By Emma Wall Published: 10:37AM BST 22 Oct 2009  I suppose both really, I'm quite liberal when it comes to spending money on boats and whatever I need to do to go fast, but I can also be a little bit tight at times. I try not to waste money but if there's something I really want to do, I try and make it happen.  I guess like all other kids I spent most of my time trying to extract as much money from my parents as possible and found it quite hard which is probably a good thing because it teaches you the value of money.  My parents were fantastic and supported my sister and me. Like it is for most people, money was always an issue. We tried to save money where we could, we certainly weren't a wealthy family, we had to watch the pennies but it probably was good to prepare me for later life.  How do you define whether you are well off or not? Certainly I am very fortunate, I have got some great sponsors that help me do my Olympic sailing, and that means I can do it properly, which is the most important thing to me.  There are some disadvantages, you've got to be quite careful what you say and where you go. I think it's good for the sport that we are having some successful sailors and getting more profile into the sport.  I've been investing for quite a while now, quite diversely, and so far it's been reasonably successful. My Dad helps me out a lot with that.  I have quite an even spread across sectors and products which minimises the risk. This has been good in the last couple of years. My Dad and I talk about it quite a lot, he is really interested in that world and I find it quite interesting too, so we manage my investments together.  I use cards more, I try not to carry too much cash around especially when travelling abroad a lot. It helps with the accounting as well.  Mostly it goes on hotel rooms and air flights and that all gets put on the credit card.  My house – like most people's, I'd imagine. It's a pretty safe investment, I bought it about three years ago, not the best timing with the property market, but it's in a reasonable area and the price has held.  A car I bought in New Zealand about six years ago. I only owned it for a couple of weeks as my circumstances changed and all of sudden and I had to leave the country. I had to sell the car back to dealer I bought it from – for half the price.  I always find it amusing when you're in America because there is that expectance to tip heavily, and for us, from the UK or Europe we can find that frustrating. But if the service is good it's nice to reward that.  I do, different causes, quite randomly. Like most people I guess, I get quite sidetracked or taken in by what you see on TV. I work with a couple of charities and try and help out where I can.  Sailing is not as hard to get into as you might think, go down to your local sailing club. All clubs these days have a great coaching programme and equipment for young people to get into the sport. Just enjoy it, and see where it takes you.  Ben is an ambassador for the Prince's Trust. Go to www.investandgive.co.uk to find out more.
Ben Ainslie, 32, is Britain's most successful Olympic sailor ever, having won    three gold and one silver medal.