As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a mother of three who owns her own business explains her DIY approach to almost everything.
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Gender: Female
Age: 32
Ethnicity: NZ European
Role: Self-employed, home-schooling mum of three young kids.
Salary/income/assets: It varies but generally around $50k combined between mine and my husband’s businesses.
My living location is: Small town.
Rent/mortgage per week: $370/week for our family of five. We bought the cheapest house that needed a lot of work in a satellite town nine years ago and have slowly been improving it into a better place to live.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: None
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $50-$100 for our family of two adults and three children.
Eating out: Almost never.
Takeaways: Almost never.
Workday lunches: We take a thermos from home.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Very rarely.
Other food costs: We converted almost our entire small urban yard into vege garden and fruit trees. My husband hunts our meat. We barter for things we can’t grow with friends who have large blocks of land. I also forage for food.
Savings: Because we’re self-employed we can sometimes borrow money out of our businesses if need be. Our spare money goes into camping and skiing holidays with the kids while they’re little and enjoy spending time with us!
I worry about money: Rarely.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Low-maintenance, comfortable, simple.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: n/a
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Nothing. I make my own wine.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $40ish to get us to activities for the kids. If we have extra we drive further for more outdoorsy camping etc opportunities for the kids.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: For the whole family I probably spent around $200 on fabric for sewing clothing in the last year, and maybe $500 total on new and secondhand clothing I can’t make like technical ski and hiking clothing.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: I think I’ve only bought one new item for myself in the last year. Macpac fleece-lined leggings for cold weather tramps. They were $99 but are so worth the warmth when out and about. I only own four pants total at a time so I invest in quality over quantity.
My last pair of shoes cost: My tramping boots broke around two-and-a-half years ago. New ones at the time were $299. I haven’t bought any shoes for myself since.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Nothing. I cut our whole family’s hair myself. I make all our own skin products from kitchen ingredients like olive oil and beeswax.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: This is where we splurge. Ski and camping gear, ski passes etc. Any money not accounted for anywhere else goes here. So I’d estimate it’s probably $5k a year on new gear and passes.
My last Friday night cost: $4.50 for an evening at the sauna of the local pool. I’m very much into keeping healthy.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: None. I’m very considerate with finances before spending anything.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A new pair of skis. They cost $1,000, but they were worth every cent as they’re a dream to ski on. It had been 15 years since I’d bought my last pair.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Pretty much everywhere except for on skiing and hiking. I just DIY to save money and spend it on the outdoors instead!
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Sensible, frugal, DIY, considered, calculated.
I grew up in a house where money was: Tight – we grew up on the benefit in HNZ housing.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Probably never. I always check I’ve got money in my account before spending.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Still happy with the little we have.
I would love to have more money for: To buy land. I’d love to have a lifestyle block but a bigger mortgage is not something we can afford in any foreseeable future.
Describe your financial low: When my husband first went into self-employment. It was the right choice, but we spent around six months living with only $20 left for food and utilities after all our debt and mortgage payments.
I give money away to: We tithe 10% to our church and give to charities I align with like CAP.