Josephine Cox: My money

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 10:48 BST, 31 October 2007

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Josephine Cox has written 34 bestselling novels. Born in Blackburn, the sixth of ten children, she lives with her husband Ken in Buckinghamshire, 近づく her two sons and two granddaughters. Her new 調書をとる／予約する, The Loner, is topping the paperback 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）s. Josephine, who is in her 60s, spoke to Charlotte Beugge.

HOW MUCH WAS IN YOUR FIRST PAY PACKET?

I used to （不足などを）補う stories and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 other children a penny to listen. But my first proper 職業 was when I was 14. I worked in a vinegar factory in Blackburn. The women I worked with were in their 50s and the stories they told would make you blush. I used to go home and 令状 them up!

HOW MUCH WAS THE ADVANCE FOR YOUR FIRST BOOK?

It was £2,000 20 years ago, which was a pretty good sum, 特に for a first-time writer. I'm still with the same publisher.

HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR YOUR FIRST HOME?

It was about 1970 and we paid £12,000 for a place in Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire. We put 負かす／撃墜する £2,000 and got a mortgage for the 残り／休憩（する）. But then in 1973 the 後退，不況 攻撃する，衝突する and Ken's haulage 商売／仕事 went under.

Our boys were still やめる young and we all had to move in with 親族s. I pleaded with the 会議 to find us a home. They 申し込む／申し出d us this house that was in an awful 明言する／公表する - there was rubbish everywhere, no heating and whatever there had been of value had been 略奪するd by 隣人s.

We turned it into a lovely home and stayed there for 17 years.

WHAT WAS YOUR WORST INVESTMENT?

Equitable Life. We were advised to start 私的な 年金s and everyone recommended Equitable Life. We lost 負担s of money. Ken and I do have 年金s but they're only tiny - we're too afraid to go into it in a big way after having our fingers 燃やすd so 不正に.

HOW MANY CREDIT CARDS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR PURSE?

I have got a credit card but I don't use it. I know they can be useful because you get 保護 if anything goes wrong, but I don't really buy anything expensive.

HOW MUCH CASH HAVE YOU GOT IN YOUR WALLET?

USUALLY about £50. It's for things like coffee, cosmetics and toiletries if I pop into Boots.

HOW ARE YOU SAVING FOR YOUR RETIREMENT?

Wh atever I can save I do, as I'm worried what would happen if things went wrong. I'm not really into 投資するing in 株 although I've got some in publisher Bloomsbury. They were doing やめる 井戸／弁護士席 but now that the last Harry Potter's been written they've not done so 井戸／弁護士席. I'm hoping that by the time I'm 90 they'll be 価値（がある） a fortune.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST INDULGENT PURCHASE?

I was in Cyprus about ten years ago. I 設立する this shop that sold beautiful handmade 着せる／賦与するs, and chose this long, pale blue coat with a matching dress. It cost about £200. I wore it once and hated it - I just gave it away. What a waste of money.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST TIP YOU HAVE EVER GIVEN?

A few years ago I tipped the woman who was looking after us in a hotel in Doncaster £20. I'd got talking to her and she was telling me about her children and really her life story, and it was so sad.

WHICH CHARITIES ARE YOU CURRENTLY INVOLVED WITH?

I support a lot of children's charities - it's so important that we look after our children for the sake of all of us. Charities such as ChildLine do such a lot of good work in difficult circumstances.