The cost of being: A project manager who believes life’s too short to eat bad food

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a sole trader project manager explains their approach to spending.

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Gender: Male.

Age: 56.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Sole trader project manager and board member; parent to three children – youngest in their last year of school.

Salary/income/assets: Variable – just left the same job I’ve had for over 20 years! Haven’t had a full year of trading to know. Wife’s salary is $170k.

My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: My wife and I pay $850 per week. 

Student loan or other debt payments per week: None.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $450 – we buy lots of veges and quality foods.

Eating out: Too often. We are foodies and prioritise our spending on good wine and food. Life’s too short. We are privileged.

Takeaways: Prefer dining out.

Workday lunches: We usually take leftovers from our yummy dinners.

Cafe coffees/snacks: Own a very good coffee machine so have a subscription for our coffee.

Savings: We save for occasions like trips and holidays. Prioritising spending our retirement on now, rather than later. While we can we want the kids to experience things.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Comfortable, variable, privileged.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Good cuts of meat.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Too much.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: We now own an EV so not so high. My wife and I try to use PT when we can so around $40.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $1,000.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Just bought my wife some new sleepwear for a present and it was $185 for two items.

My last pair of shoes cost: $350 – I only buy Dr Martens.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $2,000. I model for life drawing so get sugaring done every five to six weeks.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: I have a home gym so zero.

My last Friday night cost: Our weekly food budget. Yeah, not a good move but what a great night out with my partner and friends.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Two skull pot plant planters I bought when recovering from surgery and on morphine. My wife now takes away the credit card in these circumstances.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Male and female Crown Lynn swan vases for our anniversary. We collect Crown Lynn and these are hard to find.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: I’m not.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Impulsive, generous, here-and-now, well-managed, planner.

I grew up in a house where money was: Tight.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Last week. New card, wrong pin. Doh.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: If I knew what was happening in five years I’d be buying Lotto tickets. Secure would be a hope.

I would love to have more money for: Donating large sums of money to feeding the children around the world affected by arseholes in charge of governments that fight each other like kids in a sandpit.

Describe your financial low: Breaking into a quarry as a young actor to steal pallets to burn in the fireplace during winter. It was so cold and our flat had no heating.

I give money away to: Good causes, supporting independent journalism, my children, new projects.