Laura Buckwell is a TV news anchor at City7TV and an event MC. The 36-year-old, from the UK, moved to Dubai to become a business reporter after working in broadcasting for more than a decade in London, Sydney and Tokyo. Ms Buckwell is married to a Dutch entrepreneur and has a two-year-old son.
How did your upbringing shape your attitude towards money?
I grew up as a Royal Dutch Shell oil company expatriate kid, living in Malaysia, Nigeria and Holland until I was sent to boarding school at 11. Growing up, we had a very comfortable lifestyle. Life was full of activities and social gatherings with other expat families, and money was never talked about or brought up as an issue. As a family we always discussed what we would do when we grew up, so the focus was on career and experiences rather than cash. This has definitely instilled a culture of discretion in me when it comes to money. Living as a university student after boarding school was most certainly an eye-opener though, as it was the first time I properly earned extra spending money on a weekly basis. It was only through first-hand work experiences that I managed to get a proper grip on the value of money.
How much did you get paid for your first job?
I got my first job when I was a student as a waitress at a high-end pizza restaurant and was paid £4.50 (Dh23) an hour.
Are you spender or saver?
I’m a little of both, but more of a spender. Dubai is full of enticing activities such as food and retail that it can be hard to hold back. I wouldn’t say that I was extravagant, but I tend to spend on lots of small things that add up.
Most cherished purchase?
My most cherished purchase has got to be The Luxury World Key, which gives exclusive access to 12 five-star hotels and their facilities in Dubai, including the kids’ clubs. We decided to splash out, as the card means we can enjoy many days out as a family, including sports and discounts on food and beverages. The Key also offers a 24-hour concierge service from booking holidays and party planning, to finding the nearest entertainment for kids. We paid Dh20,000 for a couple plus kids for a year.
Have you ever had a month where you feared you could you not pay the bills?
It was my first year as a new tenant in London, fresh out of university and the first time paying rent. I shared a house with two friends in Clapham and there were many times that I feared I couldn’t pay the bills but I somehow managed. It was a good learning curve. My job at the time was as a runner on big-budget TV entertainment shows at Endemol and the BBC, which came with a basic salary.
What has been your best investment
Our family car, which is a Hummer. It’s like being inside a tank and nothing beats the feeling of being safe on the roads here in Dubai, especially with kids.
What do you most regret spending money on?
I’m ashamed to say that I was a smoker for years. I gave up three years ago when I became pregnant with my son. So the biggest regret has to be all the money I’ve spent on cigarettes. I started smoking at the age of 18, and that’s 15 years of smoking half a packet (on average) a day. In the UK at the time they were the equivalent of about Dh35 a pack. You do the maths.
Do you have a plan for the future?
My husband is an entrepreneur and his line of work doesn’t come with any monthly guarantees. One month can be a huge income injection while the next three could be very basic, so as a family we need to plan quite carefully. My husband is very clever when it comes to investments though, and we have property in Holland to fall back on. My husband also has amazing ideas on what will make money in the long term, whereas I’m the one that thinks more about saving in the short term.
If you won Dh1m, what would you do with it?
My son’s education, stocks and shares, property and travel.
lgraves@thenational.ae
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
Celta Vigo 2
Castro (45'), Aspas (82')
Barcelona 2
Dembele (36'), Alcacer (64')
Red card: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
