As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a government agency advisor advises how and where they spend their money.
Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.
Gender: Male.
Age: 56.
Ethnicity: Pākehā with a smidgen of Ngāi Tahu.
Role: Senior advisor for a central government agency.
Salary/income/assets: Salary of $132,000, net worth of $1.4m including mortgage-free house and superannuation.
My living location is: Urban.
Rent/mortgage per week: $0.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: $0.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: Usually a bit over $400 per week for the four of us (me, wife, teenage daughter, adult son).
Eating out: Not often – take my wife out once every few months, and family out for a cafe lunch. So about $200 for spousal escape and $100sh for cafe.
Takeaways: Once a week fish and chips for the fam, about $40-$45.
Workday lunches: This is my major indulgence along with coffee – loathe lugging a left-over lunch, so invariably buy a good roll or pie for $10 to $12.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Other major indulgence, though try to find “10 trip discount” purveyors of the evil bean – so about $20 per week.
Other food costs: Have tried growing veges – FAIL. Do have bountiful plum and feijoa trees, so share the fruits with neighbours.
Savings: Apart from KiwiSaver at 4%, try to save about $500 per fortnight (no mortgage helps a lot). Goal at this time is to get solar panels and an inverter; last achievement was refitting double-glazing (which really is great and highly recommended!).
I worry about money: Rarely.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Secure, comfortable, yet anxious for the future.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Whittaker’s dark chocolate, when I can be bothered to buy it.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Out with cronies about once a fortnight, so a couple of pints on a Friday – say $20-$30 for craft ales.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Train fares are rising again, weekly cost of about $46 for a full 10 trips.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Very simple and staid dresser – good shirts and socks are essentials, not to mention bamboo Jockeys. Maybe $300?
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Rodd & Gunn blue shirt (on special), $80.
My last pair of shoes cost: Pair of black Hush Puppies dress shoes, $200.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: As a balding pale stale male, essentially a lost cause for any heteronormative expectations (especially the daft fad for stubble). Buzz cut every few months ($25) and good shaving kit – say $250 per year.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Recent convert to the gym (Bro! Bro! Brah!), found a good one in easy walking distance and only $150 for 3 months. Have so far avoided buying lycra, but did drop $40 for decent shorts and another $100 for gym shoes.
My last Friday night cost: $30 for two pints, $45 for fish and chips for family. SAD!
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: While freezing at an airshow I stumbled into a second-hand stall and bought a vintage A-2 flight jacket. So warm, but have never worn it since.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: I’m a model collector (legacy of a 1980s upbringing with Airfix models), and found a diecast 1/72 RNZAF A-4K Skyhawk in original delivery livery. Now has pride of place in my display case… wife seems to accept my hobby with good grace, given the cliched alternatives for middle-aged males.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Having no interest in or need for fashion my clothing expenditure is commensurately low.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Frugal, boring, eccentric, generous, solvent.
I grew up in a house where money was: Careful upbringing, weren’t poor or denied anything but the late 1980s recession hit the household and definitely affected my attitude to avoid debt as much as possible.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Never.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Dipping my toe into semi-retirement, if the fates permit.
I would love to have more money for: Hard to travel as have caring responsibilities (a severely disabled son) so actively limit my imagination in that area. Not a petrolhead in any way so a new car has no great appeal. I used to have an adventurous and dangerous sporting activity before children, but too old and wise to do that again.
Describe your financial low: About eight years ago I nearly came undone at my job due to bullying at a previous employer, coupled with mortgage stress and childcare. Escaped the place just in time, thankfully.
I give money away to: Frequent giver to proper street charity appeals (I avoid chuggers on principle).
