Me and my money

Daragh Murphy, founder of Hairy Baby T-Shirts

Are you a saver or a spender?

I’m trying to be a saver at the moment, but I’m desperate for getting roped in by those daft things you see in Aldi or Lidl that nobody really needs. It’s only a matter of time before I arrive home with a scuba suit or a saddle.

Do you shop around for better value?

Definitely, and online is where I tend to do most of it. The ability to compare prices from different online stores with a few clicks of a mouse far outweighs traipsing up and down the high street (usually when it’s lashing rain) for the same purpose.

What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?

It would have to be my car. It cost me 30k a few years back, but in my defence, I have worked day and night for the last seven years for my business and felt I deserved it.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?

It has to be my iPhone – hands down it is just the best invention of this century. I go to a fair few trade shows abroad and, since I got it, there’s no more lugging around the heavy laptop, waiting for it to boot up after you’ve spent an hour looking for a power socket.

Just bring the iPhone instead. Job done.

Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?

No, I think most cross-Border shopping tends to be groceries and it’s just too much of a trek from where I live in Cork. I do try very hard to shop local and shop Irish, although as it takes me ages to do the weekly shop, you’d probably be up and back from the North quicker.

Do you haggle over prices?

Yes, much to my wife’s embarrassment. I always see her backing away quietly when the haggling begins but, hey, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Has the recession changed your spending habits?

Of course, we all know where we are with the current economic climate, so there’s no need to harp on about that. There’s nothing embarrassing about wanting value for money now.

Do you invest in shares?

No, I would love to have picked up a few Facebook shares, but it looks like Bono beat us all to it.

Cash or card?

Mostly card, but debit more than credit. If I can buy online using a debit card, I will always go for that option first, as it’s better to know how much you have to spend with a debit card instead of letting the bank buy it with your credit card, and you pay them back four thousand times as much later.