Are you a saver or a spender?
Definitely a saver. My dad was an accountant and my mum was a stay-at-home mum with five kids. They could have set up a consultancy business on household budgeting. And, with seven mouths to feed, they were careful with their money but never mean. They taught me to have a healthy respect for managing my money and never overextending myself.
Do you shop around for better value?
Value and quality are both extremely important to me. I believe you can have the best of both worlds if you have the patience to shop around.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
Given the saver mindset that was instilled in me from a young age, I don’t tend to splash out too much apart from holidays or weekend breaks. However, I did invest in a home gym as keeping fit and healthy is important to me. The convenience of being able to work out at home suits my lifestyle.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Despite being my most extravagant purchase, I would also say my home gym. It has paid dividends during the pandemic and has kept me sane throughout the lockdowns. Overall, I’ve probably saved money over the years, too, as gym memberships can be pricey.
How did you prefer to shop during the Covid-19 restrictions – online or local?
I shop local when I can to support all the wonderful businesses in Trim, where I live, but I definitely did a lot more online shopping during the pandemic. Ecommerce is quite close to my heart, as setting up the Dublin Liberties Distillery online store was a major project for me during Covid-19.
Do you haggle over prices?
Always! I don’t know where I get it from but I enjoy the challenge, especially when I feel I’ve got a real bargain.
How has the Covid-19 crisis changed your spending habits?
I used to shop online fairly frequently but since the pandemic that’s definitely increased, especially the breadth of what I buy online.
Do you invest in shares?
Yes, but I’m very careful. It’s all too easy to get burned.
Cash or card?
Since the pandemic, I use card almost exclusively.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
I’m in the process of buying a hybrid car, so whether it’s good value remains to be seen. But I’m getting in there before the grants disappear so I’d hope so.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
Yes, I was lucky enough to buy my first house in 1994, and it was much easier to get onto the property ladder at that time.
Have you ever lost money?
I have a great story about one time I was in Las Vegas, but you know the saying – what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Ask me in a pub sometime!
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?
I’m not a big gambler, but I did have one windfall winning of €12,000 in a poker tournament. I hadn’t played for over five years so it was a bit of a surprise to win – it was a good 14-hour investment.
Is money important to you?
I wouldn’t say it’s important to me. It allows me to do the things I want to do with my family, but it is most definitely not the be-all and end-all.
How much money do you have on you now?
There is €50 in my wallet that I’d forgotten about.
thedld.com
in conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
