“I can’t stand all the scrolling, clicking, and zooming that online shopping entails, let alone the hassle of returns”

Darragh Ó Caoimh (23) is from Kanturk, Co Cork and is a recent graduate of UCC’s Law and Irish programme. Soon to be in the United States to teach Irish at the University of Montana as part of a Fulbright Award, Darragh will co-present Junior Eurovision on TG4, starting tonight at 8:30 p.m.

What is the most important lesson about money that your career – or your education – has taught you?

Money isn’t everything, but it makes a lot of things easier.

The most expensive place you’ve ever visited?

I was in Zurich Switzerland this summer for a few days. It’s a beautiful city with a lot of history, but also home to the most expensive Starbucks in the world, and although I didn’t buy any coffee, I found my Swiss Francs didn’t go very far.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about money?

The more you earn it, the more you respect it.

Besides real estate, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

A plane ticket from Dublin to Seattle.

Do you always have cash on you?

I mainly pay with contactless or Apple Pay on my phone, but I always like to carry cash just in case; euro banknotes don’t run out of battery and I don’t have to remember their PIN.

What was your worst job?

Probably collecting rocks for my dad when I was 10. Seriously, I’m lucky I’ve never had a bad job.

I worked as an outdoor activity instructor at Ballyhass Lakes near Kanturk for six summers and had several stints as an Ard-chinnire at Coláiste UISCE in the Mayo Gaeltacht, both jobs I loved .

This summer, I spent six weeks working as a kitchen assistant in a busy bistro in downtown Biarritz, France.

It was a fantastic experience and gave me the chance to hone my cooking and language skills, as well as spend time with great friends.

What was your biggest financial mistake?

No major incidents yet, fortunately.

What was your best financial kill?

When I was 12, I made yule logs and took them to the Kanturk market where I sold them within an hour.

I made a relatively large profit, no doubt helped by the fact that my father provided the wood and other materials free of charge; not a bad business model by any measure.

Other than that, it was probably my first communion money.

Do you have a pension?

No, I’ve only done seasonal or part-time work so far, so it hasn’t been mentioned. All in good time.

Do you use any of the digital banks?

I use Revolut when I travel because it’s easy to exchange currencies. It’s also great for splitting bills and avoiding paying friends.

What’s the last thing you bought online?

Safety shoes for kitchen work in France. I’m not a big fan of online shopping and try to only use it if I have no other option.

I much prefer going to stores and being able to see, smell and try on things, and I love being able to chat with the sales people.

I can’t stand all the scrolling, clicking, and zooming that online shopping entails, let alone the hassle of returns. I’m a big believer in buying as locally as possible and I think it’s very important that we support stores in our city centres.

Are you a spender or a saver?

A spendthrift, who has a bad habit of buying books faster than he can read them.