ME AND MY MONEY:Dylan Bradshaw, hair salon owner
Are you a saver or a spender?Neither. I opened my second business in the past 12 months, The Blow Dry Bar in the new Terminal 2 at Dublin airport, so while there has been a lot of spending and investment in the business, there have also been savings made in other areas.
Do you shop around for better value?Absolutely! I will always shop around, but I feel that customer service is paramount and you always feel you have had good value when you receive good customer service. Good or bad customer service completely dictates the experience.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?Our house. While we absolutely love it, we paid a lot given today's market, but hindsight is a great thing. In saying that, economies work in cycles so things will come back around eventually.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?Our new salon. We got great value for a fantastic fit. It required a lot of research and shopping around but we got there and I am extremely pleased with the finished result.
Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?Very rarely, although I have heard all about the great deals you can get. Generally, I shop locally to support Irish businesses. We need to support our own in these difficult times.
Do you haggle over prices?Not really. However, when it came to doing the fit-out of the salon I did haggle when buying fixtures and fittings. In general, I feel if you are getting good value for money, then the price is right.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?Of course, spending habits have changed both in the business and at home and I am more conscious of what I am spending now and of budget constraints.
Do you invest in shares?Never. I don't trust what I can't manage. I am a very hands-on individual, I like having an active role in what I invest in. Because I am so involved in my business, I couldn't invest my money in something that I had no control over.
Cash or card?Always a card for me, I rarely carry much cash.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?I bought the iPad for my wife. She is really involved behind the scenes with the business, so because of the use it gets it was great value. She can bring it anywhere, so it was well worth the investment.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?Yes, to get my first salon off the ground 10 years ago. It took a lot of time to save and build up some capital before embarking on the big purchase. In those days it wasn't easy to get loans.
Have you ever lost money?No, fortunately not. I've been lucky enough to have had good advice over the years. It hasn't always been easy, but I am extremely lucky to be where I am. Fingers crossed nothing changes.
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?I love the very odd flutter. I won €4,000 when I was in Vegas on roulette. On a day-to-day basis, though, I wouldn't be a gambler – I just wouldn't have the time.
Is money important to you?Money doesn't drive me. Job satisfaction and a job well done are my greatest motivators.
How much money do you have on you now?I've €52 in my wallet at the moment.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
