A former Donegal Senior Football player and captain of the side that lifted the All-Ireland Intermediate title, Aoife McDonnell has a degree in sports science and a Masters in business. She is founder director of AM Mindset, a company that helps corporate professionals, elite athletes and teams improve and achieve their goals.
Are you a saver or a spender? I’m definitely a spender. Life is too short, and I’ll enjoy it while I can.
Do you shop around for better value? I have a limit on patience. I could find a million more interesting things to do than browse around for a slightly better price. I’ll get three quotes or compare three prices and make a decision.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
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Extravagance isn’t my thing. I’m all about experiences and that’s where my money goes. I have a little farm on the Gweebarra Bay in Donegal and that was the most money I’ve spent on anything.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
It would actually be the farm! I got a pretty good deal for a slice of heaven on the Wild Atlantic Way.
How did you prefer to shop during the Covid-19 restrictions — online or local?
It was a mixture of both. I’m a big believer in supporting local businesses. In rural Donegal, we’re lacking a diverse range of shopping options, so for some purchases, online was a necessity.
Do you haggle over prices? Only the big things. Going back to prioritising my time, I can definitely find better things to do than spending too much time haggling. When I do, I’m direct and happy to walk away if I don’t get what I want.
How has the Covid-19 crisis changed your spending habits? To be honest, Covid didn’t impact my spending habits too much. Unlike some of my siblings — who happen to be on a first-name basis with DPD drivers — I rarely shop. I have a huge shopping spree once or twice a year and then do little around that unless I really have to!
Do you invest in shares? Not in a big way, but I enjoy looking at trends and thinking about the future, imagining what life is going to look like and what resources and commodities are going to be in demand.
Cash or card? I would be lost without a card at this point because everything is going digital. Using cash can make life more difficult nowadays, but I preferred cash and the simpler ways of life.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? I bought a car. It seems to be good value for money; it hasn’t broken down yet!
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? I haven’t found anything I wanted badly enough. I’m disciplined so saving wouldn’t be difficult for me. I choose to spend my money on personal development, travelling and experiences instead of saving.
Have you ever lost money? I’m sure I have but I can’t recall the specifics! I most definitely could tell you about football matches I’ve lost, though, and recount the details, but that would hurt me a lot more than losing money.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I take risks in life, sport and business, but those risks don’t involve relying on luck. I don’t bother with gambling but I’m happy to join in a social and fun sweep for the big events, with no expectation or hope of ever winning anything — and I haven’t!
Is money important to you? People, relationships and connections are my number one priority. After that, money is important to follow the lifestyle I want to lead. Unfortunately, leading a healthy lifestyle actually requires money. Nutritious food, healthy activities and so on should be accessible to everybody. That would save governments a fortune in the long run. Futuristic thinking is a priceless competency.
How much money do you have on you now? Not a penny. I’m just tapping away with my card.
in conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
