The cost of being: A 30-year-old who prioritises cosiness over cheapness

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a sales worker explains where they spend and how they save.

Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.

Gender: Female

Age: 30

Ethnicity: Pākehā

Role: Sales support for a small New Zealand business.

Salary/income/assets: $68,000 salary, nearly $40,000 in KiwiSaver, nearly $20,000 in savings – probably need to do something with that, but I don't know anything about investing etc.

My living location is: Urban

Rent/mortgage per week: My partner and I pay $250 a week into a shared account which covers our very cheap rent and bills and occasionally there's leftovers for a cheap meal out somewhere.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Very grateful to have been able to pay off my student loan about two years ago which was about $38,000 at its highest. I think about it all the time. I got it down to $3,000 with repayments and then my parents were able to give me the rest to get it cleared.

Groceries: My partner and I split the groceries pretty equally – we take turns buying the big supermarket items - meat, big laundry powder etc. I'd estimate $150 between the two of us for a normal week.

Eating out: Maybe once a fortnight, usually a cheap-ish ramen or similar. Max $30 each.

Takeaways: Hardly ever.

Workday lunches: I'm pretty strict with cooking enough for leftovers, but on the odd occasion I forget or am too busy, I'll get a pie from the bakery near work – $6.50.

Cafe coffees/snacks: My office provides coffee, milk and a machine, so I try to avoid buying coffee. Max once a week, usually on the weekend.

Savings: I transfer $250 a week to my savings account, but some of it always comes out again. I also transfer $10 a week to a separate account specifically for health costs – GP visits, yearly dental checkup.

I worry about money: Sometimes

Five words to describe my financial situation: Safe, stable, lucky, never extravagant.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $45

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Just under $50 on public transport for my commute, sometimes I use it on the weekends so I'm very grateful for AT's $50 weekly cap.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $1000, probably most of that is sleepwear, knitwear, underwear. Being cosy is the priority, I'd rather wait a few months and buy something good quality than buy something cheap that won't last.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A $300 RRP merino top from an NZ brand – but I got it at wholesale through a deal at my work.

My last pair of shoes cost: $280 leather flats, I'm hoping they'll last me a good decade.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Maybe $750 a year including two haircuts at a fancyish place.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $1400 a year on the gym, and I bought some $170 running shoes this year.

My last Friday night cost: $45 – three pints of semi-crafty beer.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: I don't know if I have one – I tend to really agonise over any substantial spends for ages before going ahead.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: Maybe not a purchase but I have had a few weekends away with friends. Accommodation is usually a couple hundred bucks each but I never regret the quality time.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Takeaways/workday lunch. Leftovers is always the number one option.

I grew up in a house where money was: Tight – we definitely were not poor but money was not spent extravagantly.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Last week – I misjudged my account balance the day before payday.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Hopefully earning more. Ideally i'd like to own a house one day but right now a mortgage sounds like hell.

I would love to have more money for: Giving to those less fortunate.

Describe your financial low: I was unemployed for about four months when I was at uni. I avoided doing anything or seeing any friends as I couldn't afford to buy a coffee. Became very isolated and depressed, yikes!

I give money away to: MSF, Cancer Society, Lifewise, the Green Party, as well as Givealittles and Patreons for families and children in Gaza.