ME & MY MONEY:Eileen Dunne, co-founder of Dunne & Crescenzi
Are you a saver or a spender?
Definitely a spender, and I tend to indulge my children – you might call it the working-mum complex.
Do you shop around for better value?
Yes, I get a buzz out of shopping around, and for me it’s more about quality and value.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?
A vintage bag – it cost me €1,200. Not only do I love the bag, but I love its story – I mean, who did it belong to? And when I think of that, I drift off to another time and another place.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
The family home back in 1993. With my husband Stefano coming from Italy, he picked up on the potential of city-centre living. I’m from Pearse Street, and I love to be back where I grew up, but in a multi-cultural context and changed panorama.
Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?
Only when I was 10 years of age. My mother took me on a community bus tour and padded me out with illegal butter!
Do you haggle over prices?
Not really. I find it embarrassing, but of course in my work, I need to negotiate fair prices with suppliers, yet I hate to haggle and would prefer to switch supplier.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?
Probably. There is no more impulse-buying, and I am definitely conscious of value for money. In our business, we are focusing on supporting Irish suppliers.
Do you invest in shares?
No, while I love a challenge, I tend to avoid high-risk investments.
Cash or card?
I use Laser and credit cards only as a backup on holidays or for things such as booking flights.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
A Bulgari bag in a sale in Rome – I must have a thing for bags! Oh, but they last forever, don’t they?
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
A John Kingerlee painting from the Leinster Gallery, which is a gallery across the road from Dunne Crescenzi’s restaurant on Dublin’s Frederick Street. That gallery is a constant temptation.
Have you ever lost money?
30 per cent of my pension fund – like most people on this island.
Are you a gambler, and if so have you ever had a big win?
No, unfortunately I was never invited to the Galway tent, and I don’t have a friend called Silvio!
Is money important to you?
Money is important to provide for a comfortable life for my family, and I work very hard for that. But I think that this recession makes us all more appreciative of the simple things in life.
How much money do you have on you now?
€152.62.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea.
dunneandcrescenzi.com
