This retired office manager from Christchurch lives on a tightly managed budget – and that's just how she likes it.
How many people live in your household? One.
And you're not working at all? I just a volunteer at two or three things.
How much do you estimate you'd spend on your supermarket shopping every week? I do it fortnightly and it's about $160, $150, depending on whether I need extras like cleaning products.
Have you found your grocery bill has gone up in the last year or two? Oh yeah, but I'm pretty good at what I choose. I don't buy unnecessary stuff, I buy what I need.
So what what are your essentials? Vegetables, fruit, milk. I used to have yogurt, but I can't take yogurt anymore, it doesn't agree with me. And what else? Well, butter but that usually lasts a while because I buy it when it's cheap and I freeze it. Tea and coffee. I don't use much sugar or flour because I don't bake anymore. When my children were young I baked, of course. And when my husband was alive. I always had something in the tins.
What about meat? Yes, I eat meat. Mainly chicken. And when I get paid I'll go and buy myself a piece of steak. Pak'n'Save usually have three things for $25, so I'll buy those. But I'm not an overeater of meat. Never have been.
Oh and I get eggs for protein, and breakfast stuff.
Which breakfast foods do you buy? Well bread, of course, but I don't eat too much of that because it's fattening. Yeah, bread makes me put on weight. I've always got plenty of muesli in my pantry. I buy peanut butter if I run out, jam if I run out. I buy cheese every now and again, and I have cracker biscuits, and biscuits if they're on special.
I don't buy cake unless I've got somebody coming.
What's the most indulgent treat that you buy? 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. But I don't buy ice cream in a two-litre thing, because I'd eat it. Those chips that you put in the air fryer, I have them now and again. I might only buy one packet a month, something like that.
Do you shop around or do you always go to the same supermarket? Always the same Pak'n'Save. But there's a Woolworth's down the road so if I feel like a walk I might go there just to get something that I need for lunch or tea.
Do you get takeaways ever? No, never. Waste of money.
Ever get a coffee out? Yep, I do that a couple of times a week, if I go out with mates. Or sometimes I'll just have one by myself.
Do you eat out? Not dinner, just brunch with friends sometimes.
Do you do you have people over for dinner? Yeah, during the weekend when my family is up I'll have them over for lunch or tea and I'll have a chicken and veggies and things.
So you sound like you're pretty good at controlling your spend. Do you have any tricks or hints that you could pass onto others? I've always been cautious with money. I set myself a goal: I know what I can spend. If I'm under, I'll put that amount into another bank account.
I manage because I used to work in an office, so I know how to look after my money.
Also, when I go to the supermarket and see all the packages of stuff people buy, I think why don't you make it yourself?
So you cook from scratch. But what about when you're just cooking for one, do you still make the effort? Yes, I make a lot and then divide it into packets and then when I come home late or I can't be bothered, I can just take something out of the freezer.
Is there anything you'd like to buy but don't because of how expensive it is? No, nothing.
Do you buy alcohol? Don't drink. I buy a box of Diet Coke now and again.
Any pets? No.
Was money watched closely in your household when you were growing up? Yes it was. That's where I got it from, really.
Did you have a lot of siblings? Five.
Okay, some quick-fire questions:
Brown bread or white? Brown.
Marmite or Vegemite? Marmite.
Pesto or hummus? Hummus. When I have it now and again.
Chocolate or ice cream? Ice cream.
Two-, three- or four-ply toilet paper? Three.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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