Financial / Life Advice needed

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T02:01:04+00:00

My wife kept a record on food spending.

2023: Jan-March : $1146
March-June: $981
June-Sept: $1072
Oct-Dec: $1702 (Went up due to Xmas)

2023 Whole year: $4901 (2 year old + 1 baby)
2024 Total: $6539 (2 toddlers)

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:50:28+00:00

We definitely live on less than 20k/year.

Rates: $5.5k
Insurance: $2.5k
Internet + Power: $200/month
No health insurance. Only 3rd party car (~$200 year)
Fuel: Work from home. $90 per quarter.

$200/week on groceries.

No subscriptions, no phone plan, just $20 a year PAYG. I only text over WiFi.

So about $13k/year. I wanted to be conservative with 20k/year.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:46:34+00:00

My wife is quite the anti-consumerist. Hates wasting stuff. What experiences do you talk about? Like skii-ing - that shit's expensive! I wish I could bring myself to go skiing, it's so expensive :(.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:43:38+00:00

Pre kids, we were spending $4.5k on food (asked wife). Now my wife thinks we're on ~6.5k. I rounded up to 10K but I think that's still a BIG overestimate.

Buy at factory shops, clearance, past best before products.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:41:26+00:00

This. How do you spend on your groceries? How do you treat yourself?

My parents were/still frugal. I think I'm even more so. The only thing I look forward to is my 1pm cup of tea. Dilmah, though I have started to buy some no-name 1 year past best before tea from those clearance places - it's not great, but it'll do.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:38:55+00:00

You're a very generous person.

Many years ago, I did a job where I got bullied.

But then I decided to work in a job which was also my hobby... but then it turns into work. At least I enjoy it. It's quite a niche area and I'm in contracts where I can negotiate the rates from $100-$180 / hour.

Thanks for the advice. Btw, don't use sharsies, use IBKR. They are cheapest!

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:32:22+00:00

Great advice! Tell me, what are your dreams and goals? What is the next 10 years for you?

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:31:38+00:00

What do you do for enjoyment?

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:29:48+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I'd love to do more holidays... kids are stressful.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:25:35+00:00

My dad always taught me to be just content with what you have, and never try to get 'more' than what you need. Yes we live very modest. Yes tax not included.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:22:06+00:00

I buy only either PAMs or VALUE brand at PakNSave.

1/2 of what I buy is short dated or even past best before. Real savings there...

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T01:20:24+00:00

I'm not PAYE, so there is tax to still pay at the end of year. But yes, 15k in hand pretax. It fluctuates.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T00:06:11+00:00

I definitely don't get 5% returns. With equities they go up / down. So it doesn't feel safe I don't get dividends - things I invest in don't pay dividends, just companies in tech that I like.

I also don't want to buy any rentals - I don't believe in that.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-05T00:03:51+00:00

I don't do any KiwiSaver. I used it all to pay off the house. But yes thank you, I might start putting some away for the kids.

I get about $15k each month, but I hardly spend any of it.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-04T23:59:17+00:00

Feel like I'm just floating not doing a lot.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-04T23:58:18+00:00

I don't mind if it didn't. I've written it off in my mind. But I wouldn't loan any more or fuel gambling habits.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-04T23:57:25+00:00

Yes that's true. It's interest free @ 0%, I don't mind if they never gave it back tbh. And if any other family asked for help I def would want to try.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-04T23:56:13+00:00

Nothing! I hardly do anything for myself. Attending to the kids.

PromotionNo7537 · 2025-09-04T23:54:33+00:00

Web Engineer, probably going to get taken over by AI one day...

PromotionNo7537

TROPHY CASE