Price is no object

We were talking about inheritance tax and our finances as we get older. My mother, I said, lives parsimoniously on a fixed income and still manages to save some money. Clare looked askance at this life of prudence.

"If I see something of great value," she said, "money is no object."

My stomach dropped: behind a neutral smile my thoughts turned to this picture.

Pink Diamonds

"Care to give an example?" I asked nervously.

"Well, yesterday in the Co-Op I saw this delicious croissant for 70p. I could have just bought a packet for £1.36 but no, this freshly-baked croissant was just about perfect. So I got it."

I commended her free-wheeling approach to life.