Sufficiency Savings Estimator
Answer each question and select an action to commit to. Your savings build up in the Your Savings Viewer on the right.
Figures are indicative only and do not constitute financial advice. GoZero and the GoZero Foundation disclaim and exclude all liability for any claim, loss, demand or damages arising from use of this tool or the information included on this or any linked site.
🥬 Food waste ✓ committed
How often does your household throw out food that could have been eaten?
Source: Rabobank–KiwiHarvest Household Food Waste Report 2025 — average NZ household wastes $1,364/year.
🥩 Beef & lamb ✓ committed
How often does your household eat beef or lamb?
Savings estimated from Stats NZ Food Price Index retail prices for beef and lamb versus chicken and plant protein alternatives. Range reflects variation in cuts (mince to premium steak) and substitution choices. Source: Stats NZ FPI 2025–26. Pork sits between beef/lamb and chicken in both cost and environmental footprint — if you’re reducing pork too, your savings will be towards the higher end of the range.
🍔 Chain takeaway ✓ committed
How often does your household order from chain restaurants or food delivery apps?
This concerns chain fast food and delivery apps — not local independent cafes and restaurants, which we actively encourage. Savings estimated from NZ meal cost data: chain takeaway typically costs $35–$60 per occasion for a 2.5-person household; home cooking saves $20–$45 per occasion net. Range reflects frequency (typically 2–5 occasions/week for regular users) and spend per visit. Source: NZ tourism and food cost surveys 2024–25.
📱 Mobile phones ✓ committed
How often does your household replace mobile phones?
Savings are scaled by household size. A battery replacement ($150–$200) can extend a phone’s life by 2+ years.
Could your household switch to cheaper mobile plans without losing what you need?
Only applies if you’re out of contract or your plan allows changes. Budget prepay plans in NZ start from $9–$35/month with comparable data. Savings are estimated per person in household.
💻 Other devices ✓ committed
How does your household approach replacing computers, tablets, TVs, and gaming consoles?
Wellington’s Sustainability Trust Repair Café can repair many devices. Wellington City Library also lends gaming consoles and games.
📺 Streaming & subscriptions ✓ committed
Video streaming services — how many do you pay for but rarely watch?
Which of these do you pay for but rarely use? (tick all that apply)
Research shows households underestimate their subscription spend by 2–3x. A 30-minute bank statement review often uncovers forgotten charges.
Does your household pay for a satellite or cable TV package?
Paid satellite TV packages in NZ typically cost $55–$100+/month. Free-to-air alternatives — Freeview, TVNZ+ and ThreeNow — provide substantial content at no cost. One paid streaming service for content you actually watch is a reasonable and much cheaper alternative to a satellite package.
👕 Clothing ✓ committed
How often does your household buy new clothing, shoes or accessories?
Source: Stats NZ HES 2023 — clothing and footwear $35/week average household. The HES figure is a population average; frequent buyers typically spend significantly more. The upper end of the range reflects households spending $60–$100+/week on clothing. Wellington has active Buy Nothing groups by suburb, clothing swaps, and op shops throughout the city.
🏪 Homewares & general goods ✓ committed
How often does your household buy new homewares, furniture, kitchen items, tools, sports gear or décor?
Wellington City Library lends tools, kitchen equipment and household items free. Buy Nothing Facebook groups (by suburb) circulate homewares constantly. Source: Stats NZ HES 2023 — household furnishings and equipment $70/week average.
🛡️ Insurance ✓ committed
When did your household last shop around and compare your insurance policies (home, car, contents)?
Source: Quashed Insurance Index Q4 2025. Wellington households pay some of the highest insurance costs in NZ — shopping around at renewal can produce significant savings.
🚗 Transport ✓ committed
How many vehicles does your household run?
Savings shown are net after estimated public transport replacement costs. Operational costs only — depreciation not included. Selling a car you no longer need can also release significant one-off capital — enough to fund an e-bike or quality bicycle outright, cover years of public transport costs, or seed your Resilience Fund directly. Source: AA NZ, NZTA.
🌡️ Heating ✓ committed
Switching from resistance or gas heating to a heat pump can deliver larger savings but requires capital investment of $3,000–$8,000 — see the Electrification Savings card below, or visit EECA for guidance on electrification pathways. The two questions below are behaviour changes available to everyone at no cost.
Does your household keep its thermostat at or below 20°C?
Does your household heat only the rooms being used?
⚡ Electrification savings
GoZero does not calculate savings from technologies such as solar panels, EVs, and heat pumps in this estimator. These technologies can reduce emissions but also increase demand for materials and manufacturing with significant planetary boundary implications. We believe community-based shared solutions are preferable where possible. That said, switching from resistance or gas heating to a heat pump can save $300–$1,200/year, and solar generation and EVs produce ongoing savings that compound over time.
Maximum $500/month. Figures are self-reported and indicative only.
A note on using your savings
For many households, cost of living pressure is real and immediate. If your savings from sufficiency actions help cover essentials — food, energy, rent — that is exactly what they are for, and exactly what GoZero’s sufficiency-first approach is designed to deliver. The resilience fund and community contribution suggestions are for households with capacity beyond immediate needs. There are many ways to contribute to your community beyond financial means — showing up to team meetings, volunteering, sharing skills, and building relationships are the heart of what GoZero Teams is about.
Also from GoZero
Try the Quick Estimator for a faster overview, or the Resilience Builder to assess your household and community resilience.
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