Hazel Chu is deputy leader of the Green Party, a Dublin city councillor and former lord mayor. She is also an ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland’s Very Pink Run (5k and 10k options), which take place at Leopardstown Race Course in Dublin on Saturday, August 29th, Kilkenny Castle Park on Sunday, August 30th, and in Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, on Sunday, September 6th. Registration via verypinkrun.ie
Are you a saver or a spender?
Before we started a family, I was always more of a spender than a saver. Whenever I had spare cash, I would treat friends for drinks or dinner, or buy something to make the house feel more cosy. Now with an eight-year-old in tow, I am definitely a saver. Mind you, there’s not much to save after you pay the bank, the utilities and the various other stuff.
What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?
My childhood was similar to many other second-generation migrant children in that you end up going to work with your parents. I grew up working first in a chip van and then takeaway and restaurant kitchens. My first job was at the age of eight, wrapping spring rolls and prepping prawn toast, for which I was paid a handsome £1. When I turned 10, this went up to £5 a day for taking customer orders and washing the dishes. By the age of 11, I had saved up enough money to buy my very own Sega Game Gear.
Do you shop around for better value?
When I have time or when I run out of Dunnes vouchers! For non-grocery purchases, I tend to research to find the best version and best value. Most items in our home, from the rice cooker to the laptop to the mattress, would have been bought on the back of some well-rounded research.
What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost?
My 2004 Mazda MX5 convertible. I grew up watching and reading Japanese anime and ever since I was little, I wanted an MX5, a Nissan Skyline or a Toyota Trueno AE86. When I got my first decent pay cheque, I bought my mum a big present, and then I saved up each pay-day after that and scrolled daily online until I found my dream car. Alas, babies and two-seater convertibles don’t match, so we had to trade it in when the little one was born.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Joint first place are my Skechers Unos in pink – I also have a pair in purple and in neon orange – and my American Vintage neon green cardigan. They both have seen me through so many canvasses and so many election campaigns.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
Fast fashion. As a teenager and up to my late 20s, I spent a lot of money in Penneys and H&M on whatever the trend was. I would tell myself at the time that as long as I donated items I no longer wore, then it was okay, not fully realising how so much textile waste ends up in landfills and polluting whole areas. I still buy clothes, but ones that last, and definitely not as much. We also have three rice cookers in the house. My least favourite food is rice, so yeah, I thoroughly regret buying one of them. The other two were gifts.
Do you haggle over prices?
My mum is from Hong Kong, and it is almost tradition to haggle there, so yes is the answer. I remember going back to Hong Kong to visit my granny when she was still alive. Every morning would start with me accompanying her to the local wet market, where we would enter into friendly negotiations with each stall owner. She was the best teacher, and the tips I picked up from her still work to this day. In fact, the haggling came in handy when I project-managed the rebuild and renovation of our home; I ended up pushing to get the best price on everything. I’m a firm believer of “if you don’t ask, you don’t get”.
Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?
No. You need to have money to be able to invest!
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
I had one when I worked at Diageo, but there’s none via the council, so I need to look into a personal one. After talking to a friend who’s much better than me at these things, it’s something I recommend starting no matter what age you are.
What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money?
A barbecue. We didn’t have one before and with the recent good weather, it’s been the best value for money.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
Our house. My parents teaching me how to save from a young age and being firm with me on saving for things I wanted really gave me a strong grounding on how to understand money, spending and saving.
Have you ever lost money?
Helping to run my mum’s restaurants, I’ve definitely seen and experienced losing money on the businesses, especially during the recession. With Covid, the businesses became unsustainable, so we had to sell them all. Yes, it’s a loss of money, but also a different kind of loss, a much deeper one of losing something you helped build from the beginning.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
My dad was a gambling addict, so I make sure to stay very far away from it.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
My best habit would be not owing anyone money. If I ever borrow money, I pay it back. My worst habit is sometimes putting things on a credit card, forgetting about it, and then having a freak attack when the bill comes in, thinking my card had been stolen.
How much money do you have on you now?
There’s €5 in my wallet, but I’m pretty sure that belongs to my daughter. There is also $3, $HK50, and two sterling pound coins.