‘The whole hospitality sector has gone absolutely crazy’

Comedian Gearoid Farrelly performs at Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo, on Friday, November 3rd, as part of Sligo Live Festival, sligolive.ie.

Are you a saver or a spender?

I’m a saver in my head and a spender in my heart. On one hand I buy things that I think I need, but I always feel like I am one step from financial ruin so I always try to be careful.

Do you shop around for better value?

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I try to but I don’t put any time into it. I absolutely hate shopping so if I find something I like I just buy it.

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

I bought a Hugo Boss jacket to wear on The Late Late Show. The cost? Too much!

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

My apartment. I make all of my buying decisions very quickly. I did no research into the area or the building and was originally buying the one below it. They told me that the one above was available for the same price and I bought that, but didn’t actually look around it. It should have been a monumental disaster.

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

I always prefer to be in an actual shop but during the pandemic I did really enjoy the constant stream of parcels.

Do you haggle over prices?

Never. I can’t do it – I wouldn’t even know where to start. I have never got a penny off the price of anything! I love watching people do it but I can’t do it myself. I’m neither charming nor subtle.

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

The whole hospitality sector has gone absolutely crazy. It’s so rare you stay in a place that is worth the money they are charging, so I tend not to stay in hotels when I’m on the road. I usually drive home after the show.

Do you invest in shares?

No. I would love to but I know nothing about it and the idea of losing money like that is terrifying. I think the secret of that stuff is not to think about it too much, but I overanalyse everything so it wouldn’t work.

Cash or card?

Card via my phone.

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

The last thing I bought was a vinyl copy of an old EP by The Chicks, a Dublin pop/grunge band, at a record fair in Dublin. I spend a ridiculous amount of money on records but for me they are worth every penny. When I come home with a record, I’m excited about – my partner has learned not to ask how much it was. As I’m doing this, I’m waiting for the new Kylie Minogue album to arrive in three different colours.

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

I had a “just in case my car dies” fund that I recently had to use because my car died. It is the most financially prepared I have ever been in my life.

Have you ever lost money?

All of the time! A few years ago at the Edinburgh Fringe, I left an envelope containing £100 in notes on the table in a burger restaurant. It was a delicious burger but it was not worth £116.

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

I don’t gamble. When I was in Las Vegas years ago, I tried my hand at roulette. I lost about $60 in 10 minutes and so I left. That has been my only experience with gambling.

Is money important to you?

No. I’d love it to be but it isn’t. I’m careful with it and I’m not foolish when it comes to pricing myself, but I don’t know how much I have at any one time. Comedy is very precarious. There are times you are doing well and times you are scraping by, but so far it has always worked out. I just think, is there money in the bank? Yes? Grand, so!

How much money do you have on you now?

I have €40 in cash that I found in a pair of shorts I haven’t worn in two years. That tells you everything you need to know about me and my money!

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea