Judy Murray’s frank admission about money worries and ‘toughest time’ financially
Judy Murray has two Wimbledon-winning sons in Andy and Jamie, but things weren't always so rosy for the family as they struggled to make ends meet in the early days
As the mother of tennis legend Sir Andy Murray, Judy Murray's life may seem glamorous now, but it wasn't always the case. And there were times when it seemed unlikely that sons Andy and Jamie would make a career out of tennis.
Judy, 65, played a crucial role in nurturing their early talent before passing the baton to professional coaches. During those early years, she faced significant financial strain as a parent.
Today, retired Andy is estimated to be worth £110million, and while he may not be as frugal as his mother, her influence has undoubtedly shaped his financial outlook. However, her own mother's attitude towards money had a lasting impact on her own financial values.
"When I was young, [my mother] would go into an absolute tailspin if she had a bill with a final demand on it, or if she'd forgotten to pay something," she told iNews (via the Daily Express). "She was always panicking about money, and that rubbed off on me.
"And so I've never had a credit card. I hate owing people money, and I have to be really persuaded to invest in anything. I don't have any investments, stocks and shares, or anything like that."
After leaving her job as a sales representative at a confectionery company, Judy made the bold decision to relocate from Glasgow to Dunblane shortly before Andy's birth. She eventually transitioned into coaching, laying the groundwork for her sons' future success.
Making the daunting decision to quit a stable job for the future of her children was a bold move. Yet the full extent of their financial challenges didn't emerge until Andy, who would twice triumph at Wimbledon and become a Grand Slam icon, was in his mid-teens.
“The toughest time financially was when we needed to send Andy to Barcelona for his training,” she added. “It was 2002, and he was about 15. He was one of the best in Europe at that point. He needed to leave the country because he needed a tougher training environment with a different variety of sparring partners.
"It was like going to an expensive boarding school that specialised in tennis. The problem was that we were going to need £30,000-35,000 a year. That was more than my entire salary."
Murray, who is celebrating the release of her new book 'Game, Set & Murder', recalled that era as "incredibly financially stressful," but it was a challenge they overcame. They secured a £10,000 sponsorship for Andy, while Judy took care of the remaining costs thanks to an inheritance from her great-uncle.
Had circumstances been different, Andy might not have embarked on his valuable stint in Spain, which significantly influenced his professional journey. Financial struggles had become somewhat normalised for Judy, and she managed without depending on others.
"My pension was a big learning curve in my relationship with money," she continued. "For most of my life, I didn't have money. Even as a top-level national coach in 1995, I earned £25,000.
"It was a very small salary job. I have been self-employed for most of my life and didn't start making pension contributions until much later. I didn't think about it."
Fortunately, her son's triumphs on the tennis court have alleviated any financial concerns. But this new reality lies in stark contrast to the challenging times during Andy's childhood.