As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a senior manager explains where their money goes.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 45.
Ethnicity: Kiwi and Pasifika.
Role: Full time senior manager, with hubby and two kids (preschooler and primary).
Salary/income/assets: Earn $200,000. Own our home and investment property. $200,000 in KiwiSaver. $500,000 life insurance.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: $750 per week, shared with hubby. We are paying about $350 a fortnight more then the minimum payment, to pay it off faster and reduce the interest.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Paid off my $65,000 student loan. Pay the credit card in full every month. Only debt is mortgages. Rental mortgage is $2,000 per fortnight, rent doesn’t cover it, so we top up $1,000 every fortnight. Didn’t realise we were buying at the top of the market! Repayments are interest only, but saving so we can make a lump sum payment when our five year term ends.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $450 for two adults and two kids.
Eating out: Rare. We are homebodies.
Takeaways: Up to $400 on UberEats. Some weeks only $100, others closer to $300. It’s not cheap but we have stressful lives and it makes our evenings easier. I cook for the kids and we eat takeout.
Workday lunches: Try not to eat out, will take leftovers or make a sandwich.
Cafe coffees/snacks: $20 for coffee. Necessity to function.
Savings: $1,000 per fortnight. But we dip into it for big bills/rates etc.
I worry about money: Rarely.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Comfortable, fortunate, secure.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Extra virgin olive oil from New Zealand – around $30 a bottle.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Zero. Our partying days are behind us!
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $80 petrol I think. Hubby fills the cars up so not really sure. Have a fuel efficient SUV.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $400 – mostly for work clothes and I buy my fave brands from Trade Me. Saves me a fortune and not contributing to fast fashion, better for the planet.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $50 for a pair of jeans. I am the queen of deals and bargains.
My last pair of shoes cost: $40 pair of Lightfeet jandals. Like walking in a cloud, great arch support. Live in them year round.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $3,500. Sheesh that is a sobering number, haven’t added it up before. But my job requires me to be well groomed and I can afford it. Beautician is $200 six weekly ($1,600 pa). Hairdresser is $215 six weekly ($1,690 pa). $200 for makeup.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Nil. Walking at beaches/parks etc.
My last Friday night cost: Nothing. Chilled at home.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: $25 for a jacket that I bought on Trade Me which looks horrible on me. What was I thinking?!
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: $100 for a body massage.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Everything. I hate paying full price and always want a deal.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Relaxed, careful, flexible, risk-averse, clinical.
I grew up in a house where money was: Often really tight and not discussed. As a kid I worked and gave my parents my paycheck (cultural norm) so I didn’t build up proper savings. Had poor financial habits until I met my hubby, who taught me how to be a good steward of it.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Many years ago.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Better off. Having paid off more mortgage debt and earning more from having progressed up the corporate ladder.
I would love to have more money for: Debt repayment. I can’t wait to be mortgage free! It’s a few years away.
Describe your financial low: Defaulted on a debt many years ago. Not intentional, mail went to an old address. Stuffed up my credit for seven years. Never want to go through that again.
I give money away to: Approximately $200 a year to Givealittles.
