Are you a saver or a spender? In my mind I'm a saver, but the reality of my bank account tells a different story. I do try to save, but with two kids and the seemingly never-ending litany of bills and expenses associated with housing, feeding, transport, childcare, and so on, there never seems to be a whole lot left.
Do you shop around for better value? I wouldn't worry too much about day-to-day shopping and the smaller items, but would seek out value for more one-off purchases.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost? My wife's engagement ring – which I couldn't possibly reveal the cost of. But not for obvious reasons; being a frugal German she would kill me if she realized how much it actually cost. I was expecting it to come with a free car.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Probably my trusty mountain bike, which is still going strong 15 years later.
What ways do you prefer to shop – online or local? I used to shop online all the time for groceries, but now I live right beside a great shop that provides all the essentials as they arise. Things like music would be online, and I'm also considering publishing my second novel as an ebook. Has the recession changed your spending habits? I don't have an extravagant lifestyle and have relatively simple tastes. I hope I avoided most of the trappings of the boom era, but there were certain essentials that were unavoidable. Do you haggle over prices? Not as much as I used to when I lived in New Zealand where nobody pays the asking price for a pint of milk.
Do you invest in shares? Not to date, but I would consider the option. Cash or card? Card for anything over €50. I find cash seems to disappear quite quickly once it's on hand.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? The last thing I bought (besides lunch) was a new surfboard. Worth every penny as it will hopefully provide years of pleasure that money can't buy.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a big purchase? My wife's engagement ring.
Have you ever lost money? I have lost money on property. Prices seemed to have over-corrected in that area but I would be slightly concerned at the alarming increases in Dublin in the past year or so.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I don't tend to gamble. I do recall winning a tidy sum many years ago on the first Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson fight. I had Holyfield at very good odds. I have been to Las Vegas, but it wouldn't do a lot for me. Definitely the fastest way to lose your money bar throwing it in the fire.
Is money important to you? Only when I don't have it. I wouldn't be motivated solely by money, but I do find frustratingly that I need a certain amount of it to get by. As long as I have enough to fund a non-extravagant lifestyle I'm happy enough.
How much money do you have on you now? €18.30 – I must head to the ATM, which I hope will pleasantly surprise me by not being temporarily out of order. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
