Office Worker Advocates for Equal Pay, Balances Budgets

A New Zealander in her late twenties shares her financial habits and a “radical” view on compensation.

Navigating personal finances often reveals differing priorities and perspectives. For one full-time office worker in her late twenties, this exploration highlights a straightforward approach to budgeting, a commitment to ethical consumption, and a potent belief in pay equity.

Budget Breakdown: Shelter, Savings, and Student Loans

The office worker, who identifies as Pākehā and resides in a suburban setting, shares her income of over $80,000 annually. She openly admits a desire for a career change, citing a preference for more “wholesome and useful” work like teaching, but acknowledges the financial implications of a pay cut. Her core financial philosophy is stark: everyone should get paid the same – teachers certainly work harder than me.

Her housing situation involves shared living with three flatmates, each contributing $220 weekly for rent. This suburban arrangement, while a commute, provides a spacious and warm home, a significant upgrade from a previous, less desirable rental.

A substantial portion of her disposable income is directed towards her student loan. She makes an additional $300 payment per payday, anticipating full repayment by year’s end. Rather than direct payments, she consolidates funds in a savings account, aiming to benefit from interest before a lump-sum payoff. Four years of study, four years of repaying – sure, I could leave it and not think about it, but you’ve got to pay the same amount over time anyway so why not get it over and done with? she explains.

Spending Habits: Groceries, Leisure, and Ethical Choices

Weekly food expenses average around $150, with her partner sharing the cost. The flat collectively travels to a Pak’nSave for cheaper groceries. Dining out and takeaways are infrequent, amounting to approximately $60 and $50 monthly, respectively. Workday lunches are a modest $20 expense.

Savings are a priority, with multiple funds dedicated to travel, emergencies, hobbies, and family visits, each receiving about $100 fortnightly. Currently, her total savings stand at approximately $7,000, earmarked for an upcoming overseas trip with her partner, with plans to reallocate these funds for a wedding soon after.

When it comes to personal expenditures, she prioritizes ethical and sustainable choices. Clothing purchases, often from op shops, amount to roughly $500 annually, excluding essentials like underwear and sleepwear. Her most significant clothing expenditure was a $300 raincoat, and her boots cost around $250.

Grooming and beauty expenses are minimal, estimated at $200 per year, with occasional nail treatments. Exercise costs hover around $300 annually for yoga passes. Alcohol spending is limited to $20 per week, often enjoying drinks at home with a well-stocked bar.

Financial Outlook and Values

Describing her financial situation as Secure, lucky, relaxed, she rarely experiences money-related anxieties. Her biggest edible indulgence is Whittaker’s chocolate, chosen for its local, ethical, and delicious qualities. She also notes that butter has become a luxury item for baking.

A notable area of frugality is streaming subscriptions. She expresses a strong aversion to supporting large overseas companies perceived as mistreating artists and relying on algorithms. Instead, she accesses content through shared accounts or local rentals. I miss listening to music on a regular basis – I just have CDs and radio and my old iTunes now – but I’m not going back to Spotify and its crappy AI, she states.

Her financial personality is encapsulated by the phrase Yeah, she’ll be right, mate. She rejects the notion of aggressive hustling or complex investing, advocating instead for a livable wage for all. Her ultimate ideal involves abolishing traditional work structures. Ideally, abolish money and 40-hour work weeks altogether and let us do things because we want to and because we care for each other! We already work enough to feed and house the world 10 times over…

Looking ahead five years, she anticipates modest salary increases, potential savings for a house deposit, or supporting a growing family. Her desire for more financial freedom centers on spending extended time with family and pursuing creative projects. She views the term “millionaire” negatively, considering it a derogatory label.

Generosity is a key tenet, with regular donations to Greenpeace and KidsCan, alongside support for artistic initiatives like book crowdfunding campaigns and local concerts. She also actively contributes to her household by covering shared expenses like bin bags and party food to ease the financial burden on lower-earning flatmates and friends.

New Zealand’s median weekly earnings for full-time employees were $1,357 in the year ended June 2023, equating to approximately $70,564 annually, according to Stats NZ. This contextualizes the interviewee’s income within the national landscape.