The cost of being: A pensioner with no car or cellphone, who spends on books

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 79-year-old writer explains his approach to spending and saving.

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Gender: Gay male.

Age: 79.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Writer and pensioner.

Salary/income/assets: About $40,000 pa and own my own flat outright.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: Nil mortgage but annual building levy of about $4,000 to cover joint hot water and central heating, maintenance etc.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Nil.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $120.

Eating out: Maybe once a week – $50.

Takeaways: None.

Workday lunches: I have meals on wheels (costs me $77 a month) and some days pop into a cafe for lunch.

Cafe coffees/snacks: When I am strolling in town (three of four times a week) I have a coffee, and people watch.

Other food costs: Bits and pieces if I run out of milk or bread but not much.

Savings: I have a second occupational pension GSF and save this to draw upon for extra expenditure so I save about $10,000 a year which I invest in bank bonds.

I worry about money: Rarely.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Comfortable and secure.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Festive foods especially Christmas when I do the whole traditional thing for my family (I am a bit of a hobby cook).

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: No more than $50.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Haven’t owned a car since 1978 and use public transport/taxis (Gold Card mostly).

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: A couple of hundred dollars mainly on things like underwear. I have a well-stocked wardrobe of conservative, good-quality and stylish clothes from the past.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A new summer jacket ($250).

My last pair of shoes cost: $250 (replacing some Docs which were worn out).

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: A few hundred dollars (mostly haircuts) but otherwise just basic toiletries.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $400 gym subscription (go once a week).

My last Friday night cost: No longer go out on Friday nights (age!)

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: I always think carefully before I buy so I never regret purchasing stuff.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: I am an indulgent book purchaser and spend around $2,000 per annum on some specialist fields that interest me eg Chinese, and gay history, Orwell studies, fascism, Shakespeare. I also like to buy books for my granddaughters.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: I don’t buy stuff because people say I should, eg I have no cellphone or laptop (although I have a desk computer system which I use daily to run my financial and other affairs).

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Frugal (but don’t stint myself if I need something).

I grew up in a house where money was: Available but not in excess.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Never.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Possibly dead but otherwise much the same as now.

Describe your financial low: When my marriage broke up in 1978 and I had to begin my life again.

I would love to have more money for: Don’t need it.

I give money away to: A number of literary trusts and to the Women’s Refuge.