Are you a saver or a spender? I am a saver in my personal life, when it comes to spending on myself. I am a spender when it comes to family, friends and in my business life.
Do you shop around for better value? In my private life I am no good at shopping around, or bargaining as I am an impulse buyer – my justification is that I don't have time for haggling. In business, I am surrounded by great people who get the best value for business purchases.
What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? The most extravagant purchase I ever made was in 2007 – a Mercedes C180 for €40,000 – which I bought with my SSIA, without test driving. I still drive it today.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Our investment in our home has been the best value for money. When we married first, we rented for four years and then in 1993 built our house on our own land, before the Celtic Tiger days.
How do you prefer to shop – online or local? I prefer to shop local and support people who support Sásta Fitness. As I am an impulsive buyer I avoid online shopping.
Do you haggle over prices? In business I haggle over prices, or I should I say that I delegate to expert hagglers in my business. As I am a soft touch in the price negotiation stakes I have structured the business so that I am rarely in the position of agreeing prices.
Has the recession changed your spending habits? The recession has changed my spending habits by making me think twice. Before I buy, I ask myself, do I really need to spend?
Do you invest in shares? I have not invested in shares since commencing development work in Sásta Fitness, as all excess funds are invested in the business. I have invested quite a bit in shares in the past, and when I have money to invest it would be in a select shares portfolio.
Cash or card? Card (debit) is my preferred payment option. I don't like to carry a lot of cash as I spend it too easily – or the kids raid my purse.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? Last month I bought a secondhand MacBook Pro for the bargain price of €850 (saving 33 per cent on a new one), with warranty, and it was hardly used. That was great value.
Have you ever saved up for a relatively big purchase? The biggest ever purchase I saved for was farmland, which joined onto our farm.
Have you ever lost money? I lost a small amount of money on Eircom shares as I waited too long.
Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win? I could be a gambler, but I am conscious of that fact. On holidays I love the slot machines and the casinos, but I don't know how to bet on a horse and don't have an online betting account.
I had my biggest win in 2001 when I bought €10,000 of Iona shares that I sold for €90,000 in less than 12 months. The main reason I chose these shares to invest in was the company name Iona. Add an F and makes Fiona!
Is money important to you? Money is very important to me at the moment, especially on the business front, and that creates personal financial pressures. I have been struggling financially for the past three years developing the business with no financial support from the banking sector, but I know some day soon one of my leads will convert to provide an investment to enable me take the pressure off cash-flow and provide substantial funds to expedite the growth of my business nationally and internationally.
How much money do you have on you now? I have €27.55 in my purse.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
