Are you a saver or a spender?I used to be a compulsive saver. I’ve been broke a lot, so spending big money on things always felt like a luxury to me. I’m always looking out for a bargain, but I’ve got much better at spending proper money on the important stuff.What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?I wrote essays and poems in school, English homework basically, that I sold to my classmates for two quid a go. My first-ever official paying job was as front-of-house staff at Limerick’s University Concert Hall; it paid minimum wage, whatever that was in 2006. I got to see my fair share of Daniel O’Donnell shows in that job. Eye-opening! Do you shop around for better value?As much as I can. I’m a divil for a pre-owned gem, and I love charity shops. When it comes to more important stuff, though, I know I’ll pay more. I try to research and shop around, but I get bored and distracted easily, so I can be quick to jump on what feels like a good enough deal rather than the best deal.What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost?When I was 19, I spent a lot of money on a flight to New Zealand and a visa to live and work there, but I opted instead to go to college in Ireland. I wish I could remember what it cost. Upwards of €2,000, I would say.What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?The best value-for-money purchase I’ve made is probably my mattress. It cost a fair few quid, but my God do I get a good night’s sleep. I’ve spent a few quid over the years on resoling my platform Doc Martens; they cost a bit in the first place, but they’ve stood the test of time otherwise and have become a bit of a signature part of my onstage look. I also think biting the bullet and splashing out on a decent laptop and a decent phone absolutely changed the game for me.Is there anything you regret spending money on?Aside from the New Zealand misstep, I’ve spent a lot of money on stagewear that I never wore on stage. I also regret the amount of money I’ve cumulatively spent on bad shoes, cheap pots and pans, flimsy guitar bags and music stands. Things that wind up not lasting very long before going to landfill.Do you haggle over prices?In this age of Vinted and Depop, yes, I haggle sometimes. I buy a lot of new music gear, however, from small Irish businesses, and I don’t like to ask them to come down on price unless I really feel there’s wiggle room there. We’re all just trying to get by, aren’t we? Luckily, I haven’t had to haggle much over recent years on my own prices, either.Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?I’m a bit of a neo-Luddite, so no. If I came into a lot of money, I might take some advice on where it’s worth investing, but as it stands I don’t feel any great draw to investing the few shekels I have. Most of it goes out as soon as it comes in.Do you have a retirement or pension plan?Me? An independent singer-songwriter who could absolutely do with such a thing, but is terrified of looking into it because it would bring me face-to-face with the interminable passing of time and my own mortality, the very thing I became an artist to, sort of, escape having to think too much about? No, Lord no, I don’t. I should really, though.What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money?I’m training to run a 10k in October, so I needed to cough up a few quid for decent running shoes. I’ve already run a bit in them and so far no blisters to speak of. So yes, good value for money, I think. I was once told to always invest properly in things that stand between you and the ground, such as shoes, mattresses and tyres.Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?Recording an album is a big purchase. My second album cost me in the realm of €15,000 just to record, produce, master and get physically printed. I successfully saved up for that, and am currently repeating the process for my third album.Have you ever lost money?I lose money a lot in my line of work, but I think I manage to recoup it most of the time. Part of this job has always been balancing the books. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?Every time I release a track or book a gig, it’s a gamble. That said, still being here and having some bit of a name is a big win for me. Otherwise, the most I do is scratch cards. Occasionally, I’ll play the lotto, and my day is coming. I just know it!What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?Every month for the past year, I’ve put a small but consistent amount away to pay for when I eventually own a car, and another amount is put aside to pay my taxes come November. The joy of being self-employed is that I don’t pay taxes out of a pay cheque each month, so I don’t know how much I’ll be liable for come November. This is a nice way to avoid a nasty financial surprise so close to Christmas.How much money do you have on you now?I have €88 on my Revolut that I’ll spend over the next few days on coffees, eyeliner, groceries, and bits and bobs.Emma Langford performs at Lillies, Sligo this Friday September 4th, McGrory’s Hotel, Culdaff, Co Donegal on Saturday September 5th, and Willow and Wild Café, Leixlip, Co Kildare on Sunday September 6thIn conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea