The BBC's legendary film critic explains why money should be treated with respect and confesses to his own bill "laziness".
Barry Norman, the film critic, presented the BBC’s film review for more than a quarter of a century.
Now aged 82, here’s what he’s learned about money throughout his life:
What class would you say you were in?
I don’t like putting myself into a particular class. I don’t think journalists fit into any particular class, because we mix with everybody. But I suppose economically and financially I’m middle-class.
Did you ever do any paid work before you left school?
No, I really didn’t have time - I was at a public school where we worked and played sports six days a week and on Sundays, I’d be swotting for whatever exams were coming up.
[SPOTLIGHT]The school wanted me to go to Cambridge, but I decided my public school education had cost my parents enough and it was time I went out and earned my own living. So I got a job on the Kensington News, in west London.
It was fun and I enjoyed it very much.
We are giving away £100 every day in November! Enter the competition today
What’s the most you’ve ever been paid per hour?
A five-figure sum for a couple of hours as an after-dinner speaker.
You told The Sunday Times you have a pension of over £100,000 a year now that you’re retired. When did you first start investing into it?
When I started earning reasonably serious sums myself. If there was any money left over to save, then I’d hand it over to the advisers and they invested it for me. Touch wood, it’s worked out OK so far, and long may it continue.
Do you currently manage your own financial affairs?
No I have an accountant and investment advisers, and I rely on them.
Ever been tempted to invest in buy to let?
My wife Diana and I were never interested in chasing money so if we had enough to be comfortable, we were happy. We didn’t go in pursuit of money for its own sake.
Do you think the levels of taxation are about right?
I’m like everybody else, when the Income Tax bill comes in, I curse and think good God, look at how much they’re demanding from me. But I don’t really resent paying tax especially if it goes towards state education and the NHS because my family owes a great deal to both of those, so I’m very happy for my tax to be invested in those things.
I put my children through state education because there were no good public schools near where we live and we weren’t about to send our daughters off boarding.
Do you support any charities?
I support various cancer charities like Macmillan nurses and local charities like the Isabel hospice in Welwyn Garden City. I feel that the big charities can find all manner of big names to support them, but the local ones out in the country find it difficult.
If my name still has any value, I’m happy to lend it to them.
How do you pay your household bills?
Some I pay by direct debit, some I pay as they come in and so will go to the bank or post office to pay. I haven’t set up direct debits for them out of sheer laziness. It’s the initial effort that’s the problem.
What’s your top money tip?
Once you’ve got, you should treat it with a certain amount of respect and make sure there’s something there for the rainy day that might turn up.
I don’t lust after money - but I do respect it and I think one should.
Earn up to 5% interest from your current account