The cost of being: A screen industry worker saving for their ‘unemployment fund’

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a film and television production contractor explains how and where they spend.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 26.

Ethnicity: European/Polynesian.

Role: Film/TV production contractor.

Salary/income/assets: Approximately $60,000 solo income (this varies a lot due to the nature of contracting), or $160k combined household income. Earlier this year my partner and I bought our first home (the house we previously rented for two years).

My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: I pay half of our $743 mortgage; two people and a cat in a three-bedroom house.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: $498,000 remaining on the mortgage.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: Approximately $300 for two people (this includes a My Food Bag subscription and weekly Pak’nSave trip).

Eating out: $50 – we are massive foodies so realistically we go out for a nice restaurant dinner once every two weeks or so.

Takeaways: $30 – Uber Eats once a week.

Workday lunches: $0 – around half of my lunches are catered for at work, otherwise I bring leftovers or meal prep.

Cafe coffees/snacks: $0 – I make coffee at home and at work!

Other food costs: Not a weekly cost but we do have a vege garden (mainly different kinds of lettuce and herbs) that my partner tends to.

Savings: $200-300 per week, which mostly ends up in my “unemployment fund”. Work in the Film/TV sphere can be incredibly unstable so I make sure I’m always prepared in case I have to go weeks (or even months) without any income until the next job comes along. Anything left over goes towards travel savings, then renovations for the house.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Erratic, savvy, lucky.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: At the moment it’s Little Lato pumpkin and candied hazelnut ice cream (obsessed).

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $10 – I’ll go out for a drink with friends maybe twice a month.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $50 on petrol to get to and from work.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Approximately $400. I mostly buy secondhand but I did invest in a few new pieces recently.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $100 on two pairs of new Abrand jeans (Black Friday sale).

My last pair of shoes cost: $80 white adidas gym shoes from Dressmart – my last sports shoes had holes in them so it was time lol (my mum bought them for me as a gift).

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Approximately $500 on hair salons (it used to be a lot more but I stopped dyeing my hair this year), lash lifts, brows, skincare (very minimal – cleanser, sunscreen, moisturiser) and makeup staples.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $3,000. Scary I know, but this includes a pole studio membership ($50 a week), which is my main hobby outside of work, and a standard gym membership.

My last Friday night cost: $15 on cinema tickets to the One Direction documentary (RIP Liam Payne).

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A UV gel nail lamp for $80. I used it maybe twice then sold it.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A Japanese head spa ($130 including haircut and blow dry). Soooo relaxing.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Clothes.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Conscious budgeter, partial to treats.

I grew up in a house where money was: A given. My parents were both entrepreneurs and business owners who encouraged my siblings and I to pursue our passions, but also made us very aware of the value of money.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: A couple of months ago while buying a bottle of water. It was mortifying.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Earning a more stable income and not having to worry about money! Hopefully my savings will have recovered from the house deposit by then.

I would love to have more money for: Travel! We’re trying hard to save for a Europe trip in the next two years but it feels so unattainable at the moment.

Describe your financial low: Straight after graduating from uni in 2020 at the peak of Covid lockdowns… It took me a year to find a job in my industry – thankfully my partner was working and I was lucky enough to qualify for Jobseekers benefit for that period of time, but it was just barely enough to scrape by.

I give money away to: The SPCA, when I can. We adopted our cat from them and previously volunteered as foster parents.