As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a full-time event coordinator explains where their money goes.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 52.
Ethnicity: New Zealand European.
Role: Event coordinator, full-time.
Salary/income/assets: I’m on $65,000 a year; my husband $110,000 a year. Assets: My paid-up 1998 MGF worth $7,000. Husband’s motorbike worth similar. Wine collection worth $10,000. Our combined KiwiSaver is approximately $200,000. Husband’s $300,000 endowment policy, pays out at 65.
Our house is mortgaged at $500,000; currently worth $800,000.
Biggest monthly expense? Insurances – nine of them! Two life, two medical, plus house, contents, car, motorbike and pet. Which one do you drop? We’ve shopped around for the best deals and managed to save around $480 a year, but a major source of dead money frustration!
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage is $2,100 a fortnight for me and my husband. My niece rents an upstairs bedroom, bathroom and office at $200 a week including power and internet.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Two low interest credit cards: one $25 a week, one $15 a week. We use them, clear them monthly, reuse them.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $200-250 including three nights of Bargain Box / Hello Fresh for two adults.
Eating out: Maybe every second month as it’s just so much more expensive now.
Takeaways: $25-35 a week on Takeout Fridays.
Workday lunches: Leftovers from dinner, sometimes there’s lunches at either workplaces, and I buy sushi once a week – $15-20.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Coffee machine at home and free plunger coffee at work, but I’ll buy one or two takeaways a week and maybe one out over the weekend with a friend.
Other food costs: Planning a small herbs, lettuce, citrus and tomatoes type garden in various leftover garden pots. Including compost, soil and plants, $150.
Savings: $3,000 saved but it’ll go soon on the motorbike’s WOF – which needs to get done so it can be SOLD! (Husband doesn’t use it enough to warrant the expense involved in keeping it.)
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Stable, always watchful. There’s always enough to clear the bills, and the extra expenses that regularly pop up, like pets’ dental work, WOFs, dentists, glasses, plumbing issue etc. Never enough for a proper holiday overseas, yet.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Chocolate. Hubby’s is wine.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $50-70 a month on a new pink gin. Hubby $25 craft beer rigger weekly.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: My car, $100 a month. Hubby’s work vehicle means we usually carpool – I’ll only take my car if our work schedules clash. Don’t use my car at weekends much either.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Due to a losing weight journey, $0 until I reach my goal. Last year, maybe $500?
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: New work shoes, $250.
My last pair of shoes cost: See above.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Regular periodontal and hairdresser visits, occasional haircare or skincare products = $2,800.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $320 on yoga passes and a $240 annual swim pass.
My last Friday night cost: $15 prawn rice paper rolls – my fave. And a $0 gin cocktail as ingredients were in-house.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Timeless Summer Christchurch tickets – $245. (The tour was postponed.)
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Saxenda (weight loss medication) – $500 a month, started two months ago.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Tradesmen – I’ll always get at least five tradie quotes before deciding. And whiteware – very happy to play retailers off against each other for the best deals.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Mostly good, planner, occasionally extravagant!
I grew up in a house where money was: Tight. After age nine, Mum was a solo parent. She started out as a cleaner, worked her way up, refurbished and landscaped the house over many years – much respect. But no extras, no holidays, sometimes not enough meat/protein – too many spaghetti pizzas!
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Within the last month. Hadn’t transferred over enough into the grocery account.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: In a better paying job. Mortgage cut in half so a decent chunk leftover after every pay fortnight instead of living month to month. Able to save a lot more and travel overseas.
I would love to have more money for: A proper holiday – minimum two weeks.
Describe your financial low: About eight years ago. Just moved to North Island, took a major hit on my wages and literally living pay to pay. Couldn’t go anywhere or do anything for a year.
I give money away to: Givealittles I read about, mostly. And kids’ charities.
