The cost of being: A beneficiary who wishes she could afford red meat

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 55-year-old on the Jobseeker benefit explains how she gets by.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 55.

Ethnicity: New Zealander/Pākehā.

Role: Currently on Jobseeker with medical certificate every six months for long-term health conditions, including a lifetime condition.

Salary/income/assets: $373/week (Jobseeker, including Winter Energy Payment). Own my own home.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: Rates, insurance around $100/weekly. One person.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Loans from friends and relatives. Nothing owing to MSD, paid in full.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: Try to keep it to $50/week. I also have four cats, it costs more to keep them than me lol.

Eating out: My adult children look after me and treat me to meals out. It’s not in my budget. Once a week, I have fish and chips with family (most weeks); they also treat me.

Takeaways: With family, once a week most weeks (unless unwell). They treat me. Otherwise no, not in my budget.

Workday lunches: N/A

Cafe coffees/snacks: Not unless my kids treat me. Not in my budget.

Savings: Not as much as I would like. Trying to put some money aside currently for Christmas, and my old car will need her annual service, WOF and rego soon.

I worry about money: Always.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Managing just about.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Ice cream.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Most weeks, zero.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: I try and walk most places. If I need to put fuel in my car, I try to limit it to $30-$40 and make it last. If I can’t afford to put fuel in my car, I either walk, don’t visit family, or try and cut back my grocery bill.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Hard to say, I do love to op shop, but try to make it more of a treat. Low though. No sleepwear/underwear for a few years now, but I have enough. I donate often to local op shops. There are so many people worse off than me and in need.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Probably my Levi’s from an op shop, and my Sheepz ugg boots (lined with lamb’s wool). $9 for both. Love op shops.

My last pair of shoes cost: Puma sneakers, free/gifted. In good condition and great for walking.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: I buy a box dye, it costs between $8 and $12, I try to get it on special. Fringe trim a couple of times a year at $10/time. A full haircut once a year, usually just before Christmas, around $45. I keep my hair simple, fancy haircuts and upkeep are not in my budget.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Zero. I walk. Park farther away if I take the car. Use the stairs rather than the lift.

My last Friday night cost: $4. Two small salads as a treat. Smoked chicken pastas and balsamic roast veges. Followed by some ice cream from the freezer. And a movie with the heat pump going and the cats snuggled up. This is my takeaway.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Every now and then, you get a dud or something that breaks. I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A planter stand, wooden and weather-proof, which I use as a ladder for the cats outdoors so they can climb their cat tower. Got it from The Warehouse, $30 instead of $69 (would not have paid $69). Kitties love it; they’re happy, I’m happy 😃

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Everywhere except birthdays and Christmas. It’s a sign of the times, everyone is trimming the fat. Just changed my mobile plan from $13 to $8 a month, for example.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Responsible bill payer; some treats.

I grew up in a house where money was: Not tight but not wealthy either. Never went without anything and there was a lot of love.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Unsure, years ago now though. Banking apps are great, transfer on the go if needed.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Hmmm. I hope to be working part-time. Things are only going to get harder and harder.

I would love to have more money for: Being able to head off potential issues, eg car repairs, rises in power, rates, insurance. Even cat food is now out-the-gate expensive. My choice of food would be more lean red meat and salmon fillets. At the moment it’s more pies and tinned fish unfortunately. I literally can’t afford to buy lean red meat, my gastro recommended it and I can see why, but I need to eat vegetables and fruit as well.

Describe your financial low: Probably having my last crap old car break down for good and not being able to get to work. Then breaking a finger at work and my cat getting sick and having to find $$$ for the vet. Having cancer treatment and IBD has wrecked my self-employment also unfortunately, but I am grateful to be alive. I really struggled after radiotherapy, I went down to half the hours as a self-employed cleaner, survived Covid with the wage subsidy, paid the tax back correctly, then bang! Hello IBD, nine days in ED and the end of my business.

I give money away to: Barnados, every month. As I was fortunate to grow up with all I needed, and times are so hard out there. The Cancer Society, once a year. Sometimes other charities or Givealittle. Anything with animals in need. I always wish I could give more, but just don’t have the budget.