‘A bargain is only a bargain when you need the purchase . . . and can afford it’

Rachel Doyle is the founder of Arboretum Home and Garden Centres and chairwoman of the horticultural division on the board of Bord Bia. She is a former president of International Garden Centre Association, the international governing body for garden centres. Her memoir, My Tree of Life, was published in 2023.

Are you a saver or a spender?

My father advised me many years ago to cut my cloth according to my measure. I am careful when it comes to personal spending, but when it comes to business I look at the cost versus the benefit and make a considered decision.

Do you shop around for better value?

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I shop for quality and like to buy local and Irish where possible. A bargain is only a bargain when you need the purchase, and a bargain is only a bargain when you can afford it.

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

Our home has been our most extravagant purchase. It came with five acres, had no heating and had bats hanging from the third-floor ceiling. It needed rewiring and a new roof. We paid £120,000 for it back in 1990. It has since become our dream home with a lovely garden.

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

Our home has given us so much pleasure and is a labour of love. Our garden is still a work in progress but as I am getting older, I am making it less labour intensive. Both the house and garden are wonderful places to entertain family and friends, so yes, it turned out to be excellent value for money.

How did you prefer to shop during the Covid-19 restrictions – online or local?

I am a bricks-and-mortar shopper and have never bought anything online. If I need something, I go out and buy it. Having said that, I only go into shops when I’m on a mission for something.

Do you haggle over prices?

I absolutely hate haggling. I don’t believe prices should be inflated and I would rather offer an honest price in the first place so that haggling isn’t needed.

How did the Covid-19 crisis change your spending habits?

It didn’t change my habits other than that I had time to cook at home, including cooking al fresco in the beautiful weather. I am a good cook and enjoyed buying good-quality raw ingredients and combining them with the fruit and vegetables from my own garden.

Do you invest in shares?

Yes, with Bank of Ireland. I got my fingers burnt. Enough said.

Cash or card?

Cash is king, I always keep some with me in case technology should fail.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?

I upgraded my barbecue to a Weber Genesis II E-410 in one of the lockdowns. I only thought I could barbecue until I did a cookery course with Weber, which was a life-changer. It is great value for money – it’s on my backdoor patio and we use it all year round. There is no mess in the kitchen and no cooking smells left lingering in the house.

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

I had to work and save every penny in order to allow me to go back to college when I was 22 and study horticulture. I had the perseverance to do it because becoming a horticulturist was my dream job.

Have you ever lost money?

The aforementioned Bank of Ireland shares in 2008.

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

No, I am not a gambler. My husband Frank, however, likes a flutter on the horses every now and then.

Is money important to you?

We all need money to live and pay our bills, but money is not my God. A thirst for success and having a strong work ethic motivates me. I believe that with hard work comes success, and in turn money.

How much money do you have on you now?

I always like to have €50-€100 in my purse for emergencies. However, I always carry my cards.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea

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