What was your first job?

Paper boy when 13. Great excuse to put off homework and hoon around on my bike every afternoon, except when the heavens opened. Papers and rain dislike each other immensely and I now have a mortal fear of papier mache.

What did you get paid?

About $40 a week, depending on how generous the mechanics of Brookvale were with their tips.

Are you a saver or a spender?

Reformed saver. Wife is a fantastic saver. Before her I was a spender, but she saved me from spending my time spending to become a saver.

How do you save?

We have two young children, so all available funds/time/energy goes to them. The social life has gone so we save there.

What was your worst purchase?

A new car, bought for $27,000. It of course lost value very quickly. Not helping the situation was the car experiencing more problems than a teenage Hollywood socialite. I ended up selling it after four years for $5000.

Credit cards are: a) great; b) helpful; c) a poor investment; d) work of the devil?

C) a poor investment.

Why?

It's spending money you don't have. Thankfully we don't own one, just a debit card.

Does budgeting work for you?

I suppose it would if I did it on a regular basis.

What's the best piece of investment advice you have heard?

From my dad: "Money isn't a problem until you don't have any."

What's the best piece of investment advice you have actually acted upon?

Buying a property. Also, fixing our interest rates at the end of 2006. Unfortunately we only fixed for three years, which should make next September a happy occasion for all at the bank.

If I was given $20,000 I would buy ...

a new car. They can't all be lemons, can they? No, actually I would buy four tickets to Fiji for a week.

If I was given $20,000 I would invest in ...

bank shares and term deposits for the kids.