I grew up in Pretoria, South Africa. I've always been quite entrepreneurial. When I was about seven, I would buy big bags of potato chips, divide them into smaller packets and stand on the pavement and sell them. There's always been something to supplement my income.
In high school, my best friend and I baked cakes every Thursday night. The house would be completely swamped with cakes. The next day, my mother would drive us to school and we'd sell our wares. We did this for two or three years, making about 600 rand (Dh1,987) a month, which was a lot for us then. We'd make our holiday money that way.
I did that until I was old enough to get waitressing work.
My first proper paid job was in 1986; I was the receptionist at Jacqueline's, nightclub in Pretoria. I earned around 4,000 rand per month, plus bonuses. I left my parents' home soon after getting the job and moved to Sunnypark Complex in Old Pretoria, which at the time was quite a prestigious place to live.
My rent took up a big chunk of my salary; I moved in with one towel and one side table. I slept on the floor for awhile; I wanted to be independent so I improvised. I hung shawls on the wall and got bits and pieces from friends. Once I made some money I bought more stuff from second-hand stores.
My next job was as an assistant manager at Ster Kinekor, a South African cinema company. I was eventually promoted to regional marketing manager. At the same time, I did a nail course and opened a small salon. My father helped me pay for the franchise - Dream Nails - and I paid for all the trimmings inside with my savings. The franchise cost 15,000 rand and I spent around 10,000 rand on the interior. I sold it after two years and paid my dad back for the loan.
I didn't make thousands or anything, but I would supplement my income by clients coming to the salon or my home in the evenings.
I left that job to go to the UK in 1997, where I worked in Harrod's beauty section; after that managed a salon on the QE2, the ocean liner. At Harrod's I once did Goldie Hawn's nails.
The rand was very low at the time, so earning pounds was phenomenal, even though my basic salary wasn't high. The tips were more than the salary. I also once did a job as a medical guinea pig by testing new blood pressure drugs ? once a week for six weeks ? and got £950 (Dh5,249) for that. Nonetheless, I didn't really save money during this time because I used it to go travelling around Europe.
After a year, I returned to South Africa, and my previous employer, Ster Kinekor, as marketing manager. I stayed for one year before packing my bags again, this time for Orlando, Florida, in 1999.
I worked as a cultural representative in the animal kingdom at Disney World. It wasn't a well-paid job; around US$5.20 (Dh19) per hour, but it was fun. Disney used to sell everything to employees - cups, plates, clothes - at 80 per cent warehouse discount, plus give out meal stamps, so people would end up staying for years and becoming completely Mickey-Moused.
My next job was for the owner of the Bank of Bermuda, and that was the most glamorous time in my life.
I met the owner, John Deuss, in Florida while I was working for Disney World. He offered me a position with the company. I flew regularly by private jet and stayed in incredible hotels doing PR, hosting, marketing - bits of this and that. I was very well paid, and lived in Palm Beach in a gorgeous apartment.
I worked on marketing a new credit card that allowed the wealthy to make offshore transactions anonymously. I travelled to Mauritius, Bermuda and Florida for that and stayed in incredible hotels. I'd use my savings to send money home to help out my family and my friends.
I never splashed out on shopping and I've never been a label person.
In 2003, everything changed. I have an active relationship with God, and when he told me to help people, I said to Him: "Are you sure you wouldn't prefer me to work in more glamorous fields?"
But I knew that counselling was my calling. I started my own practice in South Africa, but I was very soft. If someone needed help and couldn't afford it, I would counsel for free. For example, if a woman going through a terrible divorce was sitting in front of me, I could not bring myself to take her 500 rand. I also worked at a rehab centre with addicts. I got very little pay, and it ended up taking increasingly more and more time, and it ruined me financially.
I used up all my savings and ended up with nothing. It was a very spiritual time for me, as I gave up an incredible corporate life, but I ended up with nothing.
I did that for three or four years, before coming to Dubai, in 2007, to start fresh. I had nothing left at home, and Dubai seemed like a good opportunity to pick myself up again.
I couldn't even afford the plane fare; a friend generously paid that, and another friend put me up while I looked for work. But I couldn't find the right job. I had no money; my friend gave me a little bit to get by, but I was completely broke.
One night, after I had been in Dubai about a month and a half, I felt particularly down about the fact I couldn't find a job and had no money. I was very angry; this was my worst moment and I questioned everything about the decisions I had made up to this point.
I prayed to God, and felt like I was at the lowest point I had ever been. Eventually, I switched off the light and slept.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt like something had changed in me - as if something had been switched on. I went to the computer and there was an e-mail from a man whose name I didn't recognise, asking me to come in for an interview. It was Samir Tabbah, the chief executive of Desert Adventures, a destination management company. We met, and I was offered a job that same day, as director of HR and training.
I'm still with the company. I cleared my debts in South Africa, and when I bought a Peugeot 206 CC I felt like the richest woman in Dubai, driving around with the top down.
I'm not saving any money at the moment, because I am spending on self-improvement courses; I am learning about internet marketing, and have written an e-book about how to become a plus-size model. The marketing course cost several thousand dirhams, and I have also bought art supplies, as I love to paint.
I don't save, but I think I am investing in skills that will help me to make a passive income in the future. This includes learning about e-marketing and making money online through various marketing and advertising strategies.
I send around Dh5,000 to Dh6,000 home to my family and loved ones each month, and I've never been a big spender on myself.
One of my few luxuries is beauty treatments. I go to a place called Yin and Yang for a weekly massage, which costs around Dh150.
I also go to Dubai Cosmetic Surgery for laser pigmentation and facials, and Aesthetica in Deira.
Those are the only glamorous things I spend money on.
* As told to Jola Chudy
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
RECORD%20BREAKER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Barcelona%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%20years%20and%20290%20days%20v%20Real%20Betis%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20La%20Liga%20starter%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2038%20days%20v%20Cadiz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20register%20an%20assist%20in%20La%20Liga%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2045%20days%20v%20Villarreal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%20v%20Georgia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20goalscorer%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20score%20in%20a%20Euro%20qualifier%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Habib El Qalb
Assi Al Hallani
(Rotana)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
