As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a nurse working two jobs explains where their money goes.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 62.
Ethnicity: NZ Euro.
Role: Registered nurse.
Salary/income/assets: $130,000 PA (gross) – I have two jobs.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage repayments – about $700 per week.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Car repayments – $200 per week.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: About $200 per week, it’s just the cat and me. She’s greedy!
Eating out: Probably about $70, once a month.
Takeaways: Yucky no.
Workday lunches: Always from home, batch cook every few days.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Nope, I would never pay for a coffee.
Other food costs: Wonky Box fortnightly. Vege pod produces greens prolifically. Herbs in pots outside. We get leftover fruit from work, too.
Savings: Not apart from KiwiSaver, which is substantial. I can’t WAIT to get my hands on it.
I worry about money: Always.
Three words to describe my financial situation: A bit stressful (but I have an overdraft facility).
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Potato crisps.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $70 but I get it at the supermarket so it’s included in groceries question earlier.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Petrol $40, Hop Card $30. Ride my bike as much as possible.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $300. Not really interested in clothes unless it’s for tramping or biking. I get good quality stuff and wear it until it disintegrates. Do a fair bit of op-shopping for jeans, dress shoes, going-out clothes.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A sequinned frock, $300, for a wedding. I’ll wear it tramping if I have to, to get wear out of it!
My last pair of shoes cost: $20 posh sandals from hospice shop, barely worn.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Have a brilliant (and a bit expensive) hairdresser, $220, six-monthly. Wash my face with a flannel. Skincare from the supermarket.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Ride my bike (NOT AN EBIKE!) most days – free. Mountain bike most weekends – free. Go tramping when I can – almost free if you’re back country. My boots probably need an upgrade so will spend about $250 on those soonish.
My last Friday night cost: $70 – a birthday gift for a friend. The previous one was $15 for a movie.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Probably some cat food that the cat wouldn’t eat. Oh and vegan jerky hiking food – inedible!
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: I bailed on a tramp and got a helicopter out. By myself. It was expensive. Don’t ask!
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Probably clothing.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Do you really need that?
I grew up in a house where money was: Non-existent. My parents’ marriage was tumultuous, so we moved around a lot of different rental properties. I learned all about post-dated cheques from my dad.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: 1998.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Mortgage free!
I would love to have more money for: It would be nice to have some new clothes.
Describe your financial low: My husband (now ex) was bleeding the overdraft facility dry, spending it on frivolous things. We had to sell the house. 2009.
I give money away to: Wikipedia!
