Are you a saver or a spender? I have never wanted to be rich but I remember talking money with friends when we were kids and my dream situation was to have enough money that I didn't have to save for things. If I can't afford it now I'll just do without.
Do you shop around for better value? I find that if I want something and start shopping around I end up having to alter my expectations or just settle for not quite what I was looking for in the first place. Again, I'd rather go without than have to compromise.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? I had the painful situation where I had to buy a lease for our first city-centre Honest to Goodness location. It was at the height of the boom and it was the only way to get into the part of town we wanted to be in. Even though we have well left that shop we are still paying for it. We paid too much and I don't like to think about it.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? I bought a pair of shoes to tide me over for a wedding around five years ago and I have been living in them ever since.
How do you prefer to shop – online or local? As a last resort I will shop online. I like to walk into a shop and pick something up or try it on and, even more importantly, walk away with it there and then.
Do you haggle over prices? I don't understand haggling. Sell the product at the marked price, and buy the product at the marked price: simple. Why waste time with a back and forth when the seller ultimately knows what price he is willing to sell at?
I was in Turkey a while back and when I was at the market I was paying the prices the sellers were asking, but they wouldn't take my money and got so annoyed that I wouldn't haggle. It was actually quite funny, like that scene from Life of Brian.
Has the recession changed your spending habits? We had just started trading in the city centre and within weeks the recession hit. We were so surprised that it had a positive affect on our business, and therefore our spending. Customers who had gone to more salubrious locations started coming to us because we were offering quality and value. People took us a little more seriously.
Do you invest in shares? No. I wouldn't know where to start. I like to stick with what I know and what I can influence. I think I'd find it very hard to sit back and leave it all to external forces.
Cash or card? As much as I hate the expression, for me 'cash is king'. When I was much younger I lived it up on credit, not considering it all needed to be paid back at some point. I won't go through that again. I have one credit card, I keep the credit limit low and try to pay it back as soon as possible.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? A set of three really lovely paintings. Where they good value? I'll let you know in 20 years' time.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? Never, if I can't get it now I'll do without. I like to enjoy things in the present rather than pin my hopes on something that may, or may not, happen in the future.
Have you ever lost money? Not enough for me to remember.
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win? I bet on the Grand National once, so no, I wouldn't call myself a gambler. I was given a tip and put €20 on the nose, whatever that means. The horse won and I spent my winnings on a fancy TV. I haven't really gambled since.
Is money important to you? Money isn't that important to me. If I'm provided with enough for day-to-day living and surprised every now and then with a little extra, I'm happy. I don't like worrying about it – I'd rather think of other things than paying bills.
How much money do you have on you now? €70.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
