As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity GM explains how they plan to achieve financial freedom.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 38.
Ethnicity: Pākehā.
Role: General manager for a charity.
Salary/income/assets: Approximately $150,000 a year, however I’m only on a 10 month maternity cover contract. I think our investment property also turned positive by about $100/month when we were able to refix our loan at a lower rate in September.
My living location is: Urban.
Rent/mortgage per week: Currently living at my dad’s (with my husband and child) and not paying rent – just contributing to household expenses. We only arrived back in New Zealand a few months ago and trying to buy a home.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: $0.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $250 a week for four of us.
Eating out: $30 a week.
Takeaways: Maybe once a month at about $50.
Workday lunches: $0 – I work remote.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Love coffee, but try to mostly have it at home. Might have one coffee out a fortnight.
Other food costs: Just started Hello Fresh again as I hate having to think about what to cook for dinner after a long day at work. Also growing vegetables from seeds that I got at a local seed library!
Savings: Saving about $6000 a month as we’re not paying rent. Saving for our first family home.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Privileged, savvy, freedom.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Berries for my two-year-old!
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0. Recently I have stopped drinking – is it just that time in life? I’m not missing it!!
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $30 a week on petrol.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $500 – I mostly shop at op shops.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $50 – I bought a fun dress from H&M for a wedding.
My last pair of shoes cost: $20 – brand new branded runners from the op shop.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $20 – I haven’t worn make up for years and this year I have also decided not to get my hair done anymore.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: My husband and I share a City Fitness membership which costs us jointly $980 a year.
My last Friday night cost: $150 – took my dad and his partner out to dinner (we like to treat him as part of having us live with him rent free at the moment) but used a First Table voucher so all food was 50% off.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A very expensive car when living in Europe that we then had to sell six months later and lost $10,000 on!
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A dehydrator – I would love to start upping my self sufficiency skills over the next few years.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Beauty and fashion.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Love a bargain! Striving for financial freedom and to get away from the grind.
I grew up in a house where money was: Never really talked about or an issue. I had a very middle class upbringing and know now that it is a very privileged place to be. My mum has taught me a lot about investing in the stock market, I just wish I had been from a younger age.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Maybe a month or two ago, but then I would simply transfer some across from a different account.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Working part-time and/or having grown a side hustle. Own our house outright, produce a lot of our food to reduce expenses. Well on our way to financial freedom.
I would love to have more money for: To not have to work so much in my prime income earning years so I could spend more time with my child. Also travel and food!
Describe your financial low: My husband and I both quit our full-time, well-paying jobs at the start of 2025 to move to Europe and take time off with our son. We had the most incredible year that I will never regret but it was financially very stressful. We’ve ended up back in New Zealand with my husband still looking for work and me on just a fixed-term contract.
I give money away to: I have worked in the charity sector my entire life and I also routinely donate to one or two charities at a time.
