Gráinne Bleasdale is an actress, musician and broadcaster. She presents GAA Cúl Camps on TG4, which airs every Monday at 7.30pm.

 

What’s the most important lesson about money your careers as an actress, musician and broadcaster have taught you?

One of the best and worst things about working in this industry is unpredictability. It’s either a feast or a famine, which therefore means your income is sporadic. This has taught me to get mileage out of a pay cheque, because, sometimes, you’re not sure when the next one will come. 

What has the coronavirus crisis taught you about money?

In one way, it showed how much money I spent on frivolous things pre-pandemic. It really made me have a look at fast fashion and how I needed to change my shopping habits. 

The most expensive place you ever visited?

I’m more of a bargain hunter when it comes to holidays and trips away. I’ll scour the internet for the best value for accommodation and travel. This then allows me to spend guilt-free money on fancy dinners and expensive wine. Having said that, I went to visit a friend in Qatar in 2019, and the price of some things would make you wince as you handed over your bank card. 

What’s the best advice you ever got about money?

Don’t save it for a rainy day! Go on all the holidays, try all the boujee restaurants, buy yourself the nice shoes. If the last year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that life is too short not to go and do all the fun things. 

Apart from property, what’s the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

I have just bought myself a brand new car and it is by far the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought. I live in my car as I travel a lot for work, so that justifies it…ish. 

What was your biggest financial mistake?

I invested in cryptocurrency a few months ago. While I feel like it’s a mistake now, I’m hoping I’ll be laughing about how I doubted it all in 10 years’ time on my private yacht. 

What was your best financial killing?

My best financial killing is knowing my worth. The older you get and the more experience you have, this teaches you how to get the best jobs without feeling like you’re being hard done by financially. Know your worth and you’ll make your killing. 

If you won the Euromillions, what would you do with the money?

Travel the world. The minute it’s safe to do so, I’m doing it anyway, Euromillions or not. Although it might take me a bit longer without a handy few million in the back pocket. 

If you could design your own euro note, what image would you put on it?

At the risk of sounding like a crazy cat lady, my cat George. He has been our saviour during the pandemic and he deserves nothing less than his image on a euro note. 

What was the last thing you bought online?

Cat food…oh God, I am a crazy cat lady… 

Would you buy property now?

No and I’m not sure if I ever will. It shouldn’t be this difficult for my generation to buy our first homes. I find it all so daunting and depressing that I’m not willing to even go there for another few years, or until I see an improvement. Until then, I’ll carry on spending most of my money on extortionate rent. Yay. 

Do you ever haggle?

Yes and no. It’s one of the things I dislike most about my job – discussing money. I don’t have an agent, therefore I do all of my haggling myself. 

What three things would you not be able to do without if you were tightening your belt?

Eating out (food is life), short budget holidays (because you can find bargains if you look hard enough) and my car.