'I'm avoiding looking at my bank balance these days so I use plastic a good bit'

ME AND MY MONEY:Maria Tecce, singer

Are you a saver or a spender?I'm a saver. I was brought up in a middle-class suburban American family of seven, so saving was a way of life.

Do you shop around for better value?I'm a bargain hound and am most definitely my mother's daughter. She raised a big Italian family on a teacher's salary and could find Chanel for $50 in any city.

What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?I splashed out and bought a custom made, red, leather coat in Morocco. It's beautifully finished with red silk on the inside. I think that cost around $300.

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?My red Prada handbag. I paid a pittance for it in London years ago in the Christmas sales. I had to wrestle for it.

Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?Oh, yes. Many borders, in fact. I'm fortunate in that I travel a good bit for work so I always pick up a few things here and there.

Do you haggle over prices?I'm a champion haggler. I learned it from my Dad, he was a great deal maker and deft reader of people. His thing was, 'You'll never know unless you ask. All they can say is no'.

Has the recession changed your spending habits?Things are most definitely a bit tighter. I tend to live within my means, but the past year or so has been particularly tricky. A lot less going out to eat, for sure.

Cash or card?It used to be cash, but since I'm avoiding looking at my bank balance these days I use plastic a good bit.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?Last thing I bought was my little Netbook that I got in Boston last Christmas. It was brilliant value until it was stolen a few weeks ago. Now I think someone else is getting good value out of it.

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?My brothers and sisters and I saved up to send our mum and dad on a cruise last year. We really pulled it off, they were delighted.

Have you ever lost money?I put my own money into two major projects over the past year and the first was a financial loss, but I tend to think of these things as investments rather than losses.

Is money important to you?My mum used to ask me what I would do differently if I had a lot of money. My answer is that I'd still be doing what I do, still be a singer and performer, still produce shows and projects; I'd just be doing it a lot more often and with a lot less worry!

How much money do you have on you now?Well, I'm going out with friends tonight to celebrate a birthday so I've got bus fare, cab fare home, and enough to treat my friend Liz to a slap-up night of painting the town red. For the rest, I've got plastic.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea