From gold earrings to precious watch, TV stars recall their first Dhanteras purchase

I remember my mother used to have a gold chain and a cute pair of earrings that she would often mortgage to support my education. When I got my first hard-earned money in hand, I bought similar gold earrings as a gift for my mother on Dhanteras. I was in class XII then. Till date, I haven’t bought any jewellery for myself; but love buying it for my mother.

I shot for my career’s first two advertisements, just two weeks prior to Dhanteras for which I received a total of ₹4000 as a remuneration. I handed over the entire money to my mother. Since she knew my love for watches, she bought a fancy watch worth₹2000 for me with that money. The watch was with me for around 10-12 years as a sweet reminder of that first salary. I was also touched when mum kept the rest of my money in Dhanteras puja as my first contribution to the family.

I started earning when I was 25, and I still remember how my parents were brimming with pride when I showed them my first pay. I handed over the entire amount to my mother as a Dhanteras gift, but in return, she bought a gold chain for me. The chain is very much there with my mom now and is a reminder of the time when her eldest child became financially responsible.

In our family, we have a 400-year-old brass box that has been passed down through generations. As a part of family Dhanteras tradition, members put silver or gold coins in it, after they start earning. I take immense pride in the fact, that the treasure box has a silver coin that I bought from my first pay as a babysitter for some kids. That summer holiday, I had earned ₹4000, which I used to buy the silver coin to take the Dhanteras tradition ahead.

I got the first paycheck of ₹20000 for a job at an MBA institute in the year 2014. Since Dhanteras was round the corner, I bought ingredients and moulds for making homemade chocolates for the auspicious occasion. The motive was to spend my first salary on something sweet, which is also an integral part of these festivals. Moreover, I didn’t intend to buy something materialistic.

I remember buying a gold coin on Dhanteras as an investment, in the year I started earning. Since then, it has become a tradition-of-sorts to buy a gold coin on Dhanteras every year.