"I decided to leave some money on the table and do less jobs over the last couple of years.
"This has increased my happiness."
Dai Henwood, comedian, actor and presenter including Three's 7 Days and Dancing With The Stars.
Money. It's the driving factor behind many life choices, but is it the be-all and end-all?
'Me and My Money' is a new feature that investigates Kiwi attitudes towards money and what drives the choices they make.
Newshub spoke to Dai Henwood about the temptation to spend money on shiny things and headphones, jumping online to shop for extras, investing in property and the tricky balance to maintain an income whilst setting time aside for family.
Are you a saver or a spender?
A spender (I love shiny things)! However when saving needs to be done, I can commit.
You need a new dishwasher. Are you mainly driven by quality, price or both?
Solely quality. Buy something that will last.
Give an example of a recent purchase that you consider great value for money:
A NutriBullet blender. It only cost me $70 and my wife and I use it every day.
Have your buying habits changed from in-store to on-line?
Definitely. I still visit stores to buy clothes, but for random things, I buy online. I don't want to waste time trying to find something in real life!
If you have spare money to invest, which option would you choose: property, the sharemarket...or something else?
Property, although I'm not shy of the straight-up term investment. I had luck on the sharemarket and dabble in that when I feel like gambling.
What was your last impulse or 'fritter' purchase and how did you feel about it afterwards?
Headphones. I love buying them, even if I have a pair. They were good but I didn't need them. I'll pause the next time I'm tempted to impulse buy.
Do you have a household budget?
No, we don't, it's a pipe dream!
Does having more money increase happiness?
Up until a point. I decided to leave some money on the table and do less jobs over the last couple of years. That has increased my happiness. I love my family and any time spent with them is precious.
What is your golden rule for saving money?
Put it in a savings account that you don't have a card for and applies penalties for making withdrawals.
How much cash do you have on you right now?
$35.
Henwood and fellow comedians, Jeremy Corbett and Paul Ego are currently touring the country for the 7 Days 10th birthday live tour. The group is due to perform in Wellington on Saturday.
