7 days ago
The cost of being: A uni student with a weakness for Designer Wardrobe and Depop
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a student and part time retail assistant reveals the things they do and don't spend money on.
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Gender: Female.
Age: 21.
Ethnicity: Pākehā.
Role: Student and casual retail sales assistant.
Salary/income/assets: I rely on the student loan from February to November which is $316 a week, and I receive $100 per week from my parents to help with costs. If shifts are available at work I pick them up to help with money.
My living location is: Urban.
Rent/mortgage per week: My rent is $195 per week. I live with five other girls in our North Dunedin flat. We all pay an equal amount of rent.
Student loan or other debt payments per week: Currently I am not paying any of my student loan back but it is at $51,000 🫠🫠 Looking forward to paying that off!
Typical weekly food costs
Groceries: I spend around $65 per week on groceries. However, my flatmate and I do our meals and shopping together so we can cut down on the cost of food. We also only do a shop every two weeks.
Eating out: $0!!! It's so sad but I can't afford to eat out because cozzie livs is insane so have to go with what we bought in our weekly shop.
Takeaways: $0!! I don't get takeaways when I am at uni normally to try and save money, but it truly hurts my heart because I love takeaways.
Workday lunches: $10 – one day a week I treat myself to a cheap lunch on campus like fried rice or sushi which keeps me sane to not just eat things I have prepared!
Cafe coffees/snacks: $25 – this all goes towards Coke Zeroes and iced lattes which are truly my weaknesses in life and bring me the most joy in the world!
Savings: I have $12k in my savings from having jobs since I was 16. I worked throughout Year 12 and Year 13, and full time over university holidays. At university I am a casual so work occasionally. I save over university breaks, but not really throughout the year, but attempt to save $25 a week.
I actually don't really know what I am saving for. I want to buy a car at some stage, travel overseas eventually, and pay off my student loan, so I suppose those are the main things I am saving for.
I worry about money: Sometimes.
Three words to describe my financial situation: P recarious, unstable, delicate.
My biggest edible indulgence would be: Smoked salmon!!! I am obsessed with it and it's my weakness. I would have a smoked salmon bagel on death row, it's serious.
In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $25, normally there will be a 21st, flat drinks, or mid week drinks so that is about the cost of a box.
In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $4 for a return bus trip to the pool where I swim once a week! Otherwise I walk absolutely everywhere.
I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $3000, I have real weakness for clothes and spend way to much time on Designer Wardrobe and Depop looking at different pieces. I do tend to spend a bit more on clothes, however I do like to purchase more expensive investment items which I wear all the time, as well as buying secondhand. That is how I justify spending so much for my budget! Also, I work in a PJ shop where we get a good discount and I am surrounded by them constantly, so it's hard not to buy heaps of pairs of PJs.
My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $350 Marle cardigan which I bought secondhand from Designer Wardrobe. It is such a stunning cardigan and I am obsessed with it. I wanted it for so long before I purchased it so I just was sure, and I'm so happy I bought it!!
My last pair of shoes cost: $55 Havaianas black square toe jandals from Superette! I love these jandals, they are so comfortable and perfect for summer! All the cool girls had them so I had to pick some up and they also were very affordable!
My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $1250 a year, as I am really obsessed with skincare, haircare, and makeup. I don't really try too many new products, however the ones I purchase are more pricey which is brutal when it comes to repurchase, especially when they run out at the same time.
I don't use makeup everyday, however I do have an eight-step skincare routine. I use Korean skincare products mostly (which is good because they are better and more on the cheaper end).
I try and get my hair cut around three times a year and it costs about $150 each time, but it's such a good place. Spending more money on a haircut is worth it to me because I do not want to someone to muck it up, it's the crown you never take off babes x
I also spend a decent amount on hair oils, shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, leave-in conditioners, heat protectant and other treatments.
My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $0 I am so scared of the gym and have never been and have had all my exercise gear for way to long so no expenses there. When I exercise I just do YouTube workout videos (my favourites are Move with Nicole and Heather Robertson) or go for a walk / swim.
My last Friday night cost: Nothing!! I live with my parents over summer and they decided to get takeaways, so we had those and chilled out!
Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: All of my cute summer PJs that I buy and then can never wear in my freezing Dunedin flat which is approximately 0 degrees in winter.
Most indulgent purchase (that I don't regret) in the last 12 months was: My $269 Ruby black Firebird pants, they are so perfect for every occasion and the most put together but comfortable pants I have ever worn! I feel like such a baddie when I wear them and they match with everything, such a good investment piece.
One area where I'm a bit of a tightwad is: Honestly I am not a very tight person which is why I find it so hard on a student budget, but I would say buying coffees and lunch everyday is something that I try and avoid and only do occasionally because I do have coffee and food at home which I pay for in groceries. Because I have them at home I find it hard to justify buying more stuff out.
Five words to describe my financial personality would be: B oujee, luxurious, thoughtful, careful, fun.
I grew up in a house where money was: My parents are frugal people, however they will spend money on what they want to do. They taught us that money is important to look after and save, but also that some things are worth paying for a buying. They encouraged us to think about the value of the item or thing to us not just the price. We never really talked about money and I had the privilege that it was not something I had to worry about.
The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: N ever!! I always keep my account full and have major social awkwardness or embarrassment so I would never want to put myself into the position where that is is heightened.
In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Hopefully by then I am a few years out of my degree and I have a well paying job where I can support myself, buy things I want to, and have paid off some of my student loan.
I would love to have more money for: Donating to charity and doing things like putting pads and tampons in donation boxes at the supermarket so girls always have them. Investing, although I would not have a clue where to start. Books, always, because I never buy them anymore because it feels like a luxury.
Describe your financial low: During my second year of university where I was going through a bit of an alcohol phase and during Flo Week (flat O Week) and O Week we drink every night so ran out of money. That was a bit depressing.
I give money away to: Greenpeace because they do awesome work.
