Lloyd Hutchinson is Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Neil Bartlett, which is currently running at the Gate Theatre until January 18th.
Are you a saver or a spender?
I love spending money, but I don’t like to be frivolous. I like quality in all things and if something grabs my eye, I’ll try and get it. I do save, however, every month.
What was the first job you received money for and how much were you paid?
RM Block
My first job was as a voice-over artist at Downtown Radio (in 1985), just outside Belfast. I was 18. I was doing amateur theatre in the city, and someone put me forward to audition. I got the gig. Every Tuesday, I would get the bus to Newtownards and bang out a week’s VOs for which I was paid the grand sum of £32. A pittance, really, but I loved the work.
Do you shop around for better value?
Yes. I subscribe to Which magazine and that lets me know what’s best to buy at the best price. Everything from doggy poo bags to electric cars.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
The most extravagant purchase in my life was a 1973 Jensen Interceptor Coupe in light blue. It had a 7.2 litre engine and it purred along the streets and turned many heads.
I loved it, but it drank petrol. At the traffic lights on a hot day, I would watch the temperature gauge getting higher and higher, about to blow. I had it for three years, three glorious midlife-crisis years. It cost me £5,500 and I sold it for £3,000. They go for £40,000 now.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
I bought a four-bedroom house in Camberwell, southeast London, in 1998, just before my son John was born. Its value has skyrocketed since then. It’s weird, though – I live there, so I don’t ‘feel’ its value because it’s my home.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
I bought a gorgeous pair of RM Williams boots for £400. They just hurt.
Do you haggle over prices?
Always! It’s part of the fun. I consider haggling an absolute God-given right. My wife never haggles and it’s a cause of constant irritation because she gets embarrassed when I do. I love little antique stalls and second-hand shops. The words ‘is that the best you can do?’ are always on the tip of my tongue.
Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?
No. Crypto scares me and playing the market is not my thing. I’m all for ISAs (the UK’s Individual Savings Accounts), though.
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
I have two pensions. One, I started when I was 25, while the other is an equity pension that I dip in and out of depending on when I need cash. I’m an actor, so we tend not to retire as such. We keep going until we’re too feeble or can’t remember the lines any more. I fully intend to die on stage. Mind you, some people say I do that every night!
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
This year I decided not to buy any new clothes, just the odd second-hand thing from Vinted. But back in January, in the sales, I couldn’t help but buy a navy blue shirt by the English designer Margaret Howell. Quality like that is always value for money. Also, it’s made within 70 miles of the shop, so the carbon footprint is low.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
No. I tend to act on instinct when I have the cash.
Have you ever lost money?
I lost a bit in the crash in 2008, or at least a policy I had took longer to mature because of what happened. Hence, my fear of shares. If you lived through it, you’ll know.
Are you a gambler and if so, have you ever had a big win?
I’m not a gambler. I might buy a lottery ticket now and then, but I’m just buying a fantasy and I’m aware of that. I once won £288 on the Grand National. My mum had passed away and we were all still mourning her. My dad said a horse called Silver Birch was running and to put a tenner on it. I asked why and he said it was the name of the place they’d had their wedding reception. It was their anniversary that day, so I put the money on and won. Good oul mum.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
My best habit with my money is getting my taxes right. I always get my return in on time. My worst habit is, well, reread my answers and you can decide!
How much money do you have on you now?
Nothing. I’m card only. I love cash, the feel of it, the pleasure you get from real notes. We’re losing that. Not everyone actually wants to be cashless, you know.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
