‘The accountant in me comes out but I prefer to enjoy spending on my family’

Susan Nightingale is Northern Ireland director with British Business Bank. Her career has bridged public and private sectors, with SME debt and equity-funding experience enhanced by roles in Invest NI Corporate Finance and Ulster Bank Commercial Banking.

Are you a saver or a spender?

I’m not usually a saver although I do try to have one eye on the future which many of us – either as individuals or business owners – are currently very conscious of. The accountant in me comes out from time to time but I prefer to enjoy spending on my family.

Do you shop around for better value?

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I tend to find what I need and then buy it. Shopping around for better value can be important but my time is precious and I would rather get what I need and move on.

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

I would have to say our honeymoon in South Africa and Dubai. It was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, so we were happy to splash out a little on it. The memories we made are priceless.

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

When I finished university, three friends and I decided to book a round-the-world air ticket so we could spend some time travelling around Australia. When we were there, on a bit of a whim, we bought a VW camper van. When I think about the fun we had together and the memories, which we still talk about to this day, it was certainly great value for money.

How did you prefer to shop during the Covid-19 restrictions – online or local?

Like so many other people I found myself shopping online purely for convenience during the restrictions, especially when some local shops had to close. However, shopping local and supporting smaller businesses and the local economy is a priority for me, and I always try to shop local when I can. The perfect situation for me would be if all local businesses had online shopping.

Do you haggle over prices?

When it comes to major purchases like a house or a car, I don’t take the first price I am given and will negotiate a little. Also, when I am on holiday or in a market, it can be fun to do a little haggling, but only ever to get a fair deal as I certainly don’t want to eat into anyone’s margins.

How has the Covid-19 crisis changed your spending habits?

During Covid, I was spending less money as we were very restricted on going out for meals and socialising with friends. Now that we can do all those things again, I have discovered a newfound appreciation of being able to meet up with friends or go for a nice meal with family.

Do you invest in shares?

Not anymore. I used to have shares but when the financial crash came along, they took a real hit. Over 15 years later, the value of the shares is still nowhere near what they were then, and I have never been tempted to invest in shares since.

Cash or card?

It’s always card. I rarely have money on me as it is becoming easier to get by without having cash in your pocket. Even when buying an ice cream in the park, I find the seller will be able to process a card payment.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?

We enjoyed a wonderful family holiday together this year that was worth every penny.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?

The round-the-world air ticket I mentioned earlier – the price was about £1,500. Saving up for that required many hours of part-time student work, but it was worth it to have such an experience.

Have you ever lost money?

Yes – those shares! I was about 27 at the time of the financial crash and I lost out on thousands.

Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?

I’m not a gambler but I did have a memorable day at the casino all those years ago in Australia. We were down to the very last of our money when we paid a visit to the local casino. We walked in, placed a $5 bet on number five and when I threw my three dice they all settled on five, which meant we won almost $1,000.

Is money important to you?

Being financially secure is important to us all, especially with pressure on household budgets, but happiness comes at the very top of my list. Money allows me to enjoy things like family holidays, which are important to me. However, money is not the be-all-and-end-all and I value my family’s happiness much more.

How much money do you have on you now?

Not a penny! My insistence on using cards often means that when the kids need money for school trips, or when I have to pay the window cleaner, I need to dash to the cash machine.

in conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea