Are you a saver or a spender?
Most people find it hard to save these days. I watch my outgoings and try to resist too many extras. I can keep this up for a few months, but then I will have a wave of “to hell with it!” and splash out a bit.
What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?
In Canada, when I was 16, I worked at a health food chain. I remember the feeling of getting my first pay cheque, but I can’t remember how much it was for. It was the minimum wage in the 1990s so I’d guess about nine bucks an hour.
Do you shop around for better value?
I’m trying to get better at doing that, but I’m such an impatient person. Lately, my biggest thrill is getting money off groceries for the weekly shop, so I try to make sure I get there before the vouchers expire. My husband is much better with household bills and getting better rates.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
I remember it so clearly! I was working a night-time shift on Today FM and for months I had my eye on a Marc Jacobs bag. One night, we were prepping the show, but I said “feck it”, and ran to Brown Thomas to buy it before it closed. For the entire show that night, I stared at it wide-eyed. It cost €425 and was the most expensive thing I had ever bought for myself. That was in 2008, and I only hung it up this year after using it daily, so the bag was definitely worth the price tag.
Can I lose access to capital gains tax relief if I sell a section 23 property at a loss?
Billionaires flourish as Davos opens and rising concerns about housing affordability
Alison Curtis: ‘To pay for my wedding and a down payment on a house, I used funds I inherited as a teen when my parents passed’
Floating offshore wind is ready to deliver for Ireland
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
This may sound superficial, but our coffee machine has been an excellent investment. I am a coffee lover and work from home most days across the week. Before, I was tempted to pop out to buy a coffee, but now I make lovely ones at home. I haven’t done the math, but I know it has saved me a small fortune.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
I would have spent money on clothes over the years. About six years ago, I started buying Irish-made and from independent brands. Each item of clothing cost a good bit more, but I had far fewer items and cared for them better instead of buying something and donating it to charity a year later, which is what I often did previously.
[ Alison Curtis: My guilt at not going for a second pregnancyOpens in new window ]
Do you haggle over prices?
God, no! I am too shy on that front. Years ago, we were in Shanghai at a very famous market, where the whole point was to haggle, but I just couldn’t do it. Out of politeness, I think I ended up paying more than the stallholders were asking for!
Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?
No, mainly because I don’t understand it, and I’m not totally trusting of investing in anything I can’t get my head around.
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
The retirement plan for many people nowadays is to keep going until you can’t! But, yes, I have a pension in place. Sadly, it doesn’t bring as much comfort as it may have generations ago, but there is some relief knowing it is in place.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
I have a very active border collie and, when we adopted her, I invested in a nice weatherproof jacket because I knew I would be living most of my life outside. This is Ireland, so yes, it was good value for money.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
I wish I could say I have, but for the bigger moments in my life – such as our wedding and a down payment on our house – I used funds that I had inherited as a teen when my parents passed. At the time I felt guilty, but then family and friends reminded me that if my parents were still alive, they would have absolutely contributed to those milestones in my life.
Have you ever lost money?
I have physically lost notes. It makes you sick, doesn’t it, even if it’s a fiver? On the flip side, the joy of finding a tenner in your winter coat pocket a year later is thrilling.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
Not at all. I have played slot machines in casinos a few times in the past. I have zero luck, though, not even with scratch cards. It’s probably a good thing I don’t take many chances.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
I have started to learn how to budget better. Before, I would never compare amounts going into my account or subtract monthly outgoings and then calculate what I have left to live off for a month. I have got better at doing that regularly. My worst habit? Probably those moments when I say “to hell with it”. Then I look at the credit card and need to figure out how that is going to get paid.
How much money do you have on you now?
Nothing. Just cards.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
- Sign up for Business push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Our Inside Business podcast is published weekly – Find the latest episode here
