Summary

The mature and mid-life families comprising the Average Kiwi segment earn average incomes, which they must stretch to cover their mortgages. More likely to have studied at tech or commercial college than university, they’re generally employed full- or part-time in skilled, white-collar or clerical jobs.

Walk with Me

We chose to buy in Welcome Bay in Tauranga for financial reasons — you get much more bang for our buck out here than you do closer to the city. We wanted a big house, so the boys could have their own bedrooms, and a good-sized backyard for the cats and dogs. Matt and David spend hours outside playing cricket, and Jim’s always holding court with his mates around the barbecue.

I like keeping up with all the latest home improvement trends, especially things I can do myself without spending too much money. My best friend Sarah and I even went to Mitre10 for a special Ladies’ Night a few weeks ago, where they showed us how to create a special feature wall for your lounge room.

Jack’s mad for DIY too, and practically lives in his shed when he’s not working as an electrician.  He’s always got some project on the go: keeps him out of trouble, I suppose, and saves us a ton of money. I’m only part-time at the bookstore, so we’ve got to be pretty thrifty. The other night I suggested that we’d have an extra $50-60 a week if he gave up smoking, but he wasn’t having it. “I’ll quit when you stop drinking wine,” he said. The cheek!

On the weekend, I like to get out into the garden. Yes, I’ll pour myself a glass of Matua Valley, crank up the transistor radio, and get cracking on some weeding or watering. It’s cheaper than a lot of hobbies.