Me & My Money

Are you a saver or a spender? When I was younger I tended to be a spender, living week by week. These days I tend to put a bit away every month, so I don't have to worry about things like that happening again.

Do you shop around for better value? I like a good bargain, like everyone. But I also like quality, and sometimes you have to pay that little bit extra to get the quality. I'm also not a very impulsive buyer, so I'm quite happy to wait for prices to drop if a new product I like enters the market.

What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? My teeth – I had my top ones veneered a couple of years ago. I really had to think long and hard about it because it was so expensive and irreversible, but I really didn't want to wear a brace in my mid-30s. It was for complete vanity, but your smile is the first thing people see. I saved up for them and didn't take a loan as I thought that would have been too easy. They cost me about €5,000, but, still now I think they were worth every cent. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? My Mac Book Pro. They don't come cheap, but it is my office, diary, organiser, TV and reader all rolled into one. I don't think I could function without it. I can honestly say I'm getting my money's worth.

How do you prefer to shop – online or local? I tend to mix it up; I don't really have a habit or stick to one thing. I do always shop online for holidays and rarely take an all-in-one holiday deal. I tend to book my flights and accommodation separately, in order to get the best that's available.

However, I rarely shop for clothing or food online. I shop local for fresh produce as it means I’m doing my bit for Irish farmers and traders alike.

Do you haggle over prices? I was born to haggle, sometimes to the embarrassment of the people around me.

Has the recession changed your spending habits? The recession was kind of strange for me. I opened my first business at the height of it and had been totally oblivious to it before that, as I had always lived week to week with no money. Since then, I've become more aware of managing my and the business's money. I never take anything for granted – the next recession could be just around the corner.

Do you invest in shares? No. I don't understand enough about it to invest my money in it. I also hear so many stories about people losing their hard- earned cash from it, too.

Cash or card? Both. I tend to use my debit card for day-to-day things like shopping, petrol and to pay bills, but then I prefer to use cash when I'm out at night or travelling. I find, with cash, I'm more aware of what I'm spending so I don't run away with myself on blind buying. I also don't have a credit card.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? I just bought a coffee from a multinational establishment. It's nice, but I don't think the change I got from a tenner screams "value for money".

Have you ever successfully saved up for a big purchase? My husband and I saved up for our honeymoon in the Maldives. It cost about €10,000. We took our honeymoon the year after our wedding and we wanted it to be perfect. We also didn't want the financial hangover when we came home, so we saved for it together without touching our savings or day-to-day money.

Have you ever lost money? Yes. I launched a national lifestyle magazine last year and I don't think I really put enough thought into how much it would cost to run and keep afloat. After five monthly issues, and a lawsuit, I decided to cut my losses. I'm not too proud to say that it taught me a few valuable lessons.

Is money important to you? It's as important as the water in my tap or the roof over my head.

How much money do you have on you now? My debit card, a €20 note and the change from the coffee. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea