By The Cost of Being
Copyright thespinoff
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a Justice of the Peace explains their approach to spending.
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Gender: Female.
Ethnicity: Pākehā.
Role: Volunteer (Justice of the Peace).
Salary/income/assets: Enough with some leftover.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: $300 for an investment property currently losing money on Airbnb. Own home is paid off.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: None.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: Between $150 and $200 for two adults, two cats and three chickens.
Eating out: Special occasions only, so not much.
Takeaways: Hardly ever.
Workday lunches: N/A
Cafe coffees/snacks: $6 occasionally for a Maccas milkshake. $3 for SuperGold card hot chocolate.
Other food costs: $10 per week for chocolate to avoid losing weight because of a medical condition.
Savings: Not any more, now that the other half has retired. Until the end of 2024 we saved my pension.
I worry about money: Rarely.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Well-planned, frugal, comfortable.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Chocolate, but I have a good excuse!
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $0. I can make a bottle of wine last a month, and a bottle of vodka last a year.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Petrol: $50 a month for my car; $100 a month for my husband’s. Buses are free.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $10. In an op shop for something I didn’t need but couldn’t resist.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Oops. $150 for a Jedi cloak I bought when I took my grandson to Disneyland last November.
My last pair of shoes cost: Can’t remember when I last bought shoes.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: N/A.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $0. I run, walk, hop, skip, stretch, yoga and dance to my own tune.
My last Friday night cost: $1, a cup of tea and biscuits at our local RSA.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Nothing. Je ne regrette rien.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: The Jedi cloak.
One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: I go budget on lots of little things so I can enjoy the big things, like travel.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Controlled, comfortable, interested in investment.
I grew up in a house where money was: Well-managed.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Never.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Poorer, but still well-travelled.
I would love to have more money for: N/A. I’m spending it all before I go.
Describe your financial low: 1975, when I was a full-time student with a pre-school child and my first husband gave up work to follow his dream of being a real estate agent. There was no income for six months, and then no husband. At least the benefit was liveable back then.
I give money away to: Multiple charities intermittently, as well as three regular monthly donations: KidsCan, ReliefAid, and The Neurological Foundation.