As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a single mother of three, working and studying, explains how she gets by.
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Gender: Female
Age: 40
Ethnicity: NZ Pacific/NZ Euro
Role: Full-time work, public health. Single mum of three.
Salary/income/assets: Salary $70k, homeowner no mortgage $1.25m home in Auckland.
My living location is: Suburban
Rent/mortgage per week: No mortgage. Just me paying all my bills.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Student loan only $$ owing which I’m paying off currently. Don’t have any other debt, don’t own a credit card, everything I buy is cash from money I save.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $200
Eating out: $100
Takeaways: $50
Workday lunches: $20 (buy lunch once a week)
Cafe coffees/snacks: $12 (two coffees a week)
Other food costs: $0
Savings: Yes, $200-$400 depending on what I’m saving for and how soon I need the cash.
I worry about money: Always.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Very lucky to have a mortgage-free home. I had purchased a small outdated unit 10 years ago very cheap and renovated most of it myself to save $$, with kids keeping me company in the evenings and weekends while doing it up. Rented it out then sold it during lockdown 2020 anticipating interest rate hikes and banks moving to P&I. I sold for record amount for the area at auction which I wasn’t expecting! I used the money to pay off my remaining mortgage I had on my lived-in home. That security has also given me confidence to go to university for the first time as an adult learner.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Bacon and eggs.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0, I barely drink (maybe twice a year if that).
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $60 petrol (mostly work from home). Train or ferry to city for uni and my kids use bus to get to/from school so $30 max per week for all of us.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $600-$800. I mostly buy thrift store clothing and avoid online shopping as much as possible. Stock up on underwear and PJs from The Warehouse when they have sales. Shoes we buy from Dressmart Onehunga at reduced prices. I only buy when we need something rather than buy for the sake of it.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Can’t remember how much exactly but school uniforms are horrendously expensive, so would have been that!
My last pair of shoes cost: $45 Vans on clearance from Rebel Sport.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $29 p/w on Caci Clinic membership, probably $100 p/month on face cleansers, moisturisers and makeup. I get my hair cut once a year and that costs me $90. I don’t colour my hair or use treatments.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $0, don’t use gyms
My last Friday night cost: $0 – I stayed home, ate leftovers and slept.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Gym membership that I couldn’t wait to get rid of.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Flights to Bali.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Everywhere. I will skimp on everything where possible. Also it’s situational.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Planner, short and long-term goals always since I was five and started taking an interest in how to make and grow money.
I grew up in a house where money was: Very tight! Dad was a labourer and mum a community social worker. They worked very hard and got paid very little. We had very modest diets of Weetbix for breakfast, sandwich and apple for lunch and dinner was never anything special, maybe sausage and potato mash or if lucky a chicken to share between seven of us with some frozen vegetables or from our grandparents’ garden. There were nights I cried myself to sleep because I was so hungry. I made a promise that if I had kids they would never know what that felt like.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Yesterday.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Definitely with a pay rise. I’ve just got a new job in a higher position so that’s already on the horizon. I hope to make some good long-term investments to cover me for retirement and help my kids to buy their first home together to start them off.
I would love to have more money for: To afford a hobby or do more paid activities with the kids. We generally go to free events currently unless it’s a special occasion.
Describe your financial low: Last year was my all-time low. I had been working casually since starting uni in 2021. I had unexpected bills hit that took the last of my savings. We were living on $600 approx (student allowance and Working for Families). I had gone to my uni for food voucher assistance, which took all my pride in asking for help, I went to Pak’nSave with my $150 voucher but the shopping came up to $155 and I didn’t even have $5 to pay the extra so the checkout girl said I’d have to put all the shopping back. I was so embarrassed, the manager came over and said something to the girl and then swiped a card and that’s when I realised she paid for our excess with her personal card! I almost cried and she said don’t worry about it! I cried when I got home, that weekend I applied for 40 jobs, interviewed for four and started working full-time within a month while continuing full-time study.
I give money away to: I have an auto payment set up for my kids’ uniforms, sports costs and anything that may come up like them wanting to go to the mall or movies with their friends. We donate to guide dogs.