ME AND MY MONEY:David Brophy, Principal Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra
Are you a saver or a spender?A little bit of both. Before my wife and I purchased our house nine years ago I was definitely a saver. Since then I've managed to be relatively balanced between saving and spending. I'm not sure who said 'there are no pockets in a shroud'.
Do you shop around for better value? Yes. I think everyone should. It's only when those who offer expensive alternatives see their sales fall will we see them bring their prices down. Consumers have so much power.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost? I'm not really an extravagant person and I rarely, if ever, purchase extravagant items for myself. The most recent extravagance was a two-night stay at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin with my wife. It cost €440. Maybe not an extravagance to some, but we both enjoyed the treat.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? That's a tough one. We're so conditioned in this country to believe that everything is a "rip-off". It's difficult to judge when items are, in fact, good value. There is great value to be had in Dublin city centre when it comes to eating out at the moment. I sometimes pop into Little Caesar's Italian restaurant for a bowl of pasta and they offer great value from noon to 5pm during the week.
Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?Only for dental work. I had two crowns fitted a number of years ago which had to be replaced recently. Even with the tax relief available in the Republic I still saved around 300 quid.
Do you haggle over prices? Sometimes. Although not with my wife around as it freaks her out.
Has the recession changed your spending habits? Not that much. I'm not really an extravagant spender, so I'm not suffering the same withdrawal symptoms that many are at the moment now that there's so little credit around. I've never been the type to buy things for the sake of it and I still don't get the "rush" that some people get when out shopping; it leaves me cold.
Do you invest in shares? Not directly, although I have become very interested in spread betting. Like a lot of people I'm growing tired of " experts" managing funds which have lost so much money over the past few years. I have recently read some great books on investing and spread betting and am looking forward to the day when I can successfully look after my investments knowing that if anything goes wrong it'll be my fault, not the fund managers who took a percentage of the initial investment in the form of fees and still lost money.
Cash or card? A bit of both, possibly leaning towards cash.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? I purchased a great pair of boots in the House of Fraser summer sale. They only cost €30.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?Yes. I saved for the deposit on our house in 2001 and when we changed car four years ago some of that cost came from savings.
Have you ever lost money?When I was around 10 I lost a fiver in Malahide Castle. I think it was the first fiver I ever owned and I was so thrilled that I kept checking my pocket to make sure it was still there. I was devastated when I realised I had lost it.
Is money important to you?Only as a means to an end.
How much money do you have on you now?I tend to empty my pockets when I get home (which is where I am now) so I have absolutely no money on me right now.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
