As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a sex worker lives on a sex budget and saves for future gender-affirming healthcare.
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Gender: Transgender man
Age: 21
Ethnicity: Pākehā
Role: Sex worker and fulltime student
Salary/income/assets: $380 a week from Student Allowance, right now around $300 a fortnight from sex work but can be up to $600
My living location is: Urban.
Rent/mortgage per week: I pay $242.50 weekly in a flat of three people, our total rent is $725 weekly
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Think my student loan (which I thankfully don’t have to start paying off any time soon!) is sitting at just over $30,000!
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $70
Eating out: $0 #brokestudent
Takeaways:$0 #brokestudent!!!
Workday lunches:$16 if I buy lunch on campus a couple times (bless the wharekai and the student plates for $8!)
Cafe coffees/snacks: $10
Savings: I have $5,000 in a savings account I’m not allowed to touch, I try to put a hundred dollars in each month if I have anything left over (the key word is try). I’m saving to get top surgery one day, which can cost up to $30,000 in New Zealand if you go private as the public waitlist is full. I’m hoping to go to Thailand instead which would cost around $10,000 to $15,000 (including flights) which is lot cheaper.
I worry about money: Always.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Frugal, stable, savings-focused.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Genuinely not sure I can name one! Not a big snacker and I plan my groceries very carefully.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $10 for a vodka lemonade at a drag show xx
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $40 for public transport fares.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Maybe $500? Excluding new pyjamas and underwear, I have an extensively curated wardrobe which is virtually all thrifted so barely need to buy new clothes unless something doesn’t fit me anymore or is unwearable.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A 70s three-piece suit I had my eye on for months before I bought it. It’s navy pinstripe and fits me perfectly and is the first real menswear suit I own, which is a massive step in my gender expression and not a purchase I thought lightly about. It was $200 from my friend’s vintage store and definitely an investment!
My last pair of shoes cost: $180 for a pair of Pleaser heels for drag shows and sex work, so quite a necessary business expense! They’re black ankle boots with a six-inch platform heel.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: I do all my own makeup and cut my own hair which saves me so much money. My skincare routine is exclusively Benzac and moisturiser for my acne and dry skin. I buy pretty cheap makeup and use it until it absolutely runs out, so annual cost for makeup and skincare is around $500.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $300 for my pilates class membership and dance classes.
My last Friday night cost: Last Friday I stayed home and baked a banana cake with whipped cream and a dark chocolate ganache. The ingredients for that (apart from what was already in my pantry) cost me $20.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: The only thing I can think of is a loose makeup powder that was a shade too dark for me because my shade wasn’t in stock and I thought the next one up would be OK (it wasn’t). Only a waste of $14 though so not too bad.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Tickets to see Lady Gaga in Australia! Luckily I got decently cheap flights and have family I can stay with.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Coffee! I buy the cheapest instant coffee possible, caffeine is caffeine. I appreciate a nice coffee if I get out at a cafe but cannot be fucking bothered doing anything extra at home. All I want is something to wake me up slightly in the morning, my value brand coffee will do that just fine.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Partyboy socialite on a BUDGET!!!!
I grew up in a house where money was: Tight by necessity by being a large family on one income. My parents were extremely practical about budgets and savings and struck a good balance between providing us with opportunities like extracurricular activities while being realistic. We never went on overseas holidays or had a lot of fancy toys and clothes like some of my friends, but had a good roof over our heads and food on the table every night which is more than some of my other friends had. My parents definitely set my brothers and I up well for thinking about our finances in very practical terms and keeping us focused on the necessities over luxuries.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Back in my first year of university (2022) at the liquor store. Bit embarrassing.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Would love to be done with my studies (and starting to pay off my loan!) and in a stable job, as well as living in a more long-term rental. Hopefully close to my savings goal for my top surgery.
I would love to have more money for: Treating my friends- I have some friends in my life who understand they work fulltime jobs and I do not and they treat me to lunch or coffee when we hang out. I would love to be able to do the same to them one day.
Describe your financial low: The summer before last I was struggling to find work and also looking for a new flat that I had to pay bond for and buy all-new furniture for. One of the most financially and emotionally stressful times in my life, not looking forward to when I have to move and look for summer work again!
I give money away to: Givealittles of those in my communities, especially transgender healthcare.
