Interview

AMANDA LAMB, 34, presents Channel 4’s property show A Place in the Sun.

Born in Portsmouth in 1972, she worked as an estate agent for five years.

After her stint working in the property industry, she took up modelling, appearing in commercials for Gossard, Olay and Remington. In 1994, she was selected as the face of the Scottish Widows advertising campaign.

She has presented numerous television programmes including Hot Shots, Housetrapped in the Sun, Ideal Home and Surprise Wedding.

Lamb, who is divorced, lives in Richmond, southwest London.

How much money do you have in your wallet? I have £50, but I usually carry between £100 and £150 for everyday expenses such as lunches and taxis. I never carry more than I can afford to lose, especially in London, where street crime is prevalent.

Do you have any credit cards? I have an M&S &More card and a First Direct card. I tend not to use both of them, but I prefer to have two, just in case I need them. Once when I was on holiday I accidentally sat on one of my cards, which snapped in two, so I couldn’t get any money out. The M&S card is therefore purely for emergencies.

Are you a saver or a spender? I am a bit of both. From an early age my mum always advised me to save a third of everything I earn, which I always do. When a cheque comes in, whether it’s for £1,000 or £10,000, I split it between three accounts — my everyday account, my savings account and my tax/Vat account. It’s a better way of coping with the tax bill when it comes in at the end of the year.

How much did you earn last year? That’s a tricky one, because it tends to vary from year to year when you are freelance. Last year was my best ever and my earnings topped six figures, which is more than enough for a single girl to live on.

The problem with being freelance is that one year you earn loads and the following year next to nothing.

Have you ever been really hard up? I grew up in a working-class family and never had much cash. I remember as a teenager, all my friends were into designer gear, while I had to make do with whatever my parents could afford to buy me.

I used to go out with my best friend, Ruby, on a Friday night with a fiver each, 10 Marlboro Lights and a bottle of beer between us, which was all we could afford. My first wages were £3,000 a year, and when I left the estate agents, at the age of 21, I was earning £6,000.

I have always been sensible with money and lived within my means.

What is the most lucrative work you have ever done? The Scottish Widows television advert. I did the commercial in 1994 and it appeared for 11 years. It was extremely well paid. I used to get a retainer every year, plus repeat fees every time it was shown.

My earnings were between £50,000 to £100,000 a year purely from the commercial, which was fantastic.

You can imagine how I felt when it came to an end.

Did you use the fee for something special? I put £20,000 down as a deposit for a house in Twickenham which I’ve now sold, and also treated myself to a beautiful Cartier watch.

What property do you own? I sold the three-bedroom house in Twickenham after my divorce last year for £400,000. I then bought my current two-bedroom flat in Richmond for £350,000 and have practically paid off my mortgage. It’s a beautiful flat in a mansion block by the river.

I am also in the process of buying a two-bedroom apartment in Nardo, southern Italy. It cost £90,000 and is part of an 18th century building, with a lovely roof terrace which overlooks the town centre.

The whole place needs renovation so I won’t be able to use it for another year. When it is ready, I’ll only use it for family and friends and have no intention of renting it to anyone.

Do you invest in shares? I don’t, simply because I don’t know enough about them.

Do you have a pension or retirement plan? I have a Scottish Widows pension which I started two years after I was selected for the commercial.

At the moment, I have about £60,000 in the pension and put about £3,000 a year into it. Scottish Widows put some money into it in the early days, which helped to get it started.

Do you believe pensions are a good thing? Any investment where you put money away for the future has got to be a good move. Having said that, I think the best investment is property. I kick myself that I didn’t invest in more properties earlier on in life.

Do you have Peps and Isas? I have two Isas with Fidelity which I bought about eight years ago on the advice of a previous financial adviser.

I invested £7,000 in each one and they are still worth the same amount. I think they are a waste of time and would never do it again.

What has been your worst investment? Touch wood, I have never had a bad investment, only a missed opportunity.

About four years ago I was in Glastonbury and saw a beautiful two-bed apartment advertised in an estate agent’s window for £60,000. I had just got my money from the Scottish Widows television commercial and put in an offer for the apartment which was accepted.

Unfortunately, I was going through some personal difficulties at the time and had to pull out of the sale. I went to Glastonbury last year and noticed that similar apartments were selling for £140,000. I was rather gutted.

And the best? The house I bought in Twickenham, before moving to Richmond. I bought it in 1999 for £160,000 and sold it seven years later for £400,000.

Do you manage your own financial affairs? I have a wonderful accountant who looks after all my financial requirements. He is very thorough and always sends me reminders when I have to do things, which is great.

What aspect of the taxation system would you change? Nothing really. I think it is reasonably fair and wouldn’t mind paying more if it meant our health and education system was up to scratch.

I do think the French system is better than ours, though. They pay slightly more tax than us, but if you are taken ill you can get into hospital within a week.

What is your financial priority? To make sure that I have enough money for a rainy day. I am not interested in making millions and having flash cars and mansions. I’d like enough so I could go into a supermarket and not have to worry about the prices. A bit of financial freedom is all I want.

What is your money weakness? Buying shoes and jewellery. I have a friend who is a jeweller for the Queen and sells exquisite pieces. I recently bought an Art Deco ring which cost me about £6,000 but is worth every penny.

What is the most extravagant thing you’ve ever bought? My flat in Richmond. I bought it for £350,000, then went on to spend £20,000 on the kitchen and £10,000 on the bathroom.

Do you play the lottery and what would you do if you won? I don’t play the lottery. But if I did, and won a sizeable amount, I would buy my brother and his wife a flat or house and do the same for my sister. I’d then take a long holiday and think about what I’d do with the rest.

What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money? Appreciate it and never take it for granted. I’m very fortunate and earn fantastic money for a single girl of 34, but you never know what’s round the corner in any business. Save as much as you can and put a third of everything you earn away.