The cost of being: A government worker ‘righting what was once a sinking ship’

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a government worker explains how they’re turning their finances around.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 40.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Government.

Salary/income/assets: $143,000 salary. $150,000 in KiwiSaver. $60,000 in shares. $150,000 saved for a house.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $750 a week – split with my partner.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: None! Paid off $40,000 in student loans in two years. I looked up from a hole I was in and realised nobody else would pay it for me. Doing that made me feel like anything was possible (even though people around me said it was a stupid move given it was interest-free). No regrets. I feel free now.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: Budget $200 a week for two people. Some weeks it’s cheaper and we use markets for the veges. Lately I wander around the supermarket going “how much??” The prices are eye-watering.

Eating out: Guilty as charged.

Takeaways: Hardly ever – we’d rather go out!

Workday lunches: Leftovers leftovers leftovers. Lunch on a Friday once a fortnight is $15.

Cafe coffees/snacks: Paydays only. One treat coffee.

Other food costs: Wish I had a veggie garden. A girl can dream.

Savings: KiwiSaver at 6%, plus 15% of my salary goes to an investment fund outside KiwiSaver. Another $900 per pay is saved for the next big purchase (a house! A holiday! A new car!).

I worry about money: Always.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Control-freak. Recovering. Fortunate.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Cheese. Good quality cheese.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: My weakness! $50-100 depending on if I go out and shout a round.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $35 a week for the bus.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $500. I op shop, and I buy one good pair of running shoes and one pair of Levi’s a year.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $150 for jacket I don’t even like for a conference where I have to look like a grown-up. It was 50% off so that’s a bonus.

My last pair of shoes cost: $80. Scored a lovely pair of leather boots from a designer op shop.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $100 every two months to get my hair cut. Why does it cost so much when it’s basically a men’s cut? Who knows. But I love to support my awesome hairdresser.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $250-300 for aforementioned running shoes. Cheap gym through work costs about $20 a month.

My last Friday night cost: $150? I had a bunch of friends over and cooked them dinner.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: None. Filling in this form makes me realise I’m a tightwad when I spend and I never regret the things I do like to spend on – like friends and going out with them for a pint.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: $80 for a game that will bring me hours and hours of entertainment. Worth it.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Clothes. I hate having to buy smart work clothes when I’d rather buy running gear!

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Meticulous after years of messiness.

I grew up in a house where money was: Valued. Every dollar was carefully spent. No room for extravagances. Times were tight sometimes but my parents were disciplined and frugal. Spending money went on holiday and experiences – never things.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: When we were students and the flat account never had enough money for laundry powder.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Able to relax a little bit after righting what was once a sinking ship. It took getting to my 30s to start getting on track and building my income and savings. Now I’m trying to catch up.

I would love to have more money for: Being generous to others.

Describe your financial low: Getting out of a bad relationship in my late 20s and realising I had a negative net worth. Everyone around me had a house and kids and I felt like I was still living like a student, moving from one flat to the next. Looking back, my life was very precarious then.

I give money away to: Any queer fundraising thing that I come across. I love Sweat With Pride!! I’ll give to other charities too, but I admit that my wallet opens wider for my own community.