FINANCE
Money Matters
Money makes the world go round, or so the saying goes.
In our latest finance feature, we talk to former West End actress Lucia Tomlinson, who has settled back on Teesside with her husband, former Olympic long jumper Chris, and their three young children.
Name: Lucia Tomlinson Age: 34 Job: Actress, Sales Assistant for Middlesbrough-based ice cream wafer business, Greco Bros
Does money make you happy? No, I don’ t think it’ s the answer to happiness. My grandad literally had nothing until he grew the family business, Greco Bros, that his father started. He never had a flash life and taught us to be careful with what we have.
What was your first paid job? I used to pack cones at the Greco Bros factory, which Dad would pay me for, but I didn’ t enjoy that at all. My first real job was waitressing at Central Park in Middlesbrough, which I loved doing – on my feet, chatting to people. I remember I got paid with cash in a paper envelope, while I got to keep my tips too.
What’ s your best financial tip? Cut your cloth to suit your clothes. Being an actress, I knew that one year I might be on decent money but then the next year I could be back waitressing.
Are you a saver or a spender? The last few years I’ ve been having kids so haven’ t earned a lot, so I think I’ m quite a saver actually, though Chris might disagree! I’ m definitely not a splurger.
What’ s currently the biggest drain on your resources? We recently bought a lovely old house in Linthorpe so that’ s definitely the biggest drain on us at the moment.
Have you done anything for the money that you wished you hadn’ t? I’ ve been fortunate that any acting jobs I’ ve taken have been an enjoyable experience. Of course, there have been times when I’ ve thought I should be earning more for what I was doing.
What’ s the most you’ ve splashed out on a single item( excluding a house)? When we lived in London, we got a flat and I bought a fantastic bed and a really good quality mattress. Chris is very tall so it had to be a long bed! It cost a lot of money but the good night’ s sleep it gives us is worth it.
What has been your biggest financial mistake? I never make financial mistakes- every piece of clothing and every handbag is an investment, in my eyes!
What has been your best investment? Probably our apartment in London – it’ s in Hampstead in North London. We bought it at quite a good time about 10 years ago. We did it up, modernised it and managed to increase its value. We used to live there but now rent it out.
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