The cost of being: A ‘recluse’ in response to the economy

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a case manager explains where they spend their money.

Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.

Gender: Male.

Age: 30.

Ethnicity: Indian.

Role: Case manager (single, no dependents, only child I am responsible for is myself).

Salary/income/assets: $90,000 annual / $1,250 weekly.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $300 (flatting, my portion of rent and utilities).

Student loan or other debt payments per week: $0 (started 2026 debt free!)

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $130, My Food Bag (three meals x two portions).

Eating out: $40 (food is absolutely an area where I could save money, but it’s the one line I allow myself to splurge).

Takeaways: $40 (I can’t help but feel the pull of KFC after a long week).

Workday lunches: $40 (I aim to save at least $40 each week from eating out / takeaways / workday lunches, so the full $120 isn’t always used).

Cafe coffees/snacks: $0 (hate the taste of coffee, and just can’t bring myself to spend money on a tea bag and hot water from a cafe).

Savings: $300 weekly goes into a no touch savings account (a combination of being in a position to just build savings in general for the first time ever, and eventually buying a car). $100 goes into a discretionary account (this is separate from any weekly/monthly/frequent expenses, and anything taken from this pot is weighted against getting a tattoo instead). Plus KiwiSaver (4%, which will soon increase to 6% once I hit a savings goal in that no touch account).

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Not Sh*tting Bricks! (Aka living without financial anxiety for the first time in my life.)

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Uber Eats (which I rationalise by the money saved without the running costs of a vehicle).

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0 (but to be fair, $30 weekly does go towards a cannabis prescription).

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $30 on the Hop card (I am fortunate to live both close to town/work, and on a great bus/train route, which is extremely rare in Auckland). I ditched my car last year as it was barely getting used, but still put away $25 weekly for insurance (to put towards an annual premium when I eventually get my next vehicle).

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Other than the expensive item below, around $1,000? I have everything I need for work/home, so it’s really just replacing things as they wear out at this stage.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A $500 Barbour wax jacket (perfect for that bipolar Auckland weather).

My last pair of shoes cost: $50, Vans.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $40 every few months on the same specific roll-on deodorant from Farmers, plus $70 every few months on a haircut (because monthly trims in this economy?!)… Let’s round it up to $500 a year.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $12 weekly gym membership, discounted through work (also I should really cancel this as it barely gets used), and $300 every couple of years on running shoes… Let’s round it up to $800 a year.

My last Friday night cost: $20 for a big night in, sponsored by BK, pirated movies and falling asleep on the couch.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: $250 on a pair of loafers that were far too big and I sat on for too long to return for a refund (so the voucher was re-gifted to a sibling as an Xmas present).

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: $250 on a comic book/omnibus (shoutout to Auckland Libraries and The Pirate Bay for supporting my comics obsession as a child, but I can now finally afford to buy them myself and contribute directly to the creators).

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Being a recluse is a valid response to this economy.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Ponder first, then panic buy.

I grew up in a house where money was: Something we knew that we didn’t have much of (raised by a single mother who just made things work, the legend that she is).

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Can’t remember the last time, fortunately (although, constantly worrying = constantly prepared).

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Not scared to look at my account balance (maybe even excited?).

I would love to have more money for: I am more than content with my current lifestyle, so I don’t really need more. Any extra funds would go towards giving mum the retirement she deserves.

Describe your financial low: Technically not mine, but my father declared bankruptcy, forfeited the family house and walked out on us when I was seven. It can only really go up from there, right?

I give money away to: Buskers, especially any children (used to do it as a kid and my social anxiety hated it, so this is my way of paying it forward).