Me & My Money June Rodgers, actor

Are you a saver or a spender? I would say I’m a bit of both. I like to splurge every so often, but I keep an emergency fund for any eventualities that may crop up. Do you shop around for better value? Absolutely. You can’t beat a bargain. And, even with my weekly shop, I would look around for better value. In fact, my weekly shop would include visits to three or four different shops.

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

My husband – I bought him online, and postage and packaging cost a fortune!

Well, seriously, it was probably my home. I bought it 25 years for the princely sum of £20,000.

I know that doesn’t sound like much now, but at the time, relatively speaking, it was a huge amount, and after bills I had about £20 in my pocket each week to live on.

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

Strange as it may sound, it would be my dogs, Beauty and Poppy. They have brought no end of joy over the years.

What way

do you prefer to shop – online or local? I prefer to shop local. I like to buy Irish and do my bit for the economy.

I really enjoying shopping for a present for a friend and not buying it online without physically going and looking for it.

I’m old-fashioned I guess.

Do you haggle over prices?

Funny enough, I wouldn’t haggle over prices in Ireland, but if I’m abroad I have no problem bargaining down a price. I guess it’s a culture thing.

Has the recession changed your spending habits?

Yes, I’m far more cautious now. I was never a person who lived beyond my means, but I do stop and think more now before I buy.

Do you invest in shares?

No. I never really understood the whole stock market business. I wouldn’t know where to start.

Cash or card? I prefer cash. That way I know exactly how much I’ve I spent because my purse is empty – simple but effective! What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? The last thing I bought was a nice bottle of Mac

on-Villages, and yes it was worth every penny down to the last drop!

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

Yes, but again it would be my house. At the time I was working in Fujitsu Microelectronics on minimum wage, and it took me four years of saving to get the deposit.

Have you ever lost money?

Luckily, no! I don’t tend to carry huge sums of money around with me and I’ve never invested in anything other than my career. Thankfully, that has paid off.

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

I’ve never gambled, apart from taking the gamble of doing show business full time, and for me that was a big win in the end.

Is money important to you?

No, money is not the be all and end all for me. As long as I have enough to live comfortably I’m content with that.

How much money do you have on you now?

I haven’t been pole dancing yet this morning – come back to me in a hour!

June Rodgers performs at Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre, June 14th. For details of further shows visit junerodgers.net