Mary Fox is co-writer of season three of Hidden Assets, RTÉ One, Sundays 9:30pm, and RTÉ Player until December 14th.
Are you a saver or a spender?
I’m a saver who enjoys spending. I have a rainy-day fund, untouched for two decades – security should I need a dramatic exit, stage left. I have a ritual: Mark every contract with a treat to myself, something that helps me forget the notes and rewrites and motivates me for the next project. After finishing season three of Hidden Assets, I treated myself to a course of radio frequency micro-needling. Yes, I chose to spend on being repeatedly pricked in the face by a woman I both fear and respect!
What was the first job you ever received money for, and how much were you paid?
I worked in the bar at Galway’s Warwick Hotel. I earned £15 a night, but it wasn’t about the money. It was about serving pints to Galway’s goths, indie kids and hippies, and getting to see the likes of Sinéad O’Connor, Gavin Friday, and The Stunning. And now Steve Wall plays Hidden Assets’ very own CBO Dunlop. Full circle!
Do you shop around for better value?
I crave nice things, so I mainline bargains. I buy organic coffee in bulk. Stock up on serums and potions on Black Friday. With beauty treatments, I buy courses – you usually get one free, a small victory for a big splurge. Before I buy anything, I always do an online trawl to see who’s selling it cheapest. I’m a fan of sustainability and recycled products because I think that better value isn’t just about price.
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What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?
A €3,000 LED panel. My partner Marty and I both lie under it every morning before we start writing, in part for health and in part to convince me it was worth every cent and ounce of guilt.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Hands down, education. I took out a huge loan to finish my post-grad in California, and it was worth every penny. My parents drilled into my sister and me that we are our greatest asset.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
Yes. At the start of the pandemic, I bought two original military grade Finnish M61 gas masks with voice enhancers and additional Nato black filters. They were never used and are now on display at home. I view them as a gentle reminder of how dramatic our household can be.
Do you haggle over prices?
I politely haggle, sometimes for fun, sometimes for a cheeky reduction, but always within reason. Retail is a tough business, and many staff work on part-commission, so it’s about paying what I can afford without disrespecting a seller. Walking away is always an option.
Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?
I fancy the idea of investing in shares, but I have no idea where to start. Anything I start becomes all-consuming, and I just don’t have the time in the schedule to babysit the markets! Crypto is the future, I hear, but it’s too abstract for me.
[ ‘I went to the World Poker Tour in Monte Carlo, but chickened out from playing’Opens in new window ]
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
I have a pension plan and a retirement dream. I am very lucky to love what I do, so I plan on writing for as long as I can. Retirement? Picture this: writing from a sun-soaked villa in Palm Springs, California, with my laptop, SPF 50, and my two best friends!
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
1kg of organic Ceylon cinnamon powder. It was one of my bulk buys, and a bargain and bloody delicious. Our morning coffees have never been so tasty and healthy.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
Yes. Our home and it felt super and well-earned.
Have you ever lost money?
Car keys, yes. Jewellery, yes. But money, no. I wonder what that says about me.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
I gamble on myself. I stepped away from a lucrative career to start writing. It was my biggest gamble. A door was opened for me, and I stepped through. It’s a long and tough journey paved with much rejection and dotted with few rewards, but I wake every single morning excited. I am blessed to have gambled on this life. I work side by side with the love of my life, doing my dream job. That’s one hell of a win.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
The best is that we only use cash on Fridays. It’s a conscious effort to keep it in circulation. Interestingly, Friday is the day we are most conscious about our spending. Apart from that, having a financial cushion gives me real freedom, while financial independence has empowered me with self-reliance. The worst is that I over-research every single purchase. Last month, I needed a new kettle and consulted with an equally obsessive Italian friend who had already compiled a ‘Kettle Top Ten’. But then another friend said, ‘It’s a kettle, it boils water.’
How much money do you have on you now?
It’s Friday and I have €27.50 in my pocket.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
