Money & Me: Dubai PR associate dreams of climbing the ladder

Self-confessed spender Rawan Salam is trying to change her ways but she admits she'd still raid her savings account for bags, shoes and fine dining.

Rawan Salam is working towards opening her own boutique PR agency. Antonie Robertson / The National

Rawan Salam is an associate at the public relations firm Golin Mena. The 29-year-old from Lebanon was raised in Saudi Arabia and has lived in Dubai for nearly two years.

How did your upbringing shape your attitude towards money?

I’m from an upper middle class family, so we’ve lived a comfortable life. However, as most people have, we’ve had our ups and downs, which has taught me the value of money and how it goes hand-in-hand with hard work. I am proud to say that for the past two years I have been completely financially independent from my parents, and by far I am loving every second of it. Living alone in Dubai has taught me much more about responsibility, as I was completely dependent on my family even when I had a job in Saudi Arabia. But just like my parents who came from middle class backgrounds and worked hard to get where they are now, I too would like to climb up the ladder and achieve my own goals with my own hard work.

Are you spender or saver?

A spender – I believe life is too short, so you might as well live it to the fullest. However, I am trying to change my attitude towards the spending issue, as it is quite hard to keep up with the luxury lifestyle Dubai has to offer.

What is your most cherished purchase?

My car. It’s a Mercedes E 350 coupe, which I bought a year ago. I have been into cars since I was a kid. My dad is a car fanatic as well; ever since I was five we would go show room hopping together to look at different cars, so I grew up to be obsessed.

Have you ever had a month where you feared you could not pay the bills?

Yes, it’s the story of my life. There are times where I’ve had to squeeze my wallet to pay the bills and rent, but it’s fine because one day I will look back and laugh at the panic attacks I used to get when bills were due.

Where do you save your money?

My mum always had an issue with my spending habits; she still gives me lectures on how I should be saving money, as I am a person who sadly spends more than she saves. Recently, my mum bought me this little ghost-shaped piggy bank as a joke, and surprisingly I’ve been using that to save my petty cash for a rainy day.

Do you prefer paying by credit card or in cash?

Both. It depends on the situation, but I prefer using my credit card as I don’t like to carry cash around with me. Plus, having a credit card can come with some great benefits, such as air miles, shopping vouchers and points.

What has been your best investment?

My family. They come before anything. Every month I send money to my younger brother as extra pocket money. I consider it a great investment in his education, as this way he doesn’t have to worry about money and can focus on his studies. A lot of my friends recommend that I invest in gold, so I will hopefully be getting into that very soon.

What do you most regret spending money on?

I went through a phase where I was addicted to online shopping and where I bought things that I did not need.

What financial advice would you offer your younger self?

Keep putting money aside every month, as you never know when you might need it; even if it’s Dh100 a month, it might come in a little handy one day.

Do you have a plan for the future?

This is something I’m currently working towards, but one day I’d like to have my own boutique PR Agency specialising in luxury brands.

If you won Dh1 million, what would you do with it?

I’d put a fraction of it as an investment into my PR agency. As for the rest, I’d use it to buy my parents their own holiday home with a beachfront view in Europe.

What would you raid your savings account for?

Bags, shoes, fine dining and travel.

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