'I am definitely a saver. Italians are savers'

ME AND MY MONEY:STEFANO CRESCENZI, Restaurateur

Are you a saver or a spender?I am definitely a saver. Italians are savers, and I think this is due to the difficulty of accessing credit in Italy. Therefore, saving is a necessity rather than a luxury.

Do you shop around for better value?Yes, I shop around for value but I wouldn't buy something impulsively just because it is good value. Quality is also very important.

What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?A white linen colonial-type suit, which I purchased before taking up a position with an NGO in Mozambique. We Italians have an outfit for every occasion. At the time it cost me 150,000 lire (probably €75 in today's money). Roll on a couple of years later, and I went to pick up Eileen (my wife) for a date in Rome; she took one look at me and refused to go out unless I changed the suit.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?Our family home, which we fortunately purchased pre-boom in 1993. I grew up in the centre of Rome so I recognised the potential value of a city centre home in Dublin and the convenience it brings.

Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?Not here in Ireland. My mother used to take me shopping across the Italian border into Austria during the summer holidays we spent in the Italian Alps. She would rig out the entire family in Sound of Music-type outfits.

Do you haggle over prices?I don't generally haggle. When I worked in Africa I was appalled to witness tourists haggling with local traders for artisan crafts. These people were living a day-to-day existence, and I couldn't understand how tourists could justify haggling. However, I do enjoy negotiating on prices when I am purchasing goods for our business. For instance, I would insist on bulk discounts.

Has the recession changed your spending habits?Yes, I'm more conscious of what I'm spending and if it represents value for money. I have bought a couple of pairs of Tod's shoes recently in Kildare Village, because they were great quality at a decent price. I'm also concerned about providing for my childrens' future.

Do you invest in shares?Yes, I have a self-administered pension fund. Prior to that my pension was in the hands of the professional pension fund managers, but when the recession hit, the effects on that fund were disastrous. I belong to that group of people who cannot wait another 30 years for the fund to recuperate, so I decided to take a crash course in investment management. Now, I dictate the terms, and frankly I feel that I am doing a better job. Well hopefully.

Cash or card?I like to know how much I spend so it's card into the ATM and use the cash.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?My treadmill. I enjoy the early morning workout without having to leave home.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?Yes, when the children were really small, and before the internet explosion, I saved up for the Encyclopedia Britannica. I innocently thought it would be a good investment for their education. How times have changed.

Have you ever lost money?The most money I ever lost was when my pension fund suffered because of the global financial crises of 2008. It was quite surreal to observe one's retirement fund evaporating on a daily basis.

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?No. That said, I enjoy my annual trip to the dogs at Shelbourne Park with my brother-in-law, Terry, when he comes home from California.

Is money important to you?Yes, because money is a means to an end. I want to be able to provide well for my family, to invest in my childrens' education, and I want to create an adequate pension fund to sustain my comfort and needs in my old age.

How much money do you have on you now?€268. I did have €368 up until five minutes ago when my daughter removed €100 for early Christmas shopping.

Dunne & Crescenzi - The Menu,is published by Mercier Press. dunneandcrescenzi.com