Me & My Money Brian Silke, CEO of miDough

Are you a saver or a spender? I am a saver. However, saying that, I have no problem parting with my money if I think it is worth it. If it's a good and worthy investment, I say go for it.

Do you shop around for better value? Yes, I do. I can't help it – it's the way I was brought up and part of who I am, but it can be very difficult to determine what is better value if you are unfamiliar with a product or service. I have no problem spending more for higher quality or a better service.

What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? I bought a watch for €500 after we sold our previous company, Go Play, to Kompan. I like watches but, as I am involved in sports and take my clothes and watch off a lot, I don't generally buy expensive watches as they are left in dressing rooms.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Education. Other than education, I bought a three metre by six metre gazebo about 10 years ago – we put it up every summer and use it as an outdoor room. We have had many happy occasions with family and friends in our garden, and there is no value on good times, with everyone in good form.

What ways do you prefer to shop – online or local? It depends what I am shopping for. If I am buying a known item, I am very happy to buy online, especially if I don't have much time, as you can compare prices quickly. If I have time, and it's a purchase where there can be variations in quality, I like to shop local; also when you have a good local service provider.

Do you haggle over prices? Yes. My wife usually does a runner when I am about to start haggling with a sales person.

Has the recession changed your spending habits? I think the recession has made everyone more conscious of their spending and more vigilant when looking for the best value. My parents grew up in a time when there were limited resources and they passed that on to me, I generally won't buy what I can't afford.

Do you invest in shares? Yes, but I have had very mixed results. I generally invest in shares I feel are undervalued, or simply because I like the business, but I am no expert in this area. I previously bought exploration stocks based on bad advice and I got bad results. I have invested heavily in miDough shares. Cash or card? Cash if the value is low, and card if the value is higher. I put all business purchases on the card so I have a record of everything purchased.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? The last thing I bought was a pair of football boots with moulded studs. At my age, this is a bit of a gamble, so if I stay playing Gaelic football and soccer then they were good value. My team mates would probably think they were bad value.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? I have saved up for all big purchases, but in particular our home. If someone is lucky enough to be in a position to save, it gives a great start to any investment.

Have you ever lost money? Yes, I have lost money on shares and on property investment. A relation of mine recently lost six Garth Brooks tickets that I had bought as presents for a friend's 50th birthday, and at the time that hurt more than much larger losses.

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win? I don't think I'm a gambler, but my wife Catherine would say I gamble on shares. No, I never had any real big financial win from gambling – so far – but getting married is probably the biggest gamble anyone can make, and I won big. I'm not sure Catherine agrees.

Is money important to you? Yes, I think money is important to everyone, but it's just a medium of exchange. It's very important if you are hungry, or sick, or need clothing or shelter.

I’m old enough to know that money can be replaced – friends and family can’t.

How much money do you have on you now? Around €100, as I usually take out €200 and stock up again when I get down to €50. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lee