What was your first pay cheque? Ignoring several bar jobs in an increasing series of crummy pubs and student hangouts, my first serious pay cheque was in 1984 from HM Customs & Excise as it was at the time. £330 net of tax. Having left university during the graduate unemployment crisis of the early eighties, my mother was encouraging me to take any job just to get on the employment ladder. What did you spend it on? Probably beer, rugby and petrol for my knackered sports car that was the first love of my life - basically a heap of rust with an engine in the front. Dining out or entertaining at home? I like eating generally, so the distinction doesn't really bother me. I do have an aversion though to paying high prices in restaurants for what is relatively ordinary food arranged artistically on a plate. Most expensive thing ever bought? If we are talking expensive unnecessary thing, then it would have to be my Jaguar, which I say 'night night' to each evening (honestly, I do!) Best bargain ever had? Probably my wife. Despite occasional shopping splurges, definitely my shrewdest deal. One luxury you're going without during the credit crunch? My wife won't let me buy expensive steak and we have held off another year before getting our kitchen done. Best money-saving tip? Always, always shop around for your car and house insurance. The insurers always try to trip you up in their renewal quotes. You can often get your own insurer much cheaper by going on their own website and when faced with their attempt to catch you out they always back down and give you the web price. One thing you shouldn't buy but always do? Beer. I know it's bad for me, but it just tastes nice and there are so many ales to choose from. Your favourite currency and why? Sterling, because it's British. Best way of spending money on a rainy day is Browsing the web to sort out all the imaginary cars I would buy with my lottery win and all the places I would go on my world tour. For spending real money though, you can't beat second-hand book shops or eBay for all those sci-fi books and films from one's youth.