What was your first job? I was stacking the shelves at Franklins on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings.
What were you paid? Back then it was about $2.50 an hour if I was lucky!
Are you a saver or a spender? Definitely a spender.
What was your biggest splurge? I spend most of my money at service station shops. People tell me I could get those groceries for half the price at the supermarket. I prefer to pay for the convenience. I bought a gold chain in Dubai on my way to England for the cricket in 1981 for $300. Back then that was a lot of money, especially when I was playing for $100 a week.
What was your best bargain? My Moto Guzzi. It was worth $25,000. I did a couple of promos for them and got it half price.
What was the best thing you've been given free? I've been given a lot of crystals in my life. A friend from up the far north coast gave me a crystal wand, which is an amazing thing. I have so many crystals I now collect.
What is your greatest money-saving secret? Best way is constantly putting money in superannuation. Even when I did an apprenticeship at Qantas, it wasn't compulsory to contribute to your super but I still continued to do it.
What's the best piece of investment advice you have heard? Pay off your mortgage.
What's the best piece of investment advice you've actually acted upon? Paid off my credit card.
Credit cards are: a) great b) helpful c) a poor investment or d) work of the Devil? Helpful. If we are strapped for cash or need that emergency money instantly, the credit card comes in handy. You just never know when you might need money fast. Especially in medical emergencies. When I travel overseas, it comes as a great help, rather than carrying large amounts of cash.
If I were given $20,000 I would buy ... A car for one of my kids.
If I were given $20,000 I would invest in ... Straight to the super fund!
I wish I had $1 for every (time) ... Someone asked me about Who Dares Wins: am I going to dare someone?
I'd be a millionaire if I gave up ... Buying crystals. I love them! And collecting cricket memorabilia (that stuff isn't cheap).
Samantha Hutchinson
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What was the interviewee's first job and how much were they paid?
Their first job was stacking shelves at Franklins on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings, and they earned about $2.50 an hour.
Is the interviewee a saver or a spender, and how does that affect their finances?
They describe themselves as a spender who values convenience (for example buying groceries at service station shops). Despite being a spender, they still prioritise putting money into superannuation as their main saving habit.
What money-saving secret do they recommend for long-term investing?
Their top money-saving habit is consistently putting money into superannuation — they kept contributing even when it wasn’t compulsory during an apprenticeship at Qantas.
What’s the best piece of investment advice they’ve heard?
The best investment advice they’ve heard is to pay off your mortgage.
What investment or financial action have they actually taken?
They acted on practical advice by paying off their credit card balance.
Are credit cards good or bad for everyday investors and emergencies?
They view credit cards as helpful for emergencies and overseas travel — useful when you need money instantly — but their experience also highlights the importance of managing and paying off card debt.
How would they spend or invest a $20,000 windfall?
If given $20,000 they would buy a car for one of their kids; if investing that amount, they would put it straight into their super fund.
What are examples of the interviewee’s biggest splurges and best bargains?
A big splurge was a $300 gold chain bought in Dubai on the way to the 1981 cricket tour; a standout bargain was a Moto Guzzi motorcycle they obtained half-price through promotions, a bike they valued at around $25,000. They also collect crystals and cricket memorabilia, which they note can be expensive.
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