Are you a saver or a spender?
I spend on things that give me great memories – holidays, the arts (and lots of summer music festivals), as well as things that will hopefully keep me healthy (sport club, good food). While this doesn't leave much room for saving, we do keep a few accounts for the children so that we hopefully won't need to remortgage the house when we get hit with third-level fees!
Do you shop around
?
If I'm buying something like car insurance, I'll spend time to get the best deal. I tend not to shop around for the cheapest price on a meal out as I think it's more important to book a restaurant that you know will serve great food with good service (which should also mean you will feel you have enjoyed good value for your money).
What has been your most extravagant purchase?
My wedding suit cost €980. Julie and I got married in 2006 and, while we were careful to book an affordable venue where one of the Highlife chefs produced a beautiful self-service buffet (which saved us a fortune), I kind of lost the run of myself when it came to looking the part!
What purchase
do you consider the best value for money?
Last spring we spent money on a patio for our garden. The last paving stone was laid just as Mother Nature switched on the summer heatwave and we spent the next five months barbecuing – pure bliss!
Do you
shop
online or local?
If I'm paying for theatre tickets or anything where you just need to print out a confirmation, so it's online all the time – but I shop locally for groceries and clothes and do what I can to support Irish businesses.
Do you haggle over prices?
Not really. I only ever buy something if I think it is good value for money in the first place, so I'm generally happy to pay the asking price.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?
I guess it has made me more aware of the importance of spending my money on quality goods and services. For example, I might not eat out as often but I will also now do my bit of research to make sure I'll enjoy a great meal when I do.
Do you invest in shares?
No, I tend not to put my money behind anything where I feel as though I have limited or no control over the future growth of my investment.
Cash or card?
I've never liked carrying cash and, as most places are set up to take plastic, it cards for me.
Was the last thing you bought
good value for money?
I met a friend who was home from London recently and we went to Café du Journal in Monkstown and enjoyed two soups, a shared crab-salad platter with a lovely bottle of Sauvignon blanc, four coffees (ha, ha) with homemade desserts. The bill (with service) came to under €60, which is excellent value for money in my book.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
We have two daughters (Susie, 7 and Anna, 5) so we have to save for our summer holidays every year as four times flights and accommodation and spending money can really stack up. We usually pick somewhere in Europe for a fortnight and last year managed a combination of Valencia and Majorca – it wasn't cheap but was well worth every cent.
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?
For the same reason that I don't invest in shares, I tend not to gamble. I did get invited to Royal Ascot years ago and, while I never got to see the racetrack (don't ask), I did manage to win all six races. It was a classic case of beginner's luck, for which I was made to pay handsomely with overpriced champagne before I could escape home to count my winnings.
Is money important to you?
I appreciate what money can do for me and I've been careful enough so far not to completely run out of it, but compared to a healthy lifestyle with lots of happy memories, it's not important at all.
How much money do you have on you now?
€31.14, but as I'm about to walk up to Superquinn to buy my lunches for the working week ahead, I'd expect to be heading home with an empty pocket.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
