The cost of being: A hard-working op-shopper with a hefty mortgage

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 40-something government worker with her own business shares her approach to spending and saving.

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Gender: Female

Age: 48

Ethnicity: Australian Kiwi

Role: Government research worker + own home-based business.

Salary/income/assets: $124,000

My living location is: Rural

Rent/mortgage per week: $2,720 pw on mortgage – paid by two people but four adults and one child live here.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Car loan about $25K and debt owed to hubby’s parents for $80K business loan.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $300-$400 per week for five people

Eating out: $0

Takeaways: $80

Workday lunches: $20

Cafe coffees/snacks: $0

Other food costs: $0

Savings: Try to save a couple of hundred a fortnight for an eventual holiday.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Rocky, tenuous, fragile.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Jelly snakes.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $10 or less

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $20 petrol and $60 on train.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $300 or less. I can’t justify new clothes. I only buy underwear new, everything else is op-shopped. Child gets some new clothes.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Denim jacket – bought online for $US50.

My last pair of shoes cost: $4 ballet flats from Kmart.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Supermarket shampoo and conditioner, as well as moisturiser, haircuts at Just Cuts every eight weeks, so probably $500 or less.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $0 – bought a home elliptical from the op shop a few years ago.

My last Friday night cost: lol … $0, never out in Friday nights.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Books that I could have gotten at the library.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Scentsy electric oil burner.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Branded clothes – just don’t see the point on one expensive item. I want variety!

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Impulsive, unconscious, splurge, entertainment, broke.

I grew up in a house where money was: Scarce but never short – one income for six people but never felt I was missing out.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Last year at the supermarket, it was very embarrassing.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: If I stay employed, hopefully mortgage will be a lot lower and debts paid off. But not feeling hopeful of that (government employee).

I would love to have more money for: Holidays, time off. I’ve worked seven days a week for the last 11 years. I’d love to just be able to take a holiday away once a year!

Describe your financial low: I’ve been employed for two months after a six-month unemployment. There were no jobs to even apply for and I had to live off some savings, but that didn’t last long. So lived off my credit card.

I give money away to: Charities – cancer and cat charities mostly. Also support my in-laws with additional costs.