As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an ‘anxious and broke’ young renter in Auckland shares how he spends and saves.

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Gender: Male

Age: 19

Ethnicity: Māori

Role: Landscape gardener in Tāmaki Makaurau

Salary/income/assets: $27p/h (~$58k p/a, $1,140p/w before tax)

Kiwisaver: 6% – balance is $1k

Savings: $50

Investments: Sharesies – $100

My living location is: Urban

Rent/mortgage per week: $650 rent for damp two-bedroom in Mt Eden. Partner and I pay $135 each and our flatmates pay $170 each as they have bigger rooms.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: $70 – car repayment.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: ~$150p/w for partner and me.

Eating out: $50.

Takeaways: $70.

Workday lunches: $25.

Cafe coffees/snacks: $25.

Other food costs: None.

Savings: $200p/w goes into a general savings account for unexpected expenses. Current balance is $50 – I got my car fixed today.

I worry about money: Always.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Insecure, anxious, broke.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: White Choc Unholy Donut from Hell Pizza.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: I drink once every two to three weeks, not often.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: I have a company vehicle, so I only put about $30 a week into my personal car and $10 into my AT Hop card.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $600.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Vintage Levi’s – $110.

My last pair of shoes cost: Free, I won them in a raffle.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: A haircut every couple of months, a fragrance subscription ($30 a month) and general hygiene products (face wash, soap, shampoo) totalling ~$700 a year.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Annual football fees – $300.

My last Friday night cost: $20 – a quiet night in with some weed.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: I bought an aux cord adapter for my car, it broke in about a week and cost me $45.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Fragrance subscription.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Clothing, I avoid brand new clothes and expensive vintage stores.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Naive and careless at times.

I grew up in a house where money was: Incredibly tight. My three younger siblings and I were raised predominantly by my hardworking mum. Weetbix and porridge for dinner was something we learned to really love, and I find both foods comforting today, despite the hardships that led to us eating those foods more often than we would have liked to as kids.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Earlier this week when topping up my Hop card. I forgot to transfer money from my billing account to my spending.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: With better spending and investing habits 🫡

I would love to have more money for: Treating my whānau and friends.

Describe your financial low: In my first week in Auckland when I started my job, I started halfway through a pay cycle – meaning I would have to make one week’s pay stretch out across two. I remember crying on the phone to my boss as a 17-year-old, asking for a loan from the company to tide me over for the week.

I give money away to: Save the Children, Forest and Bird.