'I find myself digging out my loyalty cards at every opportunity'

ME & MY MONEY: Gráinne Humphreys, festival director, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival

Are you a saver or a spender?I'm very much a saver. I'm quite cautious about making big buys, but then there's always a couple of splurges for the right holiday, bag or coat.

Do you shop around for better value?I can take weeks to buy items such as furniture and clothes, measuring walls, deciding colours, exploring all options.

What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?In 2004, I travelled across Russia on the trans-Siberian railway for a month or so on my own. I'm sort of obsessed with train travel, so I spent weeks of research putting the itinerary together, including choosing my books and pot noodles for the train. With a couple of stops in Moscow, Irkutsk (where I stayed in the Russian version of the Overlook Hotel – 1,000 rooms and only two guests!), out into the Steppes of Mongolia and finishing up in Vladivostock, it was a fantastic holiday, worth every penny of €5,000.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?It probably comes down to two items. I bought a vintage film poster in France five years ago, which has already doubled in value. But I also still have a pair of walking boots I bought in a shop on Talbot Street in a sale 10 years ago, and which have never let me down.

Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?I haven't shopped in the North since I went with my gran on a Christmas bus to Newry in 1980.

Do you haggle over prices?No. I get embarrassed with the haggling process. I decide if I want something, and if it's not possible then I walk away. I prefer to make my own mind up about value.

Has the recession changed your spending habits?Not really, although I have always been a prudent shopper. That said, I do find myself digging out my loyalty cards at every opportunity, no matter how small the purchase.

Do you invest in shares?No. I'm more likely to invest in property or art than shares.

Cash or card?Credit cards for online shopping, and a mixture of cash and Laser for everything else.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?I bought a lovely coat for the opening night of the festival – I convinced the shop to accept vouchers from 2006. Not without difficulty but definitely with added value.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? I'm still undecided about the need to buy property but I had a scare with my car last week and I fantasised about a new one. Luckily it was only out of petrol!

Is money important to you?A couple of members of my family have needed hospital care recently and that's been the best use of money I can think of. Other than that, enough to get by is fine for me.

How much money do you have on you now?About €45, lots of coffee vouchers, sterling coins and a subway token for Kiev. I really need to clear out my wallet.

In conversation with TONY CLAYTON-LEA.jdiff.com