Niamh Kavanagh: ‘Thanks to my mum, I learned how to pay my bills before I spent money on myself'

Irish Times

05-05-2025

Niamh Kavanagh
won the
Eurovision Song Contest
in 1993 with In Your Eyes. This year's contest takes place in Basle, Switzerland, from Tuesday, May 13th to Saturday, May 17th.
Are you a saver or a spender?
Like most people, I'm a little of both. As I have got older, though, I tend to try to save more.
What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?
Apart from my babysitting back in the early 1980s, my first real job at 16 was as a part-time sales assistant in Dunnes Stores at Dublin's Ilac Centre. I picked up as many extra shifts as I could get, and I remember my first wage cheque was £84. All the way home on the bus, I planned how I would spend it, and when my mother asked me for rent, I was devastated! But this is definitely when I realised I enjoyed working. Also, thanks to my mum, I learned how to pay my bills before I spent money on myself.
Do you shop around for better value?
I love to find the good deals, especially in day-to-day life, and having raised two very hungry boys, it was the saving of us all. I started doing the weekly shopping at quite a young age. I loved grocery shopping and got to know the butchers to discuss the best cuts for a good price.
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What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost?
My most extravagant purchase was my Mitsubishi Lancer, which was the first car I bought all by myself. It wasn't new, but this was in the mid-1990s, and I was doing well at the time, so I bought it outright for IR£11,500. I am not a very extravagant person, however, and have never bought a new car or very expensive gadgets.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Our home. My husband and I have lived here for 26 years, and hopefully will continue to live here for many years to come. Considering the costs spread out over that time, it is easily the best value for money purchase.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
I regretted spending money on an all-inclusive holiday once. I realised that it just wasn't my thing but, sure, I didn't know till I did it. I let that regret go very quickly and thought of it as a lesson.
Do you haggle over prices?
I would occasionally haggle over the price of a car but I think that's expected and I feel it's already built into the price!
Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?
I don't invest in crypto or shares, and the simple reason is that I don't understand it all. If there were a reputable course, I would do it and then decide if I had the ability for it.
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
Yes, I do, although I came to it later than I should have. However, I have a reasonable plan in place and because my husband is already at retirement age, we are learning quite a lot from his experiences. I also feel that I may not completely retire for quite some time, unless, of course, my career choice retires me!
What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money?
Most of what I buy are not big purchases, I generally just buy what's needed for my day-to-day or work. I recently bought a rhubarb plant to grow my own. I'm hoping that gives me value for money and lots of rhubarb!
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
I try to have the money before I make a big purchase. That said, sometimes it's more financially clever to pay over time – for cars and so on – because I think you should always have a just-in-case fund, should something ever go wrong.
Have you ever lost money?
I have lost money a couple of times, but not a substantial amount. I have also, on occasion, not been paid for work that I have done. Thankfully, that is rare, but it happens.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
I don't even think about buying lottery tickets, although I have plans for the money if I ever do! I'm not really a gambler unless you count the €20 it costs to play at the family poker nights.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
My best habit is taking time every few months and itemising what I spend my money on. I am brutally honest with myself. I also try to pay things like insurance or utilities in one payment – that saves me some money and also makes me save for future items.
My worst habit is tapping the card and not thinking of it as money. I reckon that's why I need my best habit.
What is your all-time favourite Eurovision song?
That's like asking me to choose between my children, but I can say easily that one of my favourites is Rock & Roll Kids. It's a great song, and I have such wonderful memories from 1994 of giving the award to Paul Harrington, Charlie McGettigan and Brendan Graham.
How much money do you have on you now?
I always have an emergency €10 note. It used to be €5, but let's be honest, I may need to move to €20 soon!
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea