Are you a saver or a spender? I would definitely consider myself a spender. I love going out shopping, keeping abreast of what is on the shelves at the moment and buying things I really feel I am going to get use out of.
Unfortunately, recently, my shopping wish list has switched from fashion to baby buggies, blankets and cots.
Do you shop around for better value? I would consider myself fairly price conscious – I'm always looking to get the best price. I still spend every penny I have, but I get a lot more for my money. Since I began working with Mane 'n Tail haircare, I travel to pharmacies nationwide every day. Because of this, I am always aware that the consumer is especially savvy with regards to products, as well as having the desire to find a quality label at a good price. What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? A BMW car, which was €16,000. Looking back now it was a ridiculous spend, but I loved every minute of it.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? A Nilfisk vacuum cleaner – reduced from €489 to €300.
How do you prefer to shop – online or local? I love shopping both online and local, but I find you get better value when you go online and shop around.
Do you haggle over prices? No, not really, but I will always do my homework and make sure I'm getting a good price on my purchase. Has the recession changed your spending habits? Yes, it has made me more aware of what I'm spending on a daily basis. I now stop and double-check that I can afford what I'm about to buy, whereas before I used to just put it on the credit card and deal with it later. Those were the days! Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I used to take a lot more chances than I do now. I remember the last time I got a tip from a guy who knows a lot about horses – he told me to put money down on a certain horse and he assured me this horse would win. I placed €200 on this particular horse. The horse came in first but the jockey was nowhere to be seen! I decided this was a sign for me to stop taking chances with my money.When I did gamble, I never won, anyway.
Do you invest in shares? I have in the past. I have been very lucky because they were shares outside of Ireland, so they weren't affected by the recession.
Cash or card? Card, because there is no limit on what I can spend. The only problem is I never seem to have change for parking. It's also a lazy option because it saves me queuing at the cash machine.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? A friend of mine works in a baby shop and she needed to get rid of two floor displays – a cot and a changing unit. So I got them at cost price. They're like brand new and were very good value for money.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? Yes, I saved for a deposit on my first home. It nearly crippled me, but it was well worth it.
Have you ever lost money? Thankfully, I have been fortunate not to lose any large quantity of money or savings. Hopefully, that will remain the same.
Is money important to you? My main priority with money is that I can pay my bills; the rest is a bonus. Being happy is No 1!
How much money do you have on you now? €94.26. That has been in my wallet for the last two weeks because I keep using my card.
In conversation with Tony Clayton Lea
