"Electricity is increasing, insurance renewals have gone up with the earthquake levy," she said.
"The cost of living has gone up but super hasn't."
Mrs McKenzie said she and her husband were fortunate to be mortgage-free however they still had to budget carefully.
"We don't have holidays or visit relatives," she said.
She said budgeting can be extra hard for elderly widows.
"For women of my age the man has often taken care of finances and when they find themselves on their own it's really difficult.
"People are often too proud to ask for help."
Rotorua's Jackie Jefford, 68, lives alone and relies on the fortnightly government payout to survive.
Does she think she gets enough to live on? "I do and I don't," she said. "There are some weeks you've got an empty blimmin' cupboard so you've got to fill up the next fortnight which then leaves you short."
She said there were times she would run out of food and money, despite careful budgeting.
"Unexpected costs is when it really hits you," she said.
Ms Jefford said she spent about $150 per fortnight at the supermarket which consisted of "more or less the bare necessities".
The grandmother pays $212 per fortnight in rent, leaving around $155 a week to pay all her utilities and day to day costs.
She also tried to help out her daughter, a solo parent, and grandchildren when she could.
"I find it easier for me to go short than for them to go short."
The former waitress said she did consider working longer however she would find the eight hour shifts difficult now.
She uses the SuperGold card for bus rides and tries to buy things on special. Other than that, her only tip for others?
"You've just got to do your best, try and work a budget."
Ruby Anderson, 76, said she was used to having to budget.
"When you've had a big family all your life you get used to it," she said.
She agreed the SuperGold card was a life saver for travelling around the city but she would like more relevant discounts added.
"Prescription glasses and dentists, doctors and things like that would be nice," she said.
"Us old biddies don't really travel and use motels and things like that."
However Mrs Anderson doesn't agree with those that say superannuation is not enough.
"Rubbish. Most of them drink, they gamble, that's where their money goes. They are complaining about it and it's their own fault."
Harold Starnes, 85, said he was not having any trouble "yet".
"If I had my own house I would have rates and insurances to pay and all that carry-on. Living here and renting the place I don't have all that.
"It's different for everybody."
The widower worked until he was almost 80 and he said while money was part of the reason it was also out of choice.
"I just wanted to," he said.
