Owen* has just installed solar to save on his electricity bills, is considering buying an e-vehicle to beat the fuel crisis, and makes sure to collect frequent flier points to use on travel.
He and his wife talk through their spending and think carefully about big purchases.
But there is a phenomenon at play, that even these money-conscious Aucklanders fall into.
Ahead of their four-day trip to Singapore earlier this year, they researched the hotel and the restaurants and worked out they would spend between $500 and $600 per day excluding accommodation.
But once they landed at Changi and started exploring the sights, their budget blew out.
