Never do business with friends and family: Vida Samadzai

Vida Samadzai is super sexy. She is tall, talented and immensely good looking. Her claim to fame in the television sphere was Bigg Boss. In a candid chat with Tellychakkar.com, she shared her money mantras. Excerpts: How important is money to you? Money is a tool that enables you to protect and build yourself and give your family a better life, and to give back to your community. It’s a means to an end. It’s important to have it to the point of being comfortable and happy and it also gives you freedom. But it gets complicated when you have loads of money. But one thing I know for a fact and based on experience is that money can't buy happiness, but you can charge it. The charging part was a joke. Money can’t take over health, family, happiness and success. Are you an impulsive buyer? I was an impulsive buyer seven years back but now I enjoy buying my family and friends things more than buying things for myself. I still have unused goods and trying to not shop unnecessarily. But still I am dying to go abroad and shop for some new stylish stuff. But I don't put much thought to the things I like; I just grab them. I feel shopping at the malls is a waste of time. It is always fun when the designers come to you at home or you order online. What are the investments you have made? I have a small percentage of ownership in a club in Studio City. I have also invested in a French restaurant in Sherman Oaks. I have a cousin who handles the stock market shares for me, which is a low risk plan. I am in the process of investing in two houses in CA. What is your most expensive purchase? An interchangeable diamond set gift (ruby, emerald and pearl) for my mom and the rest of the jewelry that I have purchased for her and myself, however, she deserves it more than I do. Do you feel financially secure? Financial security is the condition of having the resources to support a standard of living now and in the foreseeable future. I am ok to handle myself with a certain lifestyle now and in the future, but no matter where I reach or whom I marry, I would still earn my own bread and butter as it makes me feel like a person with talent, knowledge (Veda), and potential. It gives me independence and the freedom to not rely on others. Being able to handle two flats with all the rest of it in Mumbai and NY is really costly vs Los Angeles where I used to have a flat of my own. I happened to have four closets int'lly which is not so pleasant. Who handles your expenses? I have an accountant in the US who also handles my taxes for me, but I handle the daily little expenses in India all by myself. I like to have control over my own money here as I am new to bunch of laws and regulations and I like to have all the paperwork so everything is in order. I am proud to say I have the best FICO credit score of 750 with 850 being the highest, in the US. Yes, I am reliable, trustworthy and responsible. What was your first salary? 6.25 USD per hour with limited English skill or any experience at age 18 at a clothing store Wet Seal in CA. and later on got promoted to a district manager and then shifted direction towards banking and real estate and now I am in this greener side of the glamour world. How much money do you carry every day? I rather not share. I find it bragging but let us just say even if I go on a date; I make sure I have enough cash, two credit cards and my ID just in case. That sense of indecency and pride will never go away. Any advice for investors? Don't do business with friends and family. As a thumb rule, diversify your investments across 15-20 various individual assets. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Research before you select a plan. Ask friends for advice. You can start with plans that are less risky. Design your portfolio based on your life and not the markets. Your asset allocation should reflect your goals. If you do it that way, you should only make changes when your goals change, not when the market does. And once you've made loads of money, please share it with your favorite NGOs.