As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 50-year-old who volunteers at an op shop explains her approach to spending and saving.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 50.
Ethnicity: NZ European.
Role: Volunteer at an op shop, shared care of child, otherwise on sickness benefit.
Salary/income/assets: My car is my only asset. I get $489 from WINZ each week.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: Rent is $400 a week. I live alone one week and am joined by my child the next.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: I paid my student loan off a few years ago, when I was trying to go debt free. I succeeded and don’t have any debts at all.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: Approx $80 a week, sometimes I get a food box from a local church which allows me to buy my child the food they like. If money is short, I will go without food.
Eating out: That would be nice but just not possible. Very occasionally if I have it, I will get a $20 steak special on a Tuesday.
Takeaways: We did get a scoop of chips last week because I had forgotten to buy them from the supermarket.
Workday lunches: I take whatever I can from home to tide me over.
Cafe coffees/snacks: I don’t drink coffee luckily but sometimes I buy an energy bar if I am on the run and haven’t eaten.
Savings: I don’t have anything left over to put aside. I have paid into my KiwiSaver since I opened it two years ago, but the bare minimum.
I worry about money: Always.
Three words to describe my financial situation: What.The.Feck.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Pic’s peanut butter.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0. I rarely drink which is lucky as it’s so expensive.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $80 petrol for my car, exclusive mode of transport.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Definitely under $100. I work at an op shop and get essentials like socks and knickers at Kmart, leggings and PJs at The Warehouse. I have clothes I have had for 20 years still going strong.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A pair of Brooks supportive footwear. They were a gift which is lucky because they cost $280.
My last pair of shoes cost: See above.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: I don’t wear makeup since the pandemic. I sometimes buy a Freeman peel off mask, or argan oil. I do like to hide my greys so every six months I get my hair cut and dyed for $200. I would pay for waxing if I could afford it, but otherwise I shave with cheap razors. Annually I would say $500/$600.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Apart from the shoes, $0. I live in a beautiful part of the city and like to enjoy it.
My last Friday night cost: $0. I ate whatever was in the cupboard (Weetbix) with a scoop of peanut butter and watched TV.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A fake Chromecast. Marketplace is a weird place.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: My shoes. It’s amazing what good footwear can do!
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: I don’t like to pay full price!
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Roll up your sleeves dickhead.
I grew up in a house where money was: Tight. Mum was solo working two jobs all hours. Meals weren’t regular and it was fend for yourself with what’s available or hang out at someone else’s place. My friend’s house always had Coca-Cola and that seemed a big treat to me.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: I have an overdraft, so it doesn’t decline – sometimes I wish it would! It costs to use the overdraft.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: In a much better place.
Describe your financial low: Asking for food grant at WINZ. At that point I had sold all of my belongings, I was living in an empty room, I felt humiliated and depressed I couldn’t provide for my child.
I would love to have more money for: Security for me and my child.
I give money away to: If I have spare I will give some cash to the homeless. I came so close to it recently.