As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a disabled parent, writer and artist describes how they spend and why dealing with government agencies feels harder than ever.
Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.
Gender: Female.
Age: 50.
Ethnicity: Pākehā.
Role: Disabled parent, writer and artist.
Salary/income/assets: Supported living allowance.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: $100 – I live in Kāinga Ora accommodation. I am grateful for the subsidised rent. Less grateful that they are trying to charge me $400 for a blocked drain which was apparently malicious damage* – this is particularly surprising as all the other houses in this new development are having the same problem. The current policy seems to be to charge tenants for any maintenance and see if you argue back. It’s obviously coming from a systemic change: my individual tenancy manager is very helpful.
* 28/11/25 update: Kāinga Ora waived the fee soon after these answers were submitted
Student loan or other debt payments per week: MSD debt. I owe around $6,000, mostly from the costs of homelessness and setting up house again. Paying it off at $35 per week. This has just been increased by $300 because I applied for help with ACC copayments on treatment for a torn ligament. This kind of medical help should properly be a grant rather than loan, but I had to agree to it as I urgently need the treatment and MSD had been refusing to help for four weeks. Like Kāinga Ora, they are clearly instructed now to wring every penny out of beneficiaries that they can.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $80 for myself, and three teenagers at weekend/holidays. I only get a single person’s benefit as they spend weekdays with their father so it is a struggle. I used to apply for food parcels but city organisations are now under so much pressure that it is often a full day’s work trying to get through on the phone. When you get through the interrogation is increasingly unsympathetic and dismissive. It is sufficiently stressful and tiring that as a disabled person I simply cannot do it now.
Eating out: $25 per month. There are cheap deals in city centre at the moment. I take a teenager and pay for us both – it’s good one-on-one time. In summer we get an ice cream or picnic instead.
Takeaways: $30 a month, usually at Costco – pizza and hot dogs as a treat.
Workday lunches: N/a.
Cafe coffees/snacks: $20 per month. I belong to two book groups and buy a drink when we meet.
Other food costs: I grow my own vegetables where I can. Kāinga Ora neighbours and I share produce, and when we can get food parcels or food from pataka kai, we share it around. No one goes hungry in our group of houses, we make dinners for each other and share treats we have cooked.
Savings: Haha. No.
I worry about money: Always.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Careful, anxious, poor.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Coffee beans, and fresh milk so that I can froth it. I can’t always manage the latter, but I appreciate it when I do.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: I was granted a car by a lottery disability fund. It is large and adapted (hoist) so it costs a lot to insure and run. I pay $30 a week for insurance, WOF, servicing etc, and another $70 on petrol. This is partly ferrying teens around and the rest is getting to the gym.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: This is higher than average, because I had to replace most clothes after they went mouldy in storage when I was houseless, shortly after I’d lost a bunch of clothing during the Auckland floods. I think it was $400 this year. Usually I would spend around $150. Those who claim they never spend money on clothes have never had the misfortune of having to replace everything at once. I am very grateful to Dress For Success who have provided me with both smart and casual clothing at no cost.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A new winter raincoat. $80.
My last pair of shoes cost: Waterproof walking trainers. $40 ( on clearance).
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $0.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Gym membership – $35 per week. I have particular medical and access needs which means this is the only suitable place for me: particularly due to conditions that can be exacerbated by exercise and require swift medical attention. This is a green prescription from my GP and MSD are supposed to cover it and petrol costs to get there under disability allowance but so far are dragging their heels by refusing to give reasons for decline. It’s currently sitting with a manager for review and I expect we will be heading for tribunal soon. I am petrified as I had to sign a contract for a year’s membership to prove the costs to MSD, and simply do not know how I will meet them if this is not provided.
My last Friday night cost: $0. I went to a religious service and we brought potluck for afterwards.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: I accidentally bought the wrong coffee from Costco and had to return it, does that count?
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A tent, for the coming summer.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: I wish there was an area where I wasn’t.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: I try to provide enough.
I grew up in a house where money was: Available.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: I think in August, but because I hadn’t transferred money into the right account.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: It depends on the government. Beneficiary disabled life will never be easy, but at the moment there is a governmental attitude to deny everything, always, and see how hard you fight.
I would love to have more money for: Gifts.
Describe your financial low: That is now.
I give money away to: Not feasible at present time.
