Welcome back to our ‘Rooster Heroes’ series. Each month we’re bringing you a new Hero that we’ve interviewed on all things pocket money and allowances with 10 quick fire questions. They’re all experts in their field, and they all have one thing in common, they’re people we at RoosterMoney admire.
The idea is to bring you the best viewpoints and advice from around the world.
This month we spoke to Moira O’Neill. Moira is an investing columnist for the Financial Times and has been a personal finance journalist for over 20 years, and is previous winner of the Harold Wincott Personal Finance Journalist of the Year award – so she knows her stuff.
Moira’s also written two books: Finance at 40 and Saving and Investing for Children – so you could say she’s a perfect candidate for our Rooster Hero of the month!
1. What’s your earliest money memory? 🍼
Spending pennies (and halfpennies) on sweets at the school shop and depositing my birthday money at the Post Office.
2. What did you want to be when you were a kid? 👶
A teacher (age 6), a ballet dancer (age 11) and an architect (age 14).
3. Favourite pocket money sweets? 🍬
Cola bottles – my best friend and I would buy them in quarters from the market.
4. Describe your money personality 🤔
I’m a dedicated saver and prefer to spend money on experiences rather than possessions. I feel happiest when I have an emergency fund to fall back on, but I also take risks with my very long-term savings by investing in the stock market.
5. What’s the best bit about your job 💼
Helping real people with their money and meeting experts who have interesting opinions and ideas.
6. Do you give your kids pocket money? 💰
They get £2 a week each, which they can save up to buy toys or special items. Every couple of months they deposit what they haven’t spent in their bank accounts.
7. Best piece of money advice you’ve ever been given? 🎓
Buy a flat in London in 1997(my dad). Unfortunately, I didn’t take it as had just started working in journalism, I didn’t have a deposit, and it felt too risky.
8. What’s your top tip for parents on teaching kids the value of money? 💡
As a busy working parent, I think family holidays are a good opportunity to teach money lessons. Provide a set amount of total money as their holiday fund and get them to work out how to spread it, setting a daily budget. Then don’t interfere. If they spend it all in the first two days, it becomes a very long but well-learned lesson for the rest of the holiday – and hopefully, for life.
9. How will we be paying for things in 2040? 🤖
Probably with a smile or finger print.
10. Bonus: Favourite app on your phone (apart from RoosterMoney of course!) 📲
Jump – the London Bus Tracker. I can’t get by without it.
You can buy Moira’s book on Saving and investing for your Children here.
