Eric,
You seem to be implying that the BBC didn't pay him for his writing for the Radio Ballads, or for repeats of the broadcasts, or that Topic Records didn't earn him any royalties for his written work. I would agree that "First Time" was almost certainly his biggest earner but it wasn't the only one that brought in any money.

Not "having two halfpennies to rub together" was/is not unusual for many of us and often depends on the life style which we chose. I can sympathise with that.

Hoot