Artur Peguera: "I want to enjoy every euro I've earned."

Sports journalist Artur Peguera (Pont de Suert, 1964) was born into a working-class family where he learned the value of money from a young age. He started working at the age of 8, helping unload the truckload of firewood for the village bakery: "The salary was a sugar cake and four pesetas. We thought it was fantastic." Two years later, the church altar boys managed to earn a little extra, taking advantage of their knowledge of the location of the switchboard: "We'd turn off the lights, and when the French tourists arrived, we couldn't see a thing. Then we'd turn them on and get a tip."

However, it wasn't until later that the presenter had his first paying job. He worked at his uncles' Andria Hotel and worked as a laborer building the Moralets dam: "My father told me that if I wanted a motorcycle, I'd buy it for me, so I looked for a way to make money quickly."

Following the philosophy of his family, he went to work while studying. His father, who was a correspondent in Lleida for various media outlets, recommended his son as a sports journalist: "They told me they would give me 10,000 pesetas a month (60 euros). And in the first month, they told me I was doing too much work and that they would pay me double." At that time, his intention was to dedicate himself to bank administration: "It appealed to me, above all, as a modus vivendi. Bank employees were well regarded, and I thought of work as a way to earn a living so I could do the things you need to do."

But when she entered journalism, she realized it was what she really wanted: "Life took a turn. I trained and never stopped working. I didn't care as much about money as enjoying the work." In fact, there was only one period when she had doubts: "I returned to the idea of banking and auditioned for a position where I would earn more than double or triple what I was earning." But when she had to go for her medical exam to start working, she backed out: "Earning less money, I was happier than I would have been working outside the profession."

One of the most important decisions of her career was making the jump to television: "I went to earn less money, leaving a permanent job at a very important company that gave me security, and I took a risk. I proved to myself that I actually cared more about being happy. This was the gateway to TV3." Initially, she had a contract with a production company and later took the exams: "I have one of the greatest privileges in life: making a living from something you love." However, she emphasizes that the sector has been devalued: "Those of us who earn a decent living are privileged; the only thing anyone can say is the precariousness of our profession."

When it comes to personal finances, Peguera is a saver: "I've never stretched my arm beyond my limit. Obviously, to buy my apartment, I had to take out a mortgage, but I didn't go crazy. I've always been prudent; I have what I clearly see I can afford." In fact, he doesn't like owing money at all: "It's always made me very nervous. But now with Bizum, you can quickly make peace."

On the other hand, the presenter has seen his parents always put the handbrake on their spending because they suffered so much in the post-war period: "They get to the end and you say, 'Why haven't they been able to enjoy all this money they've been saving?'" He also says that he hasn't been able to enjoy all their retirement money throughout his retirement: "If possible, I want to enjoy every last euro I've earned, because I'll have earned it myself." In fact, he considers himself a hard worker: "I've never had anyone say no to staying late, probably because I enjoyed the work I've done."

Even so, she insists that a balance must be found: "I'd like to not be dependent on anyone, to not have to mortgage my daughter or my partner." So, household finances are like a marathon; you have to find the balance between not saving too much and not wasting money: "When you reach the finish line, don't say, 'I have plenty of energy, I could have gone faster.' Nor do you say, 'You get to kilometer 30 and you can't go on because you went too fast. You have to keep going. Well, the same goes for finances."