Are you a saver or a spender? Definitely a saver. I'm quite cautious with my money. As the saying goes, "count the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves!"
Do you shop around for better value? It depends – definitely for big purchases, as there can be huge savings to be made. I always research big purchases online before I splurge. What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? My car, it was a gift to myself for turning 30 this year and doing so well with Flormar Ireland. I can't tell you how much it cost – my wife will probably read this!
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? I'm a big believer in buying quality clothes and shoes – any day-to-day item, really. Buying cheap means buying twice. I'm also a believer in quality over quantity.
How do you prefer to shop – online or local? Local 100 per cent. It's monumental to me to support local businesses, as this is where my background is. I always try to buy Irish, too, when I can – every little helps.
Do you haggle over prices? It depends on the product. You won't see me haggling in Tesco, but I have been known to talk myself into a bargain or two.
Has the recession changed your spending habits? Yes, in a very positive way. The recession has opened my eyes to such stores as Aldi and Lidl, both of which have really competitive prices and superior quality products. I'm no longer afraid to shop around.
Do you invest in shares? No, not at the moment, I don't really have a whole lot of knowledge in this area. I'd need to do a lot of research before I decided to invest.
Cash or card? Card, always. It makes things so much easier to keep track of. I'm very security-conscious too, and carrying too much cash isn't safe.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? A cup of coffee a few minutes ago! I'm enjoying it a great deal, so yes, I believe it has been good value.
Have you ever saved up for a relatively big purchase? Yes, my car. I'm also a big watch collector, and have been known to save up for one or two particularly nice ones.
Have you ever lost money? Yes – that's just part of the ups and downs of owning your own business. I just try to learn from my mistakes and move forward.
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win? No, I'm not. Apart from the occasional scratch card!
Is money important to you? Yes, of course, but it's not the most important thing to me. Money can bring you so much, but there will never be a price on good health and family.
How much money do you have on you now? €52.12. Like I said – it's card for me most of the time.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
