Wendy Erskine’s latest book, The Benefactors, is published by Sceptre. She appears at Write by the Sea literary festival in Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford which runs from September 26th-28th.
Are you a saver or a spender?
Like many others in my family, my parents worked in a bank. They were meticulous in their own accounting, whereas I am utterly shambolic. They always tried to save, whereas I have not made much of an attempt at all. By the same token, though, I am also not much of a profligate spender.
What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?
RM Block
That would have been in the record shop, Makin’ Tracks, in Belfast. I got £50 a week. It was the kind of shop that sold every kind of music.
At that time, CDs were kept in a locked cabinet as though they were precious artefacts. I spent my wages on records or nonsense like, as I remember, a giant metal pineapple.
Do you shop around for better value?
Sometimes I do and feel very self-satisfied that I’ve managed to get a few quid off something. And then I spoil it all an hour later with an impulse buy of something I don’t need, which exceeds any earlier savings.
[ ‘I wear the same shoes and clothes all the time, which means I don’t shop often’Opens in new window ]
What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost?
I have a wardrobe full of clothes and anything new is a de facto extravagance. I don’t need more apparel for probably the rest of my life. That said, I continue to buy dresses that cost a few hundred pounds.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Probably the most money that I have spent on myself was for the Stinging Fly six-month fiction workshop. I regard that as money extremely well spent because, without it, I would never have had anything published, ever.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
So much: an LED light mask that I don’t use; home gym equipment of various kinds; a large tagine; bottles of foundation; a waffle maker; and many apps that I don’t use.
For example, if I want to read an article online, I go for a one-month free subscription but I inevitably forget to cancel and then find myself locked into a year’s payment for a publication I’ll never read. I probably have about five of those on the go.
[ ‘Behavioural economists would have a field day with me’Opens in new window ]
Do you haggle over prices?
No. I want to pay a fair price and if I think that’s the first one someone suggests, then fine, so no haggling. If they think I’m a mug as a result, I don’t care.
Do you invest in shares and/ or cryptocurrency?
I think my answers so far would give a strong indication that I do not invest in shares or cryptocurrency. I once helped someone out by giving them a few hundred quid to buy some Barcelona shirts that they intended to resell, but that wasn’t exactly “get rich or die trying”.
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
I do. I have worked for the last 32 years as a secondary school teacher and have always contributed to a pension plan.
What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money?
The last thing I bought was a new diary for the academic year 2025/26. It’s the same type of diary that I have used for 15 years or so and I always get “Wendy” embossed in gold on the front of it. A bit childish but they do it for free. It’s a good value-for-money diary. Quality product.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
A big purchase for me, which I did save for, was a Mac computer and printer. It was 1993 and they cost over £1,000. That seems incredible now.
Bizarrely, I decided to atone for my extravagance by not buying a desk, and for the next number of years, I worked sitting on the floor with my expensive computer on a coffee table.
[ ‘I regret spending money on cars. It always feels like a financial black hole’Opens in new window ]
Have you ever lost money?
Not really, because I have never made any investments beyond the Barcelona shirts. However, I’ve found notes and coins that I didn’t realise I had in old handbags.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
I used to play Yahtzee online, but I never had a big win. But generally, with life, I do know, of course, that you gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
The best is caution in some respects. The worst is carelessness in others.
How much money do you have on you now?
One pound coin. I always have a pound coin because you need it for the locker at the leisure centre.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
