As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a small town office manager explains how she spends and saves.
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Gender: Female
Age: 33
Ethnicity: Pākehā
Role: Full time office manager for a small business, side hustler.
Income: $117k last financial year.
My living location is: Small town.
Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage + expenses = $800pw split equally with my partner.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Paying off a fridge at $27 per week, but no other debts beyond the mortgage.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: If I’m being good, $250 per week for two of us. We grow a lot of our own vegetables over the summer and get given/hunt meats often
Eating out: Around $150 a month, maybe less.
Takeaways: Maybe $80 a fortnight max for the two of us.
Workday lunches: Very rarely would I buy lunch out as I work from home.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Haven’t bought coffee out in ages.
Other food costs: We grew a lot of our food from seed, but the time cost is pretty high.
Savings: Saving for our wedding! I try to save about $500/week just in general, but I don’t know where my money goes sometimes! I’ve checked my card and I’m not being scammed so it’s just me 🙃.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Secure, lucky, guilty for spending.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Fresh limes, Casamigos & agave syrup...
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: We’ve cut back heaps but in the past my partner would spend $400 month on bougie spirits. So, some weeks for many weeks might be $0 but then others like $200.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $50 petrol, more if I need to travel out of town.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $2500.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Running vest at $250. I have pretty humble wardrobe these days, and lots of basic clothes.
My last pair of shoes cost: White Nike court shoes, think they were like $120.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Probably $2500. I’m fairly low maintenance – I don’t do my hair or wear makeup often – so my biggest outlay would be hair cuts, nails (infrequently), and sunscreen purchases.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: I dropped a bomb on trying to be a running girly, maybe like $700 on shoes, vest and clothing. I don’t have a gym membership though – we’ve got home gym which is pretty sweet.
My last Friday night cost: $85. I cooked for gluten free friend so needed to buy special ingredients.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A Skims dress. Still in my cupboard, brand new with tags.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Impulse week away to Melbourne for a foodie trip and to see friends with my partner.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Everything to an extent. I try and be considered in my purchasing.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Money comes money goes.
I grew up in a house where money was: A constant topic of discussion, clutched on to, a scarcity mentality.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Probably 2009 or something while out clubbing and I had to transfer money out of savings via phone banking. I’ve never been down to truly $0.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: In an OK position, with enough to cover my needs and some fun.
I would love to have more money for: To give and to help and to go on holidays.
Describe your financial low: When I was the “stingy” friend, quick to take, uneasy with giving.
I give money away to: My neighbour’s kids always hustle me for fundraisers. But I also like to be able to take my friends or family out when they come to visit.