The cost of being: A charity worker saving for their wedding

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a business analyst at a charity explains what they spend their money on.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 27.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Business analyst at a large charity, volunteer board member of a small charity.

Salary/income/assets: $82,000.

My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage is $700 per week, split between two of us.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: I paid off my student loan ($29,000) just before we bought our house so my weekly earnings would feel higher.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $100-150 for the two of us.

Eating out: If we go out $80, but only do this once or twice a month.

Takeaways: $0.

Workday lunches: $0 – I work from home.

Cafe coffees/snacks: $10.

Savings: Saving for our wedding at the moment: $150 per week towards that, plus $100 towards general savings for holidays/new phone etc and $50 into long term savings/investments.

I worry about money: Never.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Comfortable, secure, consistent.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Cucumbers and avocados all year. I don’t even check the price. I love them and they spark a lot of joy. I do eat somewhat less cucumber over winter, but there’s always some in the fridge.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0 – neither my partner or I really drink.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $10 – I drive a PHEV and it costs $2 to fully charge overnight, and I don’t use it daily. I bike wherever I can.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $2500, but that’s including a wedding dress.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: My wedding dress – $1500. It felt and still feels like an outrageous amount to spend on a dress.

My last pair of shoes cost: $120 – a beautiful white pair of heels I got from the outlet store for our wedding.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $500 on skincare and getting my nails done a few times a year, plus $70 every six months or so for a haircut.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: About $5000 ☠️ I go to reformer pilates twice a week, and a private gym. This is my biggest indulgence by far, but it makes me feel so much better.

My last Friday night cost: $5 – I bought a ginger beer when we went out dancing.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A wallet for $150. I ended up finding almost the exact same one secondhand for $30 two weeks later and had mad regrets.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Pilates – it’s so unnecessary but it makes me feel so good.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Food – we eat a lot of rice and frozen veges.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Occasionally frivolous but normally controlled.

I grew up in a house where money was: Talked about regularly. We had enough but it was definitely a balance. Extracurriculars were prioritised, which meant no family holidays except occasional camping trips with borrowed gear.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Probably 2018 when I had recently graduated.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Very comfortable, in a renovated house we own able to travel and save.

I would love to have more money for: A deck! I’d love to be able to afford more money on our house renos.

Describe your financial low: When I graduated uni and was supporting me and my jobless partner in Wellington on $43k, while trying to pay off debt. It was a real struggle and I was stressed about money constantly.

I give money away to: Friends who I know are struggling. Usually they won’t take money so I always make sure to shout dinner or gift them things I know they need but won’t get for themselves, or just lil treat items (good chocolate!) if I know they’re going without.