As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a graduate policy advisor explains where they spend and how they save.

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Gender: Female

Age: 24

Ethnicity: South East Asian

Role: Graduate policy advisor. While studying at university I was a tutor, research assistant, had two internships and worked retail. I feel very lucky to have landed a role right out of graduation.

Salary/income/assets: Roughly $63,200 annually which comes to $2,433 per fortnight (gross) and $1,653 per fortnight (after tax). Though I did just get a sexy sexy pay rise to $69,800 so watch this space!

My living location is: Urban

Rent/mortgage per week: $540 per week for a one-bedroom apartment which I live in on my own. I pay $290 a week and my (very generous) parents pay $250 a week to help me cover rent after a disastrous breakup with my ex leaving me as the sole tenant on the lease. I will probably have to go back to living with flatmates after my lease is up as there is no way I can afford to live on my own without my parents’ help!

Student loan or other debt payments per week: $180.60 fortnightly repayment on my student loan. I maxed out my living costs during my five years of study which ended up being more than the total cost of tuition. Once I get my pay rise I’m going to reevaluate my budget and make voluntary contributions so my debt is paid off faster.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: I have a fortnightly budget of $180 a week on groceries but I often don’t hit this target as I’m always on the lookout for deals or sale items. A habit I’ve inherited from my parents is having a well-stocked freezer and pantry, so my grocery hauls are usually just miscellaneous top ups. I also regularly go to the farmers’ market on Sundays to get cheap fruit and veges!

Eating out: This really depends on how booked out my social calendar is but I allocate roughly $80 a fortnight on eating out with friends. We love a First Table deal!

Takeaways: I allocate $60 a fortnight on DoorDash/UberEats which equals about 1-2 takeaways a week. This has gone down significantly as my ex and I have an agreement where he pays for any takeout I want whenever I ask him (don’t ask…)

Workday lunches: I’m usually very strict about making my own brekkies and lunches and bringing them to work! However, if I have leftover money from my allocated social eating out and takeaway budget, I’ll buy myself a cheeky $12 regular chicken katsu and rice meal.

Cafe coffees/snacks: I bring my own iced coffees and matcha from home or make myself a free coffee in the office. Otherwise, a great perk about being a grad is that seniors will happily shout me a coffee when we go out!

Savings: $4,300 in an emergency fund (which helps cover GP visits and dental), $10,300 in a term deposit, $27,000 in a managed investment fund, and $20,100 in KiwiSaver. So all together, roughly $61,700 in savings. I hope to one day buy a house but, in this economy, and the current state of the world I feel like I should put it towards travelling instead as I never did an exchange semester or an OE before starting full-time work.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Securing future self.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Love a matcha from Pour & Twist! They have such innovative flavours and is an OG matcha spot before it became an internet trend.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Usually $0. I don’t drink unless I’m out for dinner with friends, then its about $15-$20 for a cocktail (usually an espresso martini).

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: I’ve budgeted $50 a week on public transport which is just to catch the bus to and from work.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: I went really crazy at the start of the year before I really got my budget locked in. I think a conservative estimate is around $2,500. My friends call me a Facebook marketplace WARRIOR because I always find the coolest pieces on there or in the thrifts.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A pair of knee-high Isabella Anselmi leather boots which I got on sale! (RRP was $460.) I had those particular boots on my wish list and saved up to buy them.

My last pair of shoes cost: See above.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Conservative estimate of $800. I’ll wait until I visit my parents and they’ll pay for my haircut at a local Filipino hairdresser (supporting our kababayan always!). I get my skincare and makeup from either Chemist Warehouse or Hikoco but they last me a long time and I’ll need to repurchase maybe once a year.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $54 a week for a Les Mills membership. Last year I bought a pair of Adidas Adizero Evo SLs for a race that I never ran because I ended up having surgery two weeks before :(

My last Friday night cost: $0. My last Friday night was spent at home watching HBO eating takeout my ex bought me.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A $79 champagne charm from Kate Spade in Auckland. It was my first big girl work trip and I was feeling bougie and the store attendant was also Filipino so I felt guilty browsing without buying something. I regretted it as soon as I got home. It doesn’t go with any of my other jewellery. And it was $79. For a single charm. Of a champagne bottle.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: I spent $400 on an Audio-Technica AT-LP60X turntable with speakers I found on Facebook marketplace (told you I’m a marketplace warrior). That exact model has been on my wish list for ages and I got it for $200 cheaper than if I had purchased it online. Score!

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Vacations/travelling. I decided not to go on an exchange semester during university because at the time I thought it was too expensive and it would have drained all my savings. Looking back now, I wish I had just said “fuck it” and gone!

Five words to describe my financial personality would be… Taurus abundance mindset (but saving).

I grew up in a house where money was: Tight but never felt. When my parents and I first immigrated here we relied on clothing donations from our neighbours and our local church. I remember my mum and my friends’ mums taking us kids out op-shopping and hunting down garage sales on the weekends trying to find the best deals. My parents both worked full-time jobs which sometimes meant working late hours and leaving me home alone. At the time, I deeply resented them for working so much as they would often miss my swim meets, football games, speech and debate competitions, and piano recitals. But as an adult, I feel so grateful for their sacrifices as it meant I had the opportunities and resources to do those extracurriculars. Now, they are in a much more secure financial position and have the availability to attend my little brother’s extracurriculars. And they bought a house!!!

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: At the dentist after I had to get a filling done which cost $600. MSD had declined my student dental treatment application and I had to pay using money from my savings.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Not living off a poor grad salary!! Hopefully having travelled and experienced more of the world with a very full and stylish closet.

I would love to have more money for: My grandparents. They live in the USA and have given their disability benefits and small paycheques to my cousins in the Philippines as allowances. My cousins don’t realise that our grandparents have virtually no income to support themselves throughout their retirement and instead use their allowances for useless Shopee orders.

Describe your financial low: About March-April this year when I had to pay for my $600 dental treatment upfront and also shouted my entire birthday dinner which was around $360. (In my culture, the birthday celebrant usually picks up the bill. And one of my friends had messaged me saying they were thinking of missing my dinner because they couldn’t afford it, and I didn’t want them to feel guilty so I just said I would pay for everyone’s share.) I don’t regret the generosity but maybe I could have gone about it a different way…

I give money away to: Wellington Hospitals Foundation.