Clare Chambers: ‘Our home was frigid — Dad wore a WW2 flight suit indoors’

Clare Chambers was contemplating abandoning her writing career when her novel, Small Pleasures, released in 2020, unexpectedly soared in popularity. The book sold over 400,000 copies, became a Book at Bedtime on Radio 4, received a longlisting for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2021, and was translated into 13 languages. Chambers, at 58 years of age, was raised in Croydon, south London, and currently resides in Bromley with her husband, Peter, a retired headteacher, and their two daughters. Their son lives in Australia. Her latest novel, Shy Creatures, was published in August.

Around £25 and a few coins for parking is a must for me. I feel uneasy without cash, even if it’s just to pay the window cleaner, who is about the only one who still accepts it. I wish to use cash more often, but it seems no one else does either.

What credit cards do you use?

I charge everything to my credit card and pay it off monthly. I enjoy using a credit card because it earns points and allows me to collect John Lewis vouchers for Waitrose, making it feel like I’m getting money for free.

Are you a saver or a spender?

I lean towards being a “moderation in all things” type. I appreciate shopping, but my tastes are fairly modest. For example, I can’t fathom spending £1,000 on a handbag—it would make me uncomfortable. I can’t differentiate much between a £10 and a £20 bottle of wine, often opting for a £6 bottle of Lidl merlot. I’d splurge £20 on a special occasion. My most significant purchase was an additional £800 for premium economy seats on a round-the-world flight due to my bad back; the total for the trip was £5,000. First class is not for me; it seems unnecessary to pay extra when you’re just sleeping.

Bromley High Street in south London

Do you own a property?

Yes, we own a 1930s semi-detached home in Bromley, which Peter and I purchased for £130,000 in 1993 after our wedding. He had owned a terraced house in Norwood prior to our marriage. I’m unsure what our house is worth now—perhaps around £800,000? We’ve extended it from three to four bedrooms. I’m fond of Bromley and feel at home in the suburbs.

Are you better off than your parents?

Yes, I am one of three siblings and spent my childhood in Croydon. My father, Colin, who passed away at 83, was an English teacher and an oddly frugal individual. Our home was relatively spacious, bought in partnership with my grandmother, who lived with us, not entirely harmoniously. It was freezing, prompting Dad to wear a Second World War flying suit—a thick sheepskin kind of onesie—indoors to stay warm. He also tried to make substitute coffee by drying carrots in the oven, but it only resulted in a burnt carrot flavor. My mother, Margaret, was resourceful and often purchased second-hand clothes; she passed away a couple of years ago at 91.

How much did you earn last year?

I made more than a train driver but less than a member of parliament.

What was your first job?

After university, I spent a year in New Zealand and then returned in 1990 to work as a secretary for the publishers Andre Deutsch. My starting salary was £7,000, which was quite low for publishing at that time, but it was an enjoyable workplace. I typed out author contracts, including the one for my first novel, Uncertain Terms, published in 1992, for which I received a £1,000 advance. I considered adding a couple of zeros to my contract figure! I was made redundant after five years.

Small Pleasures, Chambers' 2020 novel, and Shy Creatures, her latest book

When did you first feel wealthy?

That feeling struck when the royalties from Small Pleasures started coming in after 2020. I received a £10,000 advance, and for the first time, I lost track of how much I had in my account. To celebrate, my husband bought an expensive bottle of champagne, but when he opened it, it exploded and splattered the kitchen wall, leaving us only enough for a sip.

Have you ever worried about making ends meet?

Not truly, though when our children were younger, our budget was tight after paying bills and the mortgage—we often lived paycheck to paycheck.

What has been your most lucrative work?

Clearly, it has been Small Pleasures, which took three years to write. For a long time, I earned only £12,000 annually from a part-time administrative job at a local school, alongside my writing income, which hardly made me a significant taxpayer. The success of Small Pleasures eventually allowed me to earn a six-figure income for a couple of years post-release. After a decade-long hiatus from publishing, its unexpected success was a delightful surprise.

Do you invest in shares?

No, I don’t possess a great deal of confidence in investing.

What’s better for retirement — property or pension?

I’m unsure, but I dislike the idea of older individuals owning multiple properties while many young people struggle to afford even a one-bedroom flat. I believe I will qualify for a small work pension upon retirement from my part-time job, but I doubt it will even cover my utility bills.

What has been your most beneficial business decision?

Marrying my husband over thirty years ago, as he has held a steady job that has supported my writing career all these years. Though it was not my initial plan, that day turned out to be the best business decision of my life.

And your best investment?

Attending typing classes on a manual typewriter when I was a teenager—I can type quickly now, which has saved me countless hours throughout my life. I often see someone typing slowly and think they could have benefited from those evening classes.

What about your worst investment?

A £732 gas barbecue. Our weather does not lend itself to outdoor cooking, and cleaning it is such a hassle that we use it only once a year, generally resulting in soggy and disappointing burgers. It occupies space on the patio, and the last time we uncovered it, we found foxes nesting underneath. By my calculations, I’ve spent around £180 per use.

What’s your money weakness?

I tend to buy small souvenirs while traveling, but they are too nice to actually use. I have a drawer full of pristine notebooks, trinkets, and pins.

Chambers with her third book, Learning to Swim, in 1999

What’s your most extravagant purchase?

My husband and I splurged half of a £15,000 advance from one of my books to live luxuriously for a week in a villa in France overlooking the Mediterranean. It was a spectacular experience, albeit brief.

What’s your financial priority for the coming years?

Assisting my children in saving for their own flats. Our daughters live with us while saving, but if they cannot find a place soon, they may consider moving abroad. This situation shouldn’t exist—it’s entirely a result of ongoing government policies. The new government should prioritize a robust housing construction program.

What if you won the lottery?

I genuinely would prefer not to win because it seems it would bring more stress than joy. If I did win, I would certainly help my children financially and donate significantly to charities, particularly to alleviate the dire situation in Myanmar, where many face starvation and economic hardship. Nevertheless, I believe that winning the lottery would likely create far more anxiety than happiness.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about money?

I hold an irrational belief that the more you cling to your finances, the more likely you are to lose them. I know that if I pass by a Big Issue seller without purchasing a copy, it’s likely I’ll get a parking ticket shortly afterward.

Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers (Orion £20).

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