As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a retail worker shares what they’re saving for.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 56
Ethnicity: Pākehā
Role: Checkout Supervisor
Salary/income/assets: Wages around $50k gross last year, less this year as have had to reduce hours due to long Covid. I own about 90% of my home. No other assets, car is 26 years old and looks it.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage, house insurance, rates cost $300 per week.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Student loan paying approximately $35-50 from wages per week depending on hours worked.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: I budget $180 per week for food, entertainment, doctors, petrol, bus, clothes, everything after mortgage and electricity. I live alone. Some weeks I do little entertainment and buy more food.
Eating out: Sometimes I go to the Bowling Club and spend $10. This would be around five times a year.
Takeaways: No.
Workday lunches: Always from home. We only get 30 minutes for lunch break so I like to spend as much of that time sitting and eating as I stand all the time in my job.
Cafe coffees/snacks: Maybe once a month, a coffee and muffin. Not a regular thing.
Other food costs: Vegetable garden. I stick to the easy veges – potatoes, silver beet, parsley and broad beans.
Savings: I have saved a lot in the past but not currently as I’ve had to reduce my work hours due to long Covid earlier this year.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Lucky to live in a home I almost own. Grew up in privation so in comparison I feel rich now.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: A packet of chocolate biscuits.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $4 for a single can of beer.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $10 petrol, $6 car rego/maintenance/insurance/wofs, $10 bus fares.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: All my clothes except socks and underwear are $2 bag sale from the op shop. I make my own pyjamas from old duvet covers. Probably $50 maximum.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: I just bought a pair of boots off Trade Me. The boots were $10 plus postage of $13. This was probably the most expensive item this year. They haven’t arrived yet so I hope they fit.
My last pair of shoes cost: See above.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: In the last six months I have been getting my hair cut at the Polytechnic hairdressing school for $25. Prior to that I have been cutting my own hair for most of my adult life. I don’t wear make up. I estimate my annual cost this year at $200.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: I have arthritis in my right hip and recently have been fortunate to be able to attend an exercise program from the DHB. I enjoy walking and gardening and building this is all largely free. My work is also very labour intensive so I have no spending on exercise.
My last Friday night cost: I work Saturday at 8am so I don’t go out on Friday night. I stay in, sort my lunches for work and watch free TV or a free DVD from the library.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: I paid for a piano to be moved to my house. It has not got the use I thought it would.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: I got 10 solar panels on my roof. There’s no battery but it’s working out good for living alone.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Every area.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Tightwad and proud.
I grew up in a house where money was: I grew up in the 70s and 80s in 20 years of deprivation and domestic violence. Money was very tight. My teeth were permanently affected by the lack of milk in our household. I was beaten a lot by my father. I grew up terrified and ashamed. I was mentally ill after that for another two decades. I was mostly well by my mid-40s but prior to that I was largely too unwell to work.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Last week I forgot about the monthly internet payment coming out. But I sorted it the next day when I realised what had happened.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: I actually don’t know, possibly much the same as now. Last year I outlived my mother so I’m open to ideas. I’m thinking about the retirement situation and whether I should downsize my house. I’m also starting to make art again which is my retirement activity and maybe eventually an income source. I’m really happy with my life now and Id like that to continue.
I would love to have more money for:All the things, pay off the mortgage, build a clear lite cover over my deck, fix the garage, finish the backyard, buy an electric car, travel overseas. But I generally don’t think about those things. Some dental work would be good also.
Describe your financial low: “Which one? The 20 years growing up in domestic violence and poverty? We received no pocket money as children, when I asked my mother if I could do jobs for pocket money she said that she did not get paid for the same jobs. I started working and saving at 17 in my last year of high school.
Or the years from ages 24-27 attending tertiary study while living with my mother who was on the Domestic Purposes Benefit for my younger sister? For student allowance I was counted as living at home so I received $70 per week instead of the $150 that everyone else got. The three of us lived on $15k and $5k was rent.
Or the 14 years from age 27-41 largely too mentally unwell to work, living on a benefit of $150-$200 per week and paying $25 a week for psychotherapy?
I’ve done my time.
I give money away to: No one. When I’m asked to donate I share some of my story and they back away.
