Our panel on: Money

Marissa Carter I love money. I'm very good with money: I'm good at making it and minding it. I don't have extravagant taste, but I had no money growing up, and so it matters to me. My parents think it's hilarious that the first time they remember me saving was for a big vat of St Tropez fake tan.

Freda McGrane When I was at home my husband put a certain amount into the bank for me every month, and I ran the house out of it. When the situation changed, and I was the breadwinner, money was only ever a means to an end.

Eilish Hardiman I'm so not motivated by money. I wouldn't know how much is in my account. My husband does all that stuff. I earn it and he manages it.

Caroline Erskine I think it's important for women to have a little economic independence, especially when you think of other countries where women are chattels.

Eilish Hardiman Can I challenge you on that? It should matter. If we're aiming for total equality, then I shouldn't feel as if I need to have my own money to have my own independence. It shouldn't matter who earns what if both roles are equal.

Siobhán Parkinson We're in the reverse position, where I earn more than my husband, although we both earn very little. I worry about it a lot, because I don't earn enough for both of us. My husband is earning even less, and he finds that very hard.

Ciara Brennan It's so difficult when you're starting out. Right now, money is a worry for me. I love my job, and I think it's where I was supposed to be. But I do worry about how we'll ever even fall over the mortgage line, and where we'll be in two years. Within teaching we have three different pay structures because of when [teachers] emerged from college. I want to be able to have children one day and to be able to give them a nice life.