As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a law graduate explains their approach to money.

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Gender: Female.

Age: 24.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Lawyer.

Salary/income/assets: $82,000.

My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $0 – I got a really good house-sitting gig and am very lucky.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: About $150 a week student loan.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: About $100 per week between two of us – excluding treats like booze and personal care items we get from the supermarket.

Eating out: $0-$50 depending on the week.

Takeaways: Perhaps $20 a fortnight for takeaway dinner.

Workday lunches: About $60 a week – I’m really bad and spend about $15 each day I’m in the office (Monday-Thursday)

Cafe coffees/snacks: $8ish – I buy a six pack of Coke Zero mini cans which I keep in the work fridge.

Savings: $10,000 in a savings account. I hope to grow this while not paying rent but I also have an overseas holiday and expensive private health procedures coming up.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Lucky, comfortable, extravagant.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Angry Ramen.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $30 – about two bottles of wine.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: $20 petrol, $30 bus fares.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: Maybe around $1000?

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: Mi Piaci shoes – when I was admitted as a lawyer I treated myself to some fancy black leather shoes that were around $350.

My last pair of shoes cost: $80 – knock-off Birkenstock Bostons.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: $1000. My biggest beauty expenses would be getting my nails done and makeup – I cut my own hair and use supermarket skincare. 

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: About $900 per year for my gym membership and membership to yoga/pilates.

My last Friday night cost: $26 – a bottle of wine and nibbles to bring to a friends house.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: So many clothes that I barely wear.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: A Parker pen. So expensive for a pen but it was my end-of-study treat and I love it.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Power bill. I have become my father and go around flicking of light switches and telling guests to put on a layer instead of using the heater.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Spontaneous, careless, regretful, generous, anxious.

I grew up in a house where money was: Mixed. My parents are divorced and my mum was poorer but spent a lot of money whereas my dad was better off but didn’t spend it. Now dad owns four properties so guess it was worth it?

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Never – I anxiously check online banking and do a last-minute transfer if needed.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Owning a house, making a lot of money, or retired because I won Lotto.

I would love to have more money for: A house deposit. Totally my fault.

Describe your financial low: In my second year of uni, Studylink would not cover my whole rent and I didn’t have time to work more than 12ish hours per week. I was scraping by on rice, soy sauce and Scrumpy.

I give money away to: Cancer Society, friends and family.