‘I was so hopeless as a waitress, the chef took orders’

DUBLIN-BORN writer Anne Griffin won the John McGahern award for literature in 2017. An acclaimed short-story writer, Griffin has been shortlisted for numerous other awards. She lives in Mullingar, Co Westmeath with her son and husband.

Her debut novel, When All Is Said, was published in Ireland and the UK last month. It will be published in the US and Canada in March. For more information, visit annegriffinwriter.com. What’s the most important lesson about money which your career in writing has taught you? Keep all of your receipts in order and then just bite the bullet once a month and input everything onto that precious Excel spreadsheet. What’s the best money advice you ever got? Do a weekly budget. My mam and dad taught me that. On a Friday, when my dad came home with his pay packet, they would divide up the money into the six compartments of a green box which they had — each one representing the bills they had to pay. I loved to watch them do it. I do the same thing now, but on an Excel spreadsheet and with online banking. What’s the most expensive thing about being a parent? Not being able to say no. What’s your favourite coin or note? The €200 note. I didn’t know we had one until I heard someone ask for one in the post office the other day. What’s the most expensive country you ever visited? I haven’t travelled much. I’m hopeless at organising holidays. I’m dying to go to Norway, which I hear is very expensive. I love everything Nordic so am hoping the foreign rights might sell there so I can finally visit. You’ve worked with various charities over the years. What’s the most positive or negative thing about money that your experience with charities has taught you? Money is unfortunately important and keeping it in order even more important. By doing that, workers on the front line can get on with doing the jobs that matter. Apart from property, what’s the most expensive thing you have ever bought? A garage renovation. It was supposed to be my writing room, but somehow it’s become my husband’s music room. What was your worst job? I was a waitress in a diner in the States on a J1 visa. I worked the night shift. I was so hopeless that at times the chef would come out to help me take the orders. What was your biggest financial mistake? I should have haggled on the price of my house more but I was so desperate to get it, I just paid the asking price. Are you better off than your parents? Perhaps in the last six months. They were better savers. I’ve never seemed to have anything spare. If you won the Euromillions, what would you do with the money? I’d buy a new desk and a chair that doesn’t have a broken arm. I’d make my house as eco-friendly as possible, pay the mortgage and those of all my siblings, keep enough money for my son’s education and think about planting a lot of trees. Have you ever made an insurance claim? Yes, after a car accident. What was the last thing you bought online? A Patrick Troughton Doctor Who DVD for my son. Would you buy property now? I’d buy a house on Cape Clear Island in Cork in order to look out at the Atlantic as I write. What three things would you not be able to do without if you were tightening your belt? Books, Love Hearts (the sweets) and Netflix.