Q) Are you a spender or a saver?
Until recently, I would say I was very much a spender — and loved it — but I have just got engaged and bought a house with my fiancé, so I have had to change my ways. I am now a saver who intends to spend it all on a few bigger purchases.
Q) How much is in your wallet?
Day-to-day I don’t really use a wallet, so I would guess there isn’t much in there, except maybe some Euros from a trip to Donegal. I prefer to use Apple Pay for pretty much everything I buy, and very rarely carry cash around with me.
Q) Do you adhere to a budget?
Each month I try sticking to a budget, but usually, it doesn’t tend to work out. I try not to get too tied up counting the pennies; my view is that life is for living and sometimes that means going off budget to do something that will bring you joy and fulfilment.
Q) Do you have many loyalty cards?
I have loyalty cards for various coffee spots around Northern Ireland and a supermarket loyalty card that I use once a week for the ‘big shop’. I have been meaning to apply for a Boots Advantage card as I tend to shop there for a variety of things — from skincare to meal deals — but that has been on my to-do list for a while now.
Q) Cash or card: what’s your preference?
Card over cash. And Apple Pay over card.
Q) What’s the best deal you’ve ever gotten?
That is a tricky one because I don’t recall ever thinking to myself, ‘Wow, that is a great deal’, but I do like to shop around, especially when it comes to big purchases. I usually don’t commit to the first price that I see for bigger purchases because there is no worse feeling than buying something only to find out a week later that it is available at a reduced price.
Q) What’s the most important financial lesson you’ve learned?
It may not be strictly classed as a ‘financial lesson’ but moving all my bills, so they come out of my current account on the same day, shortly after payday, has been really helpful when it comes to managing my finances. It allows me to keep on top of my expenses so that I have comfort in knowing that all the important stuff is covered.
Q) What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
Aside from normal things like a house, a car or a holiday, the most expensive thing would be my Dyson Airwrap hair too, but I use it all the time.
Q) If money was no object, I’d buy…
A holiday home somewhere warm and sunny, to escape the Northern Irish weather whenever I felt like it. And of course, flights to that destination for me and whoever wants to come along.
Aisling Taggart is an Associate in the Litigation and Regulatory team in Pinsent Masons, Belfast. She is an experienced data privacy adviser, assisting clients in responding to cyber incidents and advising on data protection concerns.
