As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a lawyer explains where their money goes and why it’s time to tighten the purse strings.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 27.

Ethnicity: Chinese.

Role: Lawyer.

Salary/income/assets: $105,000. No further assets.

My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $300 rent, house shared with three others.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Student loan is about $40,000? Automatic payments go out from my salary every pay. No other debt payments.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: about $150 per shop? To be honest I don’t go to the supermarket THAT often. I sometimes forget or am too busy (the weekend goes so fast). I try to go at least every two weeks.

Eating out: Maybe once a week? Usually my partner and I go somewhere a bit indulgent so cost could be anywhere between $50-80 each.

Takeaways: This past week has been really bad – I was home sick the entire week and really feeling quite sorry for myself so I ordered Uber Eats every night. On an average week, probably twice a week (once during the week, usually with the flatmates – and usually once during the weekend) so around $60 a week.

Workday lunches: I promised myself this was going to be the year I finally committed to cooking (hasn’t gone well, see above) so ideally $0. In reality it’s more like $70 a week.

Cafe coffees/snacks: $30? Maybe twice a week I enjoy a coffee and a sweet treat – usually around $10-15 together. Honestly, this is more to escape the office than to enjoy food.

Savings: $20,000 in KiwiSaver, $10,000 in savings account. I also have a travel account ($0) and a gifts-for-my-partner account ($0) which were recently depleted thanks to a two-week holiday in Australia and his birthday.

I don’t really know what I’m saving for, which is probably part of the problem. I want to move overseas at some point this year which will need some serious saving, want to travel around Southeast Asia, Central Asia, East Asia (all the Asias really) – especially spend some more time in China (the motherland). I also want to do a hot girl Euro summer but who knows when I will have the savings to do that. But I’m optimistic! This year I will cut my big backtivities (i.e. cook at home) and tighten the purse strings a bit.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Secure, anxious, cautiously hopeful?

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Whenever my partner calls me and says “I’m hungry”. Even if I have food at home I could eat. Sorry to the financial overlords!!!!

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Maybe $15 on a bottle of wine every so often? I don’t drink very much, and usually work drinks are free (for me).

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Around $60? It’s a mixture of bus and … Uber (when I wake up late).

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Maybe around $2000-3000? I usually do big Uniqlo hauls whenever I’m in Australia. I rarely ever buy anything full price (unless I’m buying stuff from Kmart).

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: My first pair of glasses, which I wear every day, and which took a painstaking amount of time to find. Of course they were on sale, and after discount were around $700? Cheers to Southern Cross for footing the majority of that!!

My last pair of shoes cost: $100. Assembly Label brown ballet flats.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $300? I rarely cut my hair, do my own nails, so most of my expenditure goes towards skincare and makeup. I don’t wear makeup to work (can’t be arsed) so whatever I have usually lasts a long time.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: I just joined Les Mills – $31.50 a week (eek!!!).

My last Friday night cost: $0 – I came home immediately after work and spent the evening catching up on The Traitors.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Probably this dress from Designer Wardrobe – I had an inkling it would be too big for me but I was so afraid of the crushing body dysmorphia that would come if I got the size down and it ended up being too small.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: My glasses. Being able to see is a wonderful thing.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Honestly, nowhere. It’s why I never have enough money.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Frivolous, silly, generous, unsettled, uncalculated.

I grew up in a house where money was: Controlled. My parents came to New Zealand as immigrants and were penniless for a long time, working very hard to put any sort of base together. We always had enough, but anything extra had to be accompanied with pleading and begging. In my teens, they became more relaxed. My mum always says it’s a shame their ability to save money didn’t seem to get passed onto me and my sister.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Can’t remember but probably not that long ago.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: With more saved, hopefully! Ideally, well on the way to owning a home.

I would love to have more money for: Travel! How is it that I see so many people travelling in Japan at any given time?

Describe your financial low: Definitely during uni, where I was only working a part time job during the summer. No study money coming in.

I give money away to: I have a monthly donation to the NZ Cancer Society and I usually donate around $20-50 to a Givealittle page whenever I see one.