The cost of being: A junior lawyer saving up to move overseas

The Spinoff

4 hours ago

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a junior lawyer details where their money goes.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 24.
Ethnicity: Pākehā.
Role: Junior lawyer.
Salary/income/assets: $66,000 per year, plus a non-accessible managed investment fund.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: $230 per week (plus utilities) in a shared flat.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: $78,000 remaining on my student loan.
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: $100, though this super varies depending on what I'm meal prepping that week.
Eating out: $50 – probably one 'date night'/night out per week and/or a brunch with friends.
Takeaways: $0 – I don't let myself have UberEats on my phone.
Workday lunches: $12 – I treat myself to one bought lunch per week max. The rest of the time I have leftovers from the night before.
Cafe coffees/snacks: $15 per week on a cheeky coffee.
Other food costs: Probably spend an equivalent of $10 per week on protein powders, supplements etc.
Savings: $2,500 currently, aiming for $10,000 by the end of the year so I can move overseas.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Up and down.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Protein Greek yoghurt!!! The GOAT of my diet.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $5-10 – not a big drinker and tend to bring gifted wine to BYOs, parties etc.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: I walk to and from work (approximately 30 minutes each way) but on a rainy day I will bus. So maybe $5 per week on public transport, and $10 per week towards my petrol.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: This is pretty embarrassing, but we are probably looking at the $1-2k range. I LOVE clothes (especially shoes).
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: New Mi Piaci work shoes, around $250?
My last pair of shoes cost: Around $200 for running shoes (On Running Cloudmonsters).
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $1000 – haircuts, makeup and skincare is expensive omg!
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $14 per week on gym membership plus maybe $600 on general exercise wear (including the shoes)?
My last Friday night cost: $0, went to the gym and had an early night with a much needed sleep in. Oh – I did treat myself to a mango. So $2.50.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A pair of jeans on sale that immediately stretched and now are too big. Should have looked at the material first!
Most indulgent purchase (that I don't regret) in the last 12 months was: My Kowtow black dress ($95 on sale plus used Kowtow voucher I had earned from previous purchases). Absolute staple in the work wardrobe.
One area where I'm a bit of a tightwad is: Alcohol. I love to party etc, but I would rather buy nice food over nice alcohol.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Frivolous with fashion, but fun.
I grew up in a house where money was: Not really spoken about. I was lucky to never want for anything, but now look back and realise just how hard my parents were working behind the scenes to make that happen. Very grateful.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: A couple of days ago, had to switch money from my backup savings to buy my brother's birthday present.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Hopefully overseas, earning way more money so I can travel more.
I would love to have more money for: Travel. If I could I would be travelling every weekend!
Describe your financial low: About a year ago I ran out of money completely after moving flats (and paying double bond), and had to ask my brother for a $30 loan to get me to the end of the week. But out of that now, thank goodness.
I give money away to: I volunteer regularly, so I try to give my time more than my money. When I have more money, I will be able to donate regularly too.