The cost of being: A lawyer turned retail assistant making minimum wage

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a non-practising lawyer turned retail assistant explains how they spend their money.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 27.

Ethnicity: Sri Lankan.

Role: Non-practising lawyer, currently a retail assistant selling clothes.

Salary/income/assets: Minimum wage, baby! Woo! Plus an investment fund, Sharesies account and KiwiSaver on the side.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $218 for my rent and flat expenses. I share the house with two others at the moment.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Making a dent in the ol’ student loan with a $27 a week payment.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: Well, we share the basics but my weekly budget for myself plus any flat food costs is $60 (same as our PM it seems).

Eating out: Uhhhhhhh it’s a hobby… I’d say but like $30-40? I promise it’s actually not that bad in the grand scheme of things, I like a banging meal.

Takeaways: Included in eating out.

Workday lunches: Always leftovers or “overnight Weetbix cheesecake” if I’m short on time or actually polished my dinner and the rest of the portions off the night before.

Cafe coffees/snacks: I don’t really snack and I tried the whole coffee thing in year 12 and it never stuck! Only drink water really.

Other food costs: Nothing unless my sweet teeth demand a sugary sacrifice (teeth because it’s all of them).

Savings: Here’s where things get interesting. I used to have $25,000 in savings but I blew it on anything I wanted or my family needed after I quit being a lawyer. I still have a separate investment fund of around $10,000 and a Sharesies account with about $1,500 in it for funsies. I have a good safety net for rent and expenses if life really switched to hard mode.

Currently while being on minimum wage I save $20 a week and an extra $5 each into a holiday account and an investment savings account. It’s a far cry from what I used to save but I’m a habitual saver, makes me feel safe. I don’t think KiwiSaver counts but there’s $30,000 or so in there I think.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three (five) words to describe my financial situation: Poor, but don’t feel it (or look it xo).

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Ice and cream. I thank God every day for its creation.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0, high on life my friends.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Around $35? I drive across town to work and my car is more fuel efficient than I thought!

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: A saving grace is that because of my job, I don’t have to spend money on clothes and shoes. I would hate to think how much everything I have got over the past year would have cost – if I had to estimate, I would easily say $5,000 or more possibly.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: That I bought with real money? $150 on a blouse from a UK label. That I did not buy but have? A $2,500 trench coat from an Italian label.

My last pair of shoes cost: A pair of beaut Mary Janes made by a well-known shoemaker in Ōtepoti with a NZ design studio – $329.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: I’m a low-cost gal, Cetaphil and K beauty brands work a treat and keep me looking 20 when I’m closer to 30. I got asked how my NCEA exams were going last year by my Uber driver haha!

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: I walk as much as I am physically able and I go to a weekly community circuit class that asks for koha if you participate.

My last Friday night cost: $0 – had work the next day so I kept it low key with me myself and I.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A 1L bottle of shampoo… already had one of those, needed conditioner!

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Putting money towards a road trip around the North Island.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: As a habitual saver, everything to do with letting go of or spending money irks me. Even for things I enjoy.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Frugal, saver… oooh sweet treat!

I grew up in a house where money was: Tight. Had two parents but dropped down to one when the old man took off. With a few siblings and one income, things were tight but our mum never let us feel like we were going without. She’s a superstar.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: I don’t think this has happened to me in my adult life.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Hopefully better, back on the saddle job wise and rebuilding my savings to where I think they should be. Iffy on home ownership but we’ll see what the future holds.

I would love to have more money for: Helping my family, buying my mum a house and being able to give more to causes.

Describe your financial low: Probably now! Never earned this little or had this little in my savings since I was an early teen but hey, I’m doing alright.

I give money away to: Givealittle pages, food charities, buskers, roadside charity collectors. Would love to give more in the future.