Davina McCall: 'For a celebrity, I don't spend much' Did you plan to get into the media and become a TV presenter? I didn't really plan to become a presenter, because in those days it wasn't really a job. Presenters were either comedians or singers or entertainers. I had wanted a job in music and had tried being a singer, which didn't work out. I then aimed to just get a job in the music industry and luckily for me MTV was born. I just annoyed them for three years until they gave me a job. I got all my training at MTV. I was often presenting in the middle of the night so it didn't matter if I fluffed my lines or made a mistake. Do you have a career plan? Was producing the fitness DVDs part of a strategy or did it just happen? No, I don't have a career plan. My career plan is just to work. Producing the fitness DVDs was just a total and utter accident. I came across Jackie and Mark Wren, my personal trainers back in the early Noughties, when I was on a personal quest to get back into shape. They made me look and feel great, and I wanted to share that with everyone. I remember talking to my agent at the time, who strongly advised me not to make a fitness DVD as "they were naff." But I strongly believed in them, and hadn't been paid to lose weight to do one, so we made our first DVD, not really expecting it to be become as big a hit as it did. That was nine years ago. Do you think of yourself as a brand? No, I don't. I never have thought of myself as a brand. I think I am known for fitness but I don't think hey, I am a Davina brand. I just try to do things that I really believe in and if they have helped me, they can help other people. What was your best business decision or best buy? Matthew [Davina's husband] and I have done really well with our homes. We buy homes that need a bit of work, do them up, sell on and buy something else. We have done that three times and we have done quite well out of that. We are not going to move again, but we see our house as part of our pension. What was your worst business decision? I can't think of any really bad business decisions that I have made. I suppose saying yes to certain TV shows which didn't do well, but it didn't affect me financially. I don't lend money to friends just because I think it is really unhealthy - what if they don't give it back in time, there might be an argument. I will either simply give money to someone or I have sometimes done a kind of bartering. Are you more of a spender or a saver? I'm absolutely more of a saver. I am a big spender relatively speaking, but in terms of being a celebrity and earning good money, I don't spend as much as I could. For example, I don't care about racing cars, or sports cars, or designer clothes. I am quite happy in Wellington boots and high street clothes. If I do splurge, it might be on something for our home. I had a painting of Matthew and me done which was quite expensive, but that was for our 10th wedding anniversary. Are you naturally good with money or do you have to work at it? I think I am naturally good with money. In our house I am the one who pays the bills, which I am good at doing punctually. I am sort of a natural paper pusher. Matthew is more into keeping an eye on business interest rates and the bigger picture. What's been the most difficult lesson you've learnt about money or business? I think definitely the lesson I learnt about getting overdrawn when I was 17. It was a good time in my life to learn that, and has made me probably much more of a saver. Do you prefer to pay by debit card, credit card or cash? I don't really mind. However, I do like my British Airways American Express card as I get air miles - and I am obsessed with air miles. I carry around £100 on me for household purchases but as I live in a village I have accounts at the local shops. I bank with First Direct, and am very pleased with its service. I phone its call centre every Christmas morning to say "Happy Christmas" as I can't believe that they are in on Christmas day. Do you have a personal pension or a long-term financial strategy? My father made me think about a pension when I was in my twenties, so yes, I do have one. Our long-term financial strategy is saving for the future - as we are all going to be living longer, I think it is vital to make provision for those years. What are your financial priorities for the next five to 10 years? Save, save, save. Teaching my children about money and finances is also very important. Matthew and I have talked about how, if our children do make a mistake, we will help them tackle it, not just pay it off for them. I think if you have got money, one of the worst things you can do is to hand your children money hand over fist. It is not going to help them at all. Do you meet regularly with a financial adviser? We have a financial adviser with whom we meet twice a year. We don't do risky investing. My motto has always been to do normal, legal saving, I am not interested in massive, dodgy schemes or tax avoidance or any of that. Are you a good tipper? I'm an amazing tipper. Whenever I tip, Matthew always says: "Would you like to give them the house as well?" I usually tip around 20pc because I have been a waitress and I know what it is like to rely on tips to top up income. I will always leave a tip, even for bad service, but I will possibly tip less. I have a portfolio of products which my financial adviser has suggested that I invest in. I'm very happy with his advice. If there was one thing you could change about the financial world, what would it be? Everybody should pay the right amount of tax. When big business comes to this country and they offer employment to British citizens, and get a tax break, that is fine. However, I find it annoying when people go and live in Cannes or Monaco or Switzerland to avoid paying tax. I just think it is wrong. Is there anything you don't really like about handling money? I have an accountant as I am not very good at doing tax returns. I would hate to have to negotiate my own pay or fees - I would be awful at selling myself. I would do everything for free! I never bank online. I am so worried about internet security that I just do phone banking. I like talking to someone on the phone. It is a lot quicker. I don't think money makes you happy because I know plenty of people who have a great deal of money who are not happy in themselves, but I think it can reduce stress in life. Not having money and not being able to pay the bills is just about the most stressful thing imaginable. 'Davina Intense' is out now on 2entertain DVD