A retired office manager from Christchurch has shared her approach to managing a household budget, detailing how she navigates grocery costs while living on her own. In an interview with 1News, the retiree explained that she maintains a strict fortnightly grocery spend of approximately $150 to $160, depending on whether she needs to purchase household extras like cleaning products.
Disciplined Spending Habits
The retiree attributes her financial stability to long-standing habits formed during her career. She maintains a clear goal for her expenditure and transfers any remaining funds into a separate bank account if she stays under her budget. Her strategy relies heavily on intentional shopping rather than impulse buying.
- She prioritizes essentials such as vegetables, fruit, milk, and eggs.
- She buys items like butter when they are on special and keeps them in the freezer.
- Her pantry is kept stocked with muesli, peanut butter, and jam.
- She avoids unnecessary purchases, noting,
I don’t buy unnecessary stuff, I buy what I need.
- When shopping for meat at Pak’n’Save, she often utilizes promotional offers, noting,
Pak’n’Save usually have three things for $25, so I’ll buy those.
- If she finds she has spent less than her allotted budget, she explains,
If I’m under, I’ll put that amount into another bank account.
Strategies for One
To keep costs down, the retiree emphasizes the importance of cooking from scratch. Even when cooking for one, she prepares large portions and freezes individual servings for later use. She rarely buys pre-made items, suggesting that others could save money by making their own food rather than purchasing packaged goods. While she shops primarily at Pak’n’Save, she occasionally visits a local Woolworths for specific items.
Her approach to treats is equally disciplined. She views cake as a rare indulgence for guests and limits her purchase of luxury items like ice cream to instances where they are on special. Regarding her strategy for sweets, she explains, If ice cream’s on special, I’ll buy two packets – they had mini trumpets for $4.50 a couple of weeks ago, so I bought two.
She does not buy takeaways, describing them as a waste of money,
though she does enjoy coffee out a couple of times a week while socializing with friends. When asked if there were items she avoids due to cost, she stated there was nothing she feels she cannot afford, adding, I know how to look after my money.
