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SocietyDecember 12, 2023

The cost of being: A retired renter in the Coromandel

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As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, Rodney from our documentary Last Home Renters discusses the costs of being on a pension without a secure living space.

Gender: Male

Age: 76

Ethnicity: Māori (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Maniapoto)

Job: Retired with some voluntary work and a pension.

My living location is: Rural Coromandel.

Rent/mortgage per week: $250. I am the sole occupant of a bedsit.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $278. I shop at the local shop which is more expensive.

Eating out: $0

Takeaways: $0

Workday lunches

Cafe coffees/snacks: $20.

Savings: I can’t save on the pension.

I worry about money: Always.

Three words to describe my financial situation would be: Lucky, broke, anxious.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Meat.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $25

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $20 for petrol. I don’t drive much because of petrol costs.

Lifestyle costs

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $300.

My most expensive piece of clothing in the past year was: A jacket from the op-shop, $35.

My last pair of shoes cost: $25.

My annual grooming/beauty expenditure (include hair cuts): $80.

My exercise expenditure in a year is: $1300.00, golf fees.

My last Friday night cost: $20.

My most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Nothing.

My most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Golf course fees, this is daily exercise for me and also social.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad: I use my electric golf cart for local errands.

Five words to describe my financial personality: Resourceful, responsible, frugal.

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

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Never.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: My accommodation is temporary and I am not sure where I will live.

I’d love to have more money for: Security in my living situation and freedom to travel. 

My biggest financial low was: I was declared bankrupt in 2015 aftergetting into debt with tax bills and a bad decision going guarantor on a loan for an ex-partner that wasn’t paid off. 

I give money away to: Nobody, I don’t have extra money to give away, my family helps me out sometimes.

Want to contribute? Send us an email briefly describing your situation at costofbeing@thespinoff.co.nz

Read the previous Cost of Beings here.

Keep going!