21-04-2025
The cost of being: A full-time student, part-time nanny flatting in Wellington
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 20-year-old second-year university student explains her approach to spending and saving.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 20.
Ethnicity: NZ European.
Role: I'm a full-time second year student at Vic uni, also working part time as a nanny.
Salary/income/assets: I earn around $320 per week from work and also receive the student allowance of $200ish per week.
My living location is: Suburban.
Rent/mortgage per week: I live in a five-bed flat, $1,200 per week – I'm in the smallest room so I pay $204.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Not currently paying anything off my student loan or other loans .
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: We all cook our own meals due to dietary requirements, but I'm lucky enough to eat at work four nights a week. Food is the thing I splurge on most as I value healthy, often organic food. It costs a bit, but the markets are great for fresh produce. It can range from $80-$100 per week including toiletries and any extras.
Eating out: Around $25, I get takeaways once a week and the odd dinner out with friends or my boyfriend. 1154 is one of our favourites – a great pasta place on Cuba Street. We like the $12 weeknight meals.
Takeaways: Included in eating out.
Workday lunches: I buy lunch at uni a few days a week, $30.
Cafe coffees/snacks: I do love a good coffee or matcha but have been making them at home recently. On a splurge week I'll spend around $30… sounds a lot when you write it down! I love a vanilla shot which is usually an extra 60 to 90 cents.
Other food costs: Iron supplements, which is around $40 a month.
Savings: I have a $1,000 emergency fund and recently had a $1,000 car fund which just got spent on my yearly insurance and mechanic. I have around $10,000 in Kiwisaver and investments on Sharesies and Invest Now.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: Grateful, blessed, stressed.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Big on the drinks! Supreme coffee grinds for my at-home machine, matcha powder or Pukka tea.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $6 – usually buy some drinks or a wine once a month.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: I drive into uni as I head straight to pick the kids up after my lectures, I spend around $70 on petrol per week.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $800.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Bought a 21st dress recently for $120 I got on sale from Ownley (down from $200) and also a quilted jacket for the Welly winters which was around $160.
My last pair of shoes cost: New Balance 480s, which were around $160.
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Found this amazing skincare made on Great Barrier Island called Aotea which hits the wallet, and I buy a couple makeup items per year, but apart from that I get at-home haircuts.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: I love to surf so mostly the free outdoor gym, I pay a $7 weekly membership to City Fitness (that I don't use, but locked in for a year). I love the climbing gym which I spend around $20-$60 per week on depending how much I go.
My last Friday night cost: $55, paid for a gig for a friend and me.
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Gym membership.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don't regret) in the last 12 months was: $120 skincare.
One area where I'm a bit of a tightwad is: Clothes and shoes I put off buying.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Saver, quality spender, investor.
I grew up in a house where money was: Tight. Just my mum and me, who struggled to keep up with the bills. I always had what I needed but the stress of going into our family debt seeped in.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Taking my two cats to the vet!
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: I would love to save up a deposit for a tiny house by then, have an emergency fund of $5,000 and continue my investments. Having a small travel fund started in preparation for a world trip is also a goal.
Describe your financial low: Ran out of leave, off work for two weeks sick with a rent increase coming up was stressful. I've found having an emergency fund a lifesaver, if you can even contribute a few dollars a week – when you need it, it can take a load off.
I would love to have more money for: More than two-ply toilet paper.
I give money away to: I'm grateful to be in a position to sponsor two beautiful kids through Tearfund, I also donate to Hagar International – an organisation working with women survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.
