Me & My Money Siobhán Lavery, ICAN

Are you a saver or a spender? I save religiously every month but love to spend what is left over and can often be a bit frivolous at times.

Do you shop around for better value? I'm not great when it comes to shopping around. I couldn't tell you how much a bag of sugar or a loaf of bread costs. That's why I leave all the shopping to my wonderful partner – he's great at getting the best deals across different shops.

What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost you? I'm not an extravagant person, and up until now haven't had anything of significant value outside of my home. That said, I just treated myself to an Audi A3 Saloon.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Definitely my home. I was lucky enough to be able to move back to where I grew up – Clontarf. I just love living by the sea and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Do you haggle over prices? Only when I believe I can get away with it. I would never attempt it in Ireland. The last time I haggled was for a pair of trainers in Jordan before I headed into Petra.

Has the recession changed your spending habits? Yes, it has definitely made me save more for that rainy day. But what I do have left I like to spend. Life's too short.

Do you invest in shares? No, I'm not very financially savvy. I wouldn't even know where to start. All too complicated for me!

Cash or card? Card – I hate queuing at ATM machines.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? I've just bought myself soup from Voila – €4.20 and totally delicious, so definitely good value for money. It really is the simple things in life.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? Yes, for the deposit on my house, for my new car, and I'm currently saving for my wedding. You enjoy it much more when you've put the graft into working and saving for it. Have you ever lost money? No, I have never lost a huge amount, thank God – just the odd note here and there like most people. I love it when it turns up somewhere completely unexpected a year or so later, though!

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win? Like most people I dreamt of that big win and have already decided how I'm going to carve up that €10 million. The problem is that I never actually buy a Lotto ticket, so I'm going to be waiting a long time.

Is money important to you? Yes, it is, to be honest. I don't believe it can buy happiness, but I'm not naive and I know it certainly helps. It removes a lot of worry and allows you to enjoy life that little bit more. It also allows you to treat your friends and family, which is really important to me.

How much money do you have on you now? Not a single penny. Just my Visa Debit card. I don't even own a credit card. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea