Heart Evangelista. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
CEBU CITY, Philippines — For many Filipinos, the name “Heart Evangelista” is synonymous with luxury, affluence, even splurging. But the actress and fashionista says she does not just part with her money at the drop of a hat. Her spending goes through a process, and several parameters have to be considered before she makes a purchase.
At the launch of a high-end residential project in Cebu, the Inquirer asked how she decides on purchases. She responded: “Even if it’s just shirts, or shoes, or bags, I wouldn’t just buy it because it’s [on] trend, I wouldn’t just buy it because it’s pretty or it’s cute. I think about, if I need money will I be able to sell it at double the price?”
Evangelista added: “I always think if it’s gonna become more expensive, if the value will increase. So it’s the same thing with buying property. It’s not just for your use or for the use of your future kids. Will it generate income when you need it, or can you rent it out?”
But it appears that for now, she may not have any problem getting money to spend. She has just collaborated with the developer, where she designed her own condo unit. Another partnership saw her developing a line of aromatherapy candles to welcome the company’s new homeowners.
The actress also offered a piece of advice to those struggling with building their wealth. “It starts with what you want to do in your life. How are you going to earn this much money if you don’t know what to do in life? It’ll all come at the right time, and you’ll eventually learn with wisdom and experience,” Evangelista said while also sharing she had her own share of bad financial decisions in the past.
She also advised the younger generation to never be afraid to ask. “You deserve to have knowledge, and educate yourself. It’s never impossible to have big dreams. Everything is possible right now, you just have to ask, and you’ll know the steps. That’s the first dream, ‘I want a place of my own.’ But how? There are many ways to be able to afford something with value,” she shared.
Evangelista said luxury is about being smart. “Luxury isn’t just all about, it has to be expensive. It’s about ‘future.’ Let’s go first to clothing. I wouldn’t buy it if I wouldn’t be able to wear it a thousand times, or if I’m still 60 can I still wear it?”
She also cited the value of taking care of oneself, and not just allocate resources on material things alone. “It’s really important to invest on something that will do you well, for your soul, for your mind, and then the rest will follow,” Evangelista explained. /ra