Lo Bosworth may have come of age on reality TV, but the businesswoman was hit with a major reality check when it came time to plan her wedding.
“It’s shocking when you realize how expensive a wedding is,” Bosworth, 38, reveals exclusively as part of her Money Talks feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “We’re having a small family wedding — I think it’s called a microwedding.”
The Hills alum announced her engagement to now-fiancé Domenic “Dom” Natale in January. “For you, my darling, it could only be a ‘yes.’ Thank you for being the best that one could be, for me,” she wrote via Instagram at the time.
“When we made the shift away from extravagant to something more personable, all the stress went away,” the entrepreneur — who started Love Wellness, a women’s personal care line, in 2016 — told Us. “We’re getting married in Laguna on the beach, then having a party in my parents’ backyard. Turns out you do not need all of the stuff to make you feel happy and fulfilled!”
Keep scrolling for more financial insights from the Laguna Beach alum fresh off her appearance on “A Better Way to Money,” the podcast from Northwestern Mutual:
‘The Hills’ Alum Lo Bosworth Is Engaged to Investor Domenic Natale
Us: How much cash do you have in your wallet right now?
Bosworth: None! I don’t even carry a wallet anymore. I have keys and my phone — that’s it!
Are you a saver or a spender?
I am a reformed spender. When I was younger, I spent a lot of money until I realized that that’s not sustainable.
Are you better off than your parents?
What my parents taught me about money is that you should embrace the American dream: Set your goals high and go out and achieve them.
Did you get an allowance as a kid?
Sometimes! When our report cards came, good grades equaled an allowance. That was really motivating at an early age.
‘Laguna Beach’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
What was your first job?
In middle school, I helped out with Park Night, which was like neighborhood babysitting — the kids get dropped off at the park, then the parents go out to dinner for two hours. We got $40 a night. When I was 17, I started on Laguna [Beach] and started to make a tiny bit of money.
How much do you tip?
Twenty to 30 percent. I think that people in the service industry work really hard. It’s important to tip appropriately.
Have you ever been worried about making ends meet?
When I started Love Wellness, I invested the last of my savings into it, which meant I was cash poor all of a sudden. Having a financial planner to help guide you through big decisions is incredibly important.
Best and worst investments?
My best investment was Love Wellness. I’ve definitely made some investments in small consumer brands that ended up going out of business, but you live and learn. You never go in with the belief that they will all return — the majority of them will not — but it still hurts every time it doesn’t work.
What do you splurge on?
I love to travel — and we love to travel really well!
Where do you draw the line?
Sunglasses. I only buy sunglasses on Amazon. They are all less than $15. If you are spending a lot of money on sunglasses, you are getting majorly ripped off. I don’t splurge on clothing or accessories, because trends come and go. It comes from spending way too much money, like $500 on party dresses, when I was on The Hills.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about money?
Having a plan is, hands down, the most important lesson. Do not spend through your life blindly.
