'I feel duty-bound to spend my way out of the recession'

ME AND MY MONEY:Eileen Dunne, newsreader

Are you a saver or a spender?I'm more of a spender – sadly, I never hold on to money long enough to save it!

Do you shop around for better value?Not really. I'll buy whatever is on special offer in the shop I'm in, but I don't go from shop to shop.

What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?My Mégane Cabrio, which I bought in 2007 for €35,000. I did what Eddie Hobbs told us not to do – I bought it with my SSIA money. But, hey, I still have it!

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?The aforementioned Mégane. I absolutely love it, it's really heavy and solid.

Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?No. I've been in Sainsbury's in Newry once, but that was when coming back from a concert in the North. I wouldn't go across the border specifically to shop.

Do you haggle over prices?Never. I'm useless at that kind of thing.

Has the recession changed your spending habits?A little, yes. Like everyone else I've taken a pay cut, so I don't have the same disposable income. On the other hand, I feel duty-bound to spend my way out of the recession, and there's certainly great value out there.

Do you invest in shares?No, I've always been too cautious, and I wouldn't invest money if I couldn't afford to lose it.

Cash or card?Both. I use them depending on where I am.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?I was coming back from Laois recently and I stopped at Kildare Village. I bought a jacket that was reduced from €300 to €95, so I think I did okay.

Have you ever lost money?I've had my wallet stolen a couple of times. The worst case was in Lisbon, and I had to get back to the Algarve. I barely had the bus fare for myself and my son.

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?My biggest win was at the dogs at Harold's Cross. I put €20 on a dog owned by the late, great Vere Wynne-Jones (only because he was there) and it won at 5/1. With the winnings, I did something I was dying to do for years – I blew it on champagne.

Is money important to you?Yes, I hate having to worry about it, but I'm happy to have enough to do the things I want to do. I don't need to be extremely wealthy.

How much money do you have on you now?€75 and a few cards.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea