The cost of being: An administrator who is ‘uncontrollable around a bougie food truck'
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Gender: Lady-coded.
Age: 33.
Ethnicity: Pākehā.
Role: Administration.
Salary/income/assets: $62,196 pa.
My living location is: Rural.
Rent/mortgage per week: $480 rent, split between myself and my partner.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: $87.42 student loan, recently completely paid off a personal loan.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: Around $150 per week for two people according to my spreadsheets! I have a very well stocked pantry of staples.
Eating out: $25 per person, weekly buffet dinner at a local cafe, then maybe $30 per person beer and kai on a Saturday or Sunday.
Takeaways: Probably also around $25 per person, we do it a lot less since we moved way out of town!
Workday lunches: $6 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the $4 lunch at Otago Uni (the extra $2 is for a samosa for afternoon tea).
Cafe coffees/snacks: $20 max – only go to cafes fairly rarely and when I do, I'm getting a lil treat.
Savings: Try for between $200-300 a fortnight, but life finds a way.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Safe – for now.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: I am uncontrollable around a bougie food truck.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $20 (ya girl drinkin' top shelf).
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: My partner recently got a work vehicle so we're saving heeeaps. I put $10 on my Bee Card once a month.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Conservative estimate around $2000. Since getting a Real Job, I have decided to buy ethically made and well built clothing that will last a lifetime, either new or secondhand. Shit's expensive.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Bought an incredibly sick matching jacket and jeans (black, contrast stitching) for around $550 all up. But buying a co-ord is actually like buying three new outfits so….
My last pair of shoes cost: $200 Allbirds, all black. Needed some nondescript shoes that can handle wet weather.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: I bought a $15 eyebrow gel and powder set five years ago that I am still using. I probably spend $50 total on Cetaphil face wash and moisturiser, then my shampoo and conditioner are $30 each, but only once a year-ish. I am very lucky that I never got into wearing makeup and have decent skin.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $780 for gym membership, and I bought $60 Vans for lifting (flat shoes better) 2.5 years ago.
My last Friday night cost: $30, a mere two pints and a soda.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A pair of shorts that are borderline transparent.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don't regret) in the last 12 months was: Aforementioned jacket/pant co-ord.
One area where I'm a bit of a tightwad is: I'm not really in any area, sure I buy on sale/in bulk or whatever but I think quality is quality and generosity is its own reward.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Should think more long term.
I grew up in a house where money was: Scarce, mostly. I have spent most of my life on welfare, including the vast majority of my childhood. My mother never shielded us from the reality of the situation, only in the sense that I learned a lot of pragmatism and resilience from her. She told me often when I was young that you always pay your rent first – you can go to a food bank, and you can sit in darkness but you need to have a roof above all else.
I grew up in a very supportive community, we were all mostly in the same situation, everyone watched each other's kids, you ate at whichever house you happened to be in at that time. Money was loaned without an expectation of exact repayment or on any time scale. When I went to uni and met rich people I was really shocked at how miserly they are!
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Six months ago, at the dentist. It was the day before payday so my account was dry.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: I am going back to school next year to train as a teacher, so I see myself as being stable and secure, probably not wealthy. My partner has a good job getting better, but hopefully in five years that'll all be going right down the drain to kids and a mortgage :)
I would love to have more money for: The kind of clothing that they sell in shops where they kick you out if you ask what the price is.
Describe your financial low: At one point I was supporting myself, my mother and my brother on just one person's sickness benefit due to immigration stuff.
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