{"id":277467,"date":"2026-02-02T21:49:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/277467\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T21:49:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:49:16","slug":"because-im-paid-every-six-months-i-cant-be-reckless-with-money-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/277467\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Because I\u2019m paid every six months, I can\u2019t be reckless with money\u2019 \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author Carmel Harrington has recently released her latest novel, The Nowhere Girls<\/a>, which is published by Headline. <\/p>\n

Are you a saver or a spender?<\/p>\n

Because I\u2019m paid every six months, I can\u2019t be reckless with money so I\u2019ve learnt to budget myself to avoid running out before the next royalty or advance arrives. That said, I work hard and reward myself with things that bring me joy, such as travel. <\/p>\n

What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?<\/p>\n

When I was 11, I helped out at my parents\u2019 shop for pocket money but when I turned 13, I started a weekend waitressing job at a restaurant in Wexford. It paid \u00a31 an hour and it taught me the value of money because, first and foremost, I had to pay for my uniform, which took care of my first pay cheque. The terms and conditions also stated that you had to buy lunch in the restaurant \u2013 packed lunches were not allowed. Thankfully, PJ, the lovely chef, used to sneak me chips when the owner wasn\u2019t watching!<\/p>\n

Do you shop around for better value?<\/p>\n

Before making big purchases, yes. I\u2019ll do a Google search and compare prices. I also have reward cards for all the usual grocery stores, and I shop based on offers and discount vouchers. Nothing is more satisfying than getting a \u20ac10 off \u20ac50 voucher.<\/p>\n

What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost?<\/p>\n

I purchased a duplex in Dublin in 2003 for \u20ac249,000. Since then, my husband and I have bought property together but that was my biggest individual buy. At the time, there were a couple of other cheaper apartments nearby, but this one included access to an on-site gym and pool. I suppose it was a bit indulgent to pay extra for those amenities, but I was so happy in that apartment. And very toned! <\/p>\n

[\u00a0\u2018I bought a boat a few years back. It cost roughly what a deposit for a small house would have\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?<\/p>\n

Ten years ago, we bought a bungalow that was a blank canvas \u2013 literally with walls and a roof! It needed a lot of work to become a family home. The garden was so overgrown that the grass reached over 6ft tall. We have invested a great deal of time and money into it, and now it has become our haven. <\/p>\n

Is there anything you regret spending money on?<\/p>\n

During my honeymoon, my husband wanted to buy me a gift. He suggested jewellery, but I chose Jimmy Choo shoes, which were too high and pinched. I should have gone for the diamond earrings! Mind you, I was going through a Sex and the City phase, so please don\u2019t judge.<\/p>\n

Do you haggle over prices?<\/p>\n

Absolutely. My dad is the best haggler I know, and he taught me all his tricks. After I bought my first house, I had no money left for furniture, so I went to a market and bought a three-piece suite for \u20ac400, haggled down from \u20ac600. I sold that same suite two years later for \u20ac700. That was totally my dad\u2019s move, and he\u2019s never been prouder. <\/p>\n

Do you invest in shares and\/or cryptocurrency?<\/p>\n

I know someone who got burned on shares a few years ago, and it was a difficult time for them and their family. I don\u2019t understand the market well enough to dabble, so for me, it\u2019s always been a pass. <\/p>\n

Do you have a retirement or pension plan?<\/p>\n

I have a pension that I started when I was 21, back in the days when I worked for Aer Lingus. As for my retirement plan, that\u2019s writing books. I\u2019m not sure when I\u2019ll stop, but it\u2019s not on my horizon any time soon.<\/p>\n

What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money?<\/p>\n

A pair of wide-legged blue denim jeans, with stretch, from Next. This might not seem like a big deal, but at 5ft 10in, I\u2019m basically a giraffe. Finding jeans with a long enough inseam can be like searching for the Holy Grail, but the jeans were a winner, and I celebrated hard. They were only \u20ac45 and the best thing I bought in 2025. <\/p>\n

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?<\/p>\n

Yes. I rented in Dublin for years and couldn\u2019t afford to buy. As prices were lower in Wexford, I purchased a new build from plans, using a credit union loan for the deposit. Then I spent a year living on beans on toast and noodles, saving like mad. It wasn\u2019t easy, but it was the best investment I ever made. When I sold it, I doubled my money, which enabled me to buy that duplex in Dublin.<\/p>\n

Have you ever lost money?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m grateful that I haven\u2019t lost any large sums, apart from a few bets at horse racing or in a casino. But I have a strict policy of only playing with money I can afford to lose, and that rule has never steered me wrong.<\/p>\n

Are you a gambler, and if so, have you ever had a big win?<\/p>\n

I love to gamble! The most exciting win I\u2019ve had was on the slots in Las Vegas. I was there in my early 20s and on a tiny budget, almost at zero. Suddenly, the lights went off on my machine as I hit the jackpot, winning $700. To top off that timely win, they sent us to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Ah, good times …<\/p>\n

What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?<\/p>\n

There have been times when my credit card was a life saver, but now I try to avoid credit card debt, so I almost always repay what I owe within the no-interest period. My worst habit? I come from a long line of shopaholics who believe that you need a new outfit for every occasion. It\u2019s an affliction. I might set up a support group.<\/p>\n

How much money do you have on you now?<\/p>\n

None! I wear an Apple Watch, which I use to pay for everything. I customised it with a bling wristband, and I am 100 per cent bougie, tapping my wrist on anything in sight. It doesn\u2019t count if it\u2019s a watch tap, right?<\/p>\n

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Author Carmel Harrington has recently released her latest novel, The Nowhere Girls, which is published by Headline. Are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":277468,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,4061,615,61,60,27998,1612],"class_list":["post-277467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-business","tag-crypto","tag-dublin","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-me-my-money","tag-pension"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277467"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277467\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/277468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}