldo ko dati so talagang sapat-sapat lang... nung umpisa. Plus, I'm a breadwinner. I've always been a breadwinner. So nung panahon na iyon, talagang sakto lang kinikita ko para sa expenses ng pamilya ko."
And when she started earning more, Bea said she put a huge portion of her income into savings instead of rewarding herself with luxury items.
Her first investment? A house and a business for her mom.
Bea continued, "Nung may sumosobra, doon na talagang... There was a point na 50 percent talaga went to my savings or more. And, I made sure talaga, hindi naman sa ano, but I'm very proud of this, that I didn't even purchase a designer bag for myself bago ko napatayuan ng bahay at nabigyan ng business ang nanay ko.
"I had to do that first before I could even buy myself a designer bag. That was in 2007. So seven years muna ako nag-work bago ako bumili ng mamahaling bag. Lahat sponsored lang."
If one must know, it was also in 2007 when One More Chance, her movie with John Lloyd Cruz, became a blockbuster hit.
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Save more, spend less
Bea shared the counsel of her mom about saving up for the rainy days. She said, "Siguro yung advice ko is really not to live beyond your means. Yun lang siguro yung secret na parang make sure you're not spending too much... that you're not spending more than what you're making.
"Kasi ngayon ko talaga na-appreciate yung sinabi ni mama na mag-ipon ka para kapag merong unos or kapag may bagyo, meron kang natabi. Dun ko lang talaga siya na-appreciate because, right now, kahit papaano, I don't feel worried.
"I can decide properly. I can, you know... parang hindi ka nanginginig para sa future. Parang I have that privilege, and I appreciate it. I don't take it for granted na... kahit papaano, to decide properly because I saved up for the rainy days."
