The cost of being: A lawyer and solo mum paying off the mortgage as fast as possible

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a lawyer and mum of two explains where their money goes.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 41.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Lawyer.

Salary/income/assets: Salary of $200,000 plus bonus. Child support of $600 per fortnight as I have full time care of my two awesome kids. My house is worth about $1.2m with a mortgage of $480,000.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage repayments of $1,235 per week. It’s just me, my two kids and our dog living here.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: I increased my home loan to buy my car. It’s included in my mortgage repayments (only 1% interest because I managed to get a green loan for a plug in hybrid). No other debt (thankfully).

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $200-ish per week. We love food!

Eating out: $100-ish per week I would say. We love eating well and eating out.

Takeaways: None, really. We’ll either eat at home or eat out.

Workday lunches: None most weeks as I pack a lunch. I do buy sushi every now and then.

Cafe coffees/snacks: No coffee but I have a coffee machine at home and I have a monthly subscription for beans ($26). Cafe snacks in the weekend are covered by the $100 per week for eating out.

Other food costs: I head to the farmers market and local bakery in the weekends. Maybe $50 per week.

Savings: I’m paying down my mortgage as much as possible at the moment so only have short term savings of $200 per week. I tend to dip into that for holidays. I put a little into both my kids’ savings accounts and their KiwiSaver each fortnight.

I worry about money: Rarely.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Secure.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Sourdough bread – I buy it every week from our local bakery and we go through heaps of it!

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Maybe $50 per week? I don’t like big nights out but I’ll have a glass of wine or gin most nights and I’ll have a drink or two with a meal when I eat out.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: It’s pretty much all part of my power bill now. I charge my car every second night which lasts me two days of school drops offs and driving into work. Plus road user charges which are a bit of a pain to remember. My power bill has gone up but I’m still spending way less per month than when I had a full petrol car.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $2000-ish. Maybe more, I spend a lot on my work clothes.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $750 on a silk dress.

My last pair of shoes cost: $200 when I replaced my running shoes. I don’t love shoes; I have four pairs (running, work, sneaker and sandal) that I wear until they need replacing.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $300 per month covers it all. I only go to the hairdresser three times a year and the rest goes on beauty treatments (botox once every three months) and the odd replacement makeup item.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Nothing other than replacing my running shoes when they’re completely worn out.

My last Friday night cost: $77 for the ingredients for a dish I took to dinner at a friend’s place.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A rug that I brought for my lounge. I got a cheap one from Kmart and it’s already really worn. It bugs me a bit but I can’t be bothered looking for a new one.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Flights for an overseas trip with my kids later in the year. I can’t wait.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Gosh, most beauty products. I don’t spend much on hair or skin products because they’ll just sit unused in a drawer. I don’t get my nails done because they’ll just end up chipped. I tell myself that long hair and regrowth is part of my “look” so I can push out my hair appointments. Botox is the exception – it’s easy and works.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Fairly conservative but have fun.

I grew up in a house where money was: Pretty tight but I never realised it. I had the most generous parents in the world.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: 12 years ago at a cafe for a small purchase. It was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I started paying more attention to my finances after that.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: With a smaller mortgage!

I would love to have more money for: Holidays with my family and friends.

Describe your financial low: Having no job when my marriage broke up. It was scary and overwhelming. I’m lucky to have a very supportive family.

I give money away to: This month I’ve donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation and a Givealittle page for a local family. I have a regular payment to the Sallies.