As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an early-20s government advisor explains where their money goes.

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Gender: Female.

Age: Early 20s.

Ethnicity: Pākehā/European.

Role: Government advisor.

Salary/income/assets: $82,000 a year, which is such a privileged position to be in at this age and in the current environment.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $290 for a room in a six-person flat. Would love to find a cheaper place with fewer people.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Paying $135 a week towards what’s currently a $60,000 student loan. Praying that inflation and no interest will see it paid off sooner than the eight and a half years that it’s looking like it’ll take.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: I budget $120 but always go over.

Eating out: $50 a month for a date or dinner with friends.

Takeaways: Rarely – I love eating out (/not cooking) but more for the social aspect, so if I’m on my own and not up for cooking I’ll pop over to the supermarket for a pizza or frozen dumplings instead.

Workday lunches: I usually live off of leftovers (having the same meal for dinner/lunch for 2-3 days…) but always get something the day after payday when my pantry is empty, but bank account is full. So $15 a fortnight?

Cafe coffees/snacks: $50 a fortnight for the new Raglan Roast prepaid card. It doesn’t have the same je ne sais quoi as the old $20 row in the book but it’s growing on me.

Savings: I try to save $780 every fortnight, split between Sharesies, saving for gender-affirming surgery and travel, with about $6,300 set aside so far. Surgery is looking like it will be around $40,000, so that’s where most of it is going for the next few years.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Lucky, comfortable, focused.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Peanut Slabs. I can’t go through the self-checkout without one.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0 – newly sober so a lot lower than it used to be.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Snapper tells me $15, but it’s been a dreary few weeks. Usually I’ll walk instead.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: I’ve been slowly replacing my whole wardrobe, so I must’ve spent close to $4,000…

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $369 for a Ruby jacket that I cherish dearly.

My last pair of shoes cost: $125 for second-hand cherry-red Docs!

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Between makeup, skincare, hairdressers, and an at-home IPL device I’d say $1,000.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $1,570 for Les Mills.

My last Friday night cost: $0! But only because it was someone else’s shout.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Masculine-presenting clothes that I bought just before transitioning…

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A road trip around the South Island! We did it on a shoestring budget so every cent we spent was worthwhile.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Travel! I’ll go, but I’ll find a way to spend as little as possible while I’m there. Why spend $1,000 on a weekend getaway when you can stretch it out to two weeks (and spend it wistfully watching those living the high life).

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Focused on what I value.

I grew up in a house where money was: Tight but spent with intention. There was always enough for what we needed, what we wanted most, and small treats, but things were never indulgent.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Last week. I rarely keep money in my checking account and recently changed my PIN so it happens embarrassingly often.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Able to start saving towards other things (once surgery’s been paid for). Maybe on the long road to homeownership or moving overseas. Hopefully the end will be in sight for my student loan as well.

I would love to have more money for: Travel. Those flashy trips do look nice.

Describe your financial low: Back in first-year uni when I would have to scrape together money to pay for each student accommodation instalment.

I give money away to: Givealittles (for other people’s gender-affirming surgeries) and donating to a Christmas gift drive.