A Night to Remember

Luke Thomas got the Nitelink home after a Meteor Award win because I'd been so reckless with money

A musician who won a Meteor Award has spoken out about how he blew his prize money on a lavish lifestyle, but then found himself struggling to get home after the ceremony.

Luke Thomas, a singer-songwriter, won Best Newcomer at the Meteor Awards in 2011, but he says that the prize money was quickly squandered on expensive cars, clothes and nights out.

"I was so reckless with my money," Thomas told The Irish Times. "I was buying expensive cars, designer clothes, going out every night. I was living the high life."

However, after a few months of living it up, Thomas found himself struggling to make ends meet. He says that he was left with just €50 in his bank account, and was unable to afford to get home after a gig in Dublin.

"I was stuck in Dublin, I had no money, I had no way of getting home," he said. "I was literally stuck in the city with no way of getting out of it."

Thomas eventually managed to get home after winning a prize on the Nitelink bus service, which he describes as a "life-saver".

"I got the Nitelink home and it was a life-saver," he said. "I was so relieved to be going home and I was so grateful to have won that prize."

Thomas's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of overspending and the importance of budgeting. He is now more mindful of his finances and is working on his latest music project.

"I've learned to be more careful with my money," he said. "I've learned to budget and to save. I've learned to be more responsible with my finances."