In an exclusive interview with Malini Bhupta on the eve of Women’s Day, actor Pooja Hegde, who made her Bollywood debut in the film Mohenjodaro, says that money lessons for her began at the tender age of 10. Her mother, Lata Hegde, told her that if she walked half the distance to school, then she would be able to save `2 every time she took the rickshaw. Lessons in money started early for her thanks to her mother and Pooja even now ensures that she gets more bang for her bucks. She says: “The important thing my mother taught me is to value money and the importance of saving. This is a fundamental part of who I am today.” So even though she spulrges on swanky cars, Pooja saves 10 per cent of her income without fail. For someone who claims that she doesn’t understand money too well, Pooja knows the importance of asset allocation. She puts a portion of her regular savings in low-risk instruments like bonds and lets her mother Lata invest the rest in more risky instruments such as stocks.