Me and My Money: Jeremy Corbett

Jeremy Corbett
For Three host Jeremy Corbett, there's one purchase he doesn't regret. Photo credit: Newshub.

"I was in the torch section at Bunnings and felt we needed another. We don't. We have hundreds of torches. 

"I keep buying them - I never regret it." 

Jeremy Corbett, Three host, The Project and 7 Days.

Money. It's the driving factor behind many life choices, but is it the be-all and end-all?

'Me and My Money' is a regular feature that investigates Kiwi attitudes towards money and what drives the choices they make. We also explore if COVID-19 has changed peoples' money habits and how.   

Newshub spoke to comedian and Three presenter Jeremy Corbett about spending money on practical things, having a flutter on the sharemarket and the name stuck to his childhood piggy bank.   

1. Are you a saver or a spender?

A saver. 

When I was a kid, I saved everything: pocket money, easter eggs, even stickers. 

Anything myself and my three brothers got, I'd be the last to keep it. 

2. Has COVID-19 influenced your attitude towards money?

I've always felt the need to have money for a rainy day.

Apart from mortgages, I'm averse to debt. I consider myself one of the lucky ones to have been gainfully employed during the lockdowns. 

3. Post lockdown, have your spending habits changed and if so, how?

There's more flour and yeast in the pantry. 

4. Your mobile phone dies: what do you think is a reasonable amount to spend on a new one? 

Whoa, slow down...I'd try fixing it first! 

Not only to save money, but 'cos I like pulling tech apart. 

If it was a lost cause, I'd spend whatever a new iphone currently costs. Under $2000 I hope. I probably update my phone every four years.

5. Give an example of a recent purchase that you consider great value for money

Walking shoes, $245. 

I've started walking everywhere and good shoes are a must. I didn't see myself spending that sort of money, but my feet have been very thankful.   

6. What was your last impulse or 'fritter' purchase and how did you feel about it afterwards?

A torch. I was in the torch section at Bunnings and felt we needed another. We don't. We have hundreds of torches. 

I keep buying them - I never regret it. 

Maybe there was some torch shortage when I was a child. When the darkness comes, I'll be laughing. I should probably buy batteries. 

7. If you have spare cash to invest, what's your preferred form of investment and why? 

Since interest rates mean it's largely pointless leaving money in term deposits, that's probably changed. 

I see the sharemarket as a kind of respectable form of gambling so if it was not a large amount, I'd have a flutter. 

For more serious amounts, I'd take financial advice. If that wasn't available, probably a passive fund... which I've never done before, but I like how smart I sound saying 'passive fund'.

8. Share a humorous tale about money

My brothers put a Scrooge McDuck sticker on my piggy bank. 

9. Does having more money increase happiness?

Life is less stressful when you can afford not to worry about money for the basics. Happiness hangs around more when you stop looking for it.

10. The best money advice someone's ever given you?

Stop trying to reduce tax and focus on earning more. 

Corbett and fellow comedians, Ben Hurley, Paul Ego, Justine Smith, Jeremy Elwood, Melanie Bracewell and Hayley Sproull are about to tour the country for the 7 Days Live Tour. The tour kicks off in Napier on November 11.