Read in 90’s about a woman growing up poor, possibly gets a job as a typist, kids all sleep in same bed with coats

The book follows the young woman who works hard in a very low paying job - typist possibly ends up as secretary, the children are never allowed in the front room as that’s for guests, when she’s older and has her own place she accidentally breaks an ornament her brother (?) made and she’s devastated.

I think this is Helen Forrester's series of memoirs, beginning with Twopence to Cross the Mersey.

>2 konallis: I think you might be right - will update this once I get my hands on the book - thank you