Last month, Julia Barretto made headlines when her mom Marjorie Barretto revealed online that her daughter had decided to surprise her with a brand new vehicle. The 28-year-old actress explained the reason behind the thoughtful gift during the Maya Black launch event in Makati City.

“I love my mom more than anything in this world, and hindi pa nga yun enough sa mga ginawa niya para sa amin. But anything to make it easier for her and to make her happy. But obviously, it’s not about me. I think it’s just something that she deserves to celebrate. All credit to her. Siya naman ang naghirap eh. Sa ilang taon na rin. So she deserves it,” Julia said.

Having been working in the industry since she was nine years old, Julia admits she has outgrown being an impulse buyer. “I’m definitely not impulsive. Like when I was probably much younger, maybe in my early 20s. I wouldn’t call myself an impulsive buyer now. Maybe over a few pieces or things that I feel I really like, I really love, or passionate ako sa item na yun, baka that’s love at first sight sa item,” she added.

Aside from her spending habits, Julia also admitted that her preferences when it comes to going out and partying have also drastically changed when she entered adulthood.

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“I think it does change through the years, especially kapag like for example, I’m nearing my 30s. Though I’m not yet in my 30s, pero feeling ko nagbabago ‘yan. Mas na-e-enjoy mo ‘yung mas tahimik, ‘yung mas konti, ‘yung mas intimate, ‘yung mas nagkakarinigan kayo. There are days when you just want to dance and listen to music and there are days when you just want to unwind quietly. So I think it changes all the time. Although I don’t think I would label myself as a party girl. Maybe just a girl who knows how to have fun (laughs). Kasi ang aga ko din nag-work so ‘yung mga taping namin araw-araw, puyatan. So ‘pag may off day the next day, dun talaga may time sa gabi. But parang occasional ‘yun,” she shared.

Looking back at her younger self, Julia says she does not recall making any major financial mistakes. “I wouldn’t call it a mistake. I think maybe just a learning kasi siyempre ‘pag bata ka naman you really learn along the way and through the people na napapaligiran ka, like ‘yung mga advisers mo, ‘yung mga mentors mo. I think it’s a learning, pero hindi siya mistake. If there’s anything, if I could go back, sana mas maaga ako nag-invest. Siyempre pag bata ka, excited ka mag-spend at bumili ng ewan ko, kung ano man yan. But invest early and your older self will really thank you for it, I think,” she said.

Now choosing to spend more on traveling than on material things for herself, Julia also shared how she has been managing her finances ever since she started working in the industry almost two decades ago. “What worked for me since I was young and as advised ng mga managers when I was young and the people around me was really to have an account for savings. So siguro the biggest chunk na nakukuha mo sa trabaho, tapos kukuha ka for your dailies at ‘yung mga kailangan mo siguro monthly. So dapat talaga na-a-allocate mo siya or na-di-distribute mo siya sa mga accounts na meron ka. By just being very intentional or being very specific sa mga accounts na meron ka. Personally, ‘yun ‘yung mga nag-work sa akin. Siyempre, everyone will have their own preference pero ‘yun ‘yung nag-work sa akin from the very beginning. As early as bata pa lang ako, meron na kaming account just for savings,” she explained.