Me & My Money: Conor Rhatigan

Are you a saver or a spender? Day-to-day I wouldn't be a big spender. Instead I find it rewarding to have a goal to save for, be it going on holiday or buying something I've had my eye on for ages. Now that I work in the clothing industry, I find that I buy far less, but invest in quality and items that will last.

Do you shop around for better value? For certain things I would, like my weekly food shopping. However, when it comes to purchases I'm more passionate about, such as clothing, I tend not to shop around unless it's sale season. With the introduction of so many e-commerce sites, pricing generally remains the same across most brands these days, so it isn't as necessary to shop around anymore.

What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? I bought my twin sisters a set of bracelets for their 30th birthday last year that came in around €450 each. They are great to me and have always been very supportive in whatever I am up to, so I wanted to mark that milestone birthday with a nice gift.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Probably a pair of Dickies original work pants I picked up at Goodhood in London for £45. A classic that can be worn every day, styled with almost anything, and is built to last.

How do you prefer to shop – online or local? I'm guilty of spending a lot of time online, with a few staple blogs I frequent every morning while having my breakfast, so it's easy to be tempted to make a few purchases online while I'm there. Wherever possible, though, I try to shop locally. If I were to pick up clothing in Dublin anywhere outside my own place, I'd head to Indigo & Cloth or Nowhere.

Do you haggle over prices? I'm awful for haggling, as I find it awkward. I do experience it regularly in-store and will often give a discount over losing a sale, knowing that actual sale season is never too far away.

Has the recession changed your spending habits? I just turned 25 at the end of March, so I would have been studying at college during the worst of the recession. College was probably one of the best places to be during that time, as you are sort of expected to be broke

Do you invest in shares? I am no expert, but yes, I do dabble. I like to have a punt with some clothing brands I like which are on the stock market, most recently Adidas.

Cash or card? Personally I prefer card, as I don't really like carrying cash.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? I picked up a pair of limited run '10th Anniversary' collaborative trainers from Adidas x Neighborhood.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? I saved for the past few months for a trip to Coachella music festival which I'm just back from.

Have you ever lost money? Not that I am aware of, or if I have it's been nothing substantial. I do have the worst track record ever with my phone, though, which costs me money.

If I ever manage to hold onto a phone for more than a few months, it will have a nasty crack through the screen, for sure.

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win? I've never been much of a gambler. Opening Castle & Drury is a significant enough gamble to hold my attention!

Is money important to you? Money is important to me. We all want be comfortable and have nice things. Having said that, I make sure that money is not controlling me. I won't do anything solely to make a few quid. People can become obsessed over money, and I think one of the saddest things to see is when money comes between family or friends. How much money do you have on you now? €73.92.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea