Are you a saver or a spender?
Definitely a spender with only two exceptions – my pension, which if I knew more about and had access to I would probably be spending – and the €100 stopped from wages each month and put into the One4all Christmas Club, a scheme we run for companies all over the country that sorts Christmas out each year for their employees.
Do you shop around for better value?
Not really. I believe that if something is fair value, and I am not being screwed, then I am happy.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
I bought a seriously nice set of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales rugby jerseys, all signed and mounted as one big display in an auction at the BBC Children in Need Annual Ball last November in London.
It’s not my most expensive purchase, but certainly the most extravagant – but a worthy cause nevertheless, and it made for a very happy rugby-loving youngest son who subsequently received it for Christmas.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Without question my bike. I bought it on the Bike4Work scheme, €500 for a €1,000 bike and I can pay it off at €19 a week for the year, and it’s mine forever!
Plus I got loads and loads of free exercise, and a whole lot of new cycling friends thrown in as a bonus.
How do you prefer to shop – online or local?
I think there are now horses for courses. Anything travel related – flights, hotels, holidays – are all purchased online, as is insurance. I do actually enjoy traditional shopping, whether it’s the weekly shop or for something special.
And there is no substitute for hitting the high streets on Christmas Eve, a long family tradition in the Dawson House.
Do you haggle over prices?
Yes, particularly if I think there’s a deal to be done and nearly always if it’s a multiple purchase. Many standalone shops have some margin built into the price for hagglers and or charmers.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?
My business was created around the time of 9/11, a time when money was in very short supply, so spending for us was always very tight. This mirrored pretty much our own lifestyle, so that when the downturn came about, there were no noticeable changes except prices reduced and services improved everywhere.
Do you invest in shares?
I’m not a great fan of handing my hard-earned cash over to others to play with, so I tend to stick to businesses I can keep a close eye on myself. I did once make a killing on the Eircom shares but I’m still not sure how it all happened. My then bank manager encouraged me to take out a loan to buy these Eircom shares, which were then sold on something called the grey market. Before I knew it, I had a tidy sum in my bank.
Cash or card?
Card all the way!
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
My tickets for a Bruce Springsteen concert in Croke Park – I expect it will be an amazing concert, so yes, great value.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
I don’t have the discipline for saving. The only thing I think I ever saved for was the deposit on our family home in 1984.
Have you ever lost money?
The one particular loss that still haunts me was losing an orange 10 shilling note on the way to the shops on the day of my First Holy Communion. I was devastated, and to this day still keep an eye out for it when I walk down that road.
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?
While others might think me one, I don’t consider myself a gambler.
As an entrepreneur, I would see the vision of the end game and go for it.
Is money important to you?
Not particularly. I have survived without it often enough to know that there are a lot more things I would consider to be more important. However, you can’t deny a few bob in the back pocket is comforting to have.
How much money do you have on you now?
$120, £65, €20, and a One4all Gift Card – priceless.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
