The cost of being: A pensioner who’s planning on ‘spending it all before I go’

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.

Age: 71.

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.