Are you a saver or a spender?
I've always saved – it's been ingrained in me since I was young. Unfortunately, other people spend what I save but that's what happens when you have a lovely wife and energetic kids .

In that regard I couldn’t think of a better use for it.

Do you shop around for better value?
Quality is priority for significant purchases, otherwise value prevails. I have no qualms doing my shopping in discount retailers and I'm not against a good rummage for a bargain.

Maybe it’s an Irish thing, but there’s something quite satisfying about telling someone how much you saved on something they’ve just complimented.

What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
A Land Rover Discovery 4. A beautiful machine and a privilege to own – it set me back more than I dare say.

It has paid for itself in terms of experiences and memories, and getting behind the wheel is like therapy, so it’s priceless to me.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Probably not my Land Rover Discovery 4, but my Toyota Prius, which serves as a bus commuting my kids from here to there and back again several times a day.

It is an incredibly reliable vehicle and again, a lot of its value lies in the times I’ve had in the car with the children. I’ve laughed in that car more times than I can count.

What ways do you prefer to shop – online or local?
It depends on the product. We buy our groceries in the local supermarket and the meat from the local butcher. When it comes to technical products/ services, I tend to purchase online following considerable research.

It’s amazing to see how much things have changed in this regard with word of mouth and the say-so of Joe Bloggs having every bit as much clout as the tech expert.

There's also something nice about getting a package in the mail – that thrill never goes away.

Do you haggle over prices?
I love to haggle and do it every chance I get. Whether it's markets in London, the Middle East or in Blackrock Market (where I once was a stallholder), there's nothing like a bit of banter over some bric-a- brac. If you don't ask, you don't get!

Has the recession changed your spending habits?
Yes. I'm a long way off from buying another house, but that's stopped being such a concern.

We're content where we are and the recession has made us focus on what's most important – staying healthy and happy.

Do you invest in shares?
Rarely, unless I have researched the stock with advice from experts. Recently I took my father's advice and invested (long) in Bank of Ireland.

Cash or card?
My dad drilled it into me "always pay your debts"; he's never borrowed, so my answer has to be card but always on zero balance. I'm not a man to get into the red, so overdrafts have never appealed to me.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
I recently bought a bodhrán in Waltons, South Great George's Street. It would be great value if I ever learn to play it, but it's currently propped up in the sittingroom at home as a reminder of our roots.

With Christmas fast approaching, I can see it getting a good bash after a little festive celebrating.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
The engagement ring I presented to my wife was saved for in record time. I'm always happy to go without if there's something I really want.

It’s called big-picture thinking and she was worth the deprivation!

Have you ever lost money?
Cheltenham has cost me dearly over the years, but worth every penny and, like everyone who bought in the boom times, my house has depreciated in value.

I don't worry about it, though. Both are good for the soul – there's more to life than pounds and pence.

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?
I'm not averse to a flutter, but I've never gambled big so I've never won big. I never bet more than I am willing to lose and I do it for the excitement more than the windfall.

Winning is a bonus.

Is money important to you?
Money is important to a certain extent, giving you the freedom and the choices that you might not have otherwise.

For me, what is important is ensuring that I give my family the very best I can and so of course, money comes into that.

How much money do you have on you now?
£40.50 – so roughly about
€20.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea