ME AND MY MONEY: PJ Gallagher, Comedian
Are you a saver or a spender?Im a saver mostly with the odd impulsive moment of madness. I dont have much to spend money on. I dont drink, smoke, go to clubs, eat out much, and Ive no interest in buying clothes unless I have to. I spend silly money on motorbike racing but it is my only vice.
Do you shop around for better value?No. If I do want something, Ill take the most direct route to getting it. So long as I dont feel ripped off, Im happy.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?Im about to start spending quite a lot of money on learning to fly planes. It's probably an awful lot to spend on something that is just a hobby but Ive always wanted to do it, and there are only so many times I can walk the dog, not go to the pub or race a motorbike without wanting a little more from life.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?My Transit van. It does everything all the time. It helps me race bikes, go to gigs, carry gear for filming, move house and save money on diesel. Even if the worst came to the worst, I could live in it. it might not be as flashy as a nice Merc or anything, but I love it.
Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?Never, because I dont shop much. I do most of my shopping over the internet, and I have no idea where anything is coming from. Being able to sit on your couch with a laptop and do your shopping while watching TV seems much easier than a trip up the M1 to Newry, never mind looking for parking in town.
Do you haggle over prices?I have tried, but I just cant. Im way too uncomfortable with the whole thing and always afraid Im going to upset someone. It might sound silly, but I can be painfully shy.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?No, it might have changed my income a little but not my spending.
Do you invest in shares?Not a hope. The best place for anybody to put their money is a hole in the back garden. I am selling shares in a flower bed in north Dublin if anyone is interested.
Cash or card?I prefer cards. But I pay them off in full at the end of every month to avoid charges.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?I just bought six eggs, brown bread and a bottle of MiWadi. I put it on my card so Ill know if it was good value for money at the end of the month. Right now Im not sure.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?Ive never had a loan from a bank or been in debt, so everything I own I set my sights on and saved for. I was lucky that when the boom came I was too broke to get a mortgage and now that Im doing OK, there is no point in buying a house as the market is in bits.
Have you ever lost money?I lost some money I had in a pension, and I had some money stashed in other various saving schemes that all disappeared, too, but all in all Im not too sore about it.
Is money important to you?Its important to me to earn a living and get paid, and to be able to look after myself and my family. Its also nice to be able to do things like go on holidays and have good hobbies, but I still turn down a lot of stuff because I would only be doing it for the money. So, yes, I suppose money is important to me, but I have my limits and fun will always come first.
How much money do you have on you now?I jut got back from doing gigs in Dubai, so I have a €2 coin, 150 Dirham and £5.
In conversation with
TONY CLAYTON-LEA
PJ Gallagher plays the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise, on March 12th
