[Oregonkiwi]

The first results of a Statistics NZ survey of 7000 people who gained permanent residence here in 2004-05....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10511260

[Pip]

Thanks OregonKiwi, - some quite interesting reading there...

[Red Devil]

Mmmm, interesting article... can't be easy though with 5 children to support and look after!!!

[Moorf]

We don't have kids but are definitely feeling the price rises in food and petrol beginning to bite....

[xanctus]

Oh we are one of the people then hahahahaha

[Den]

Only been here since end March - but already finding that the cost of living is higher than in the UK, not good!:(

[Red Devil]

Blimey... if the cost of living is higher and wages are less when compared to the UK, it doesn't look good for a 'happy ever after move'. Having said that, food and petrol prices are increasing everywhere... it's the thought of a reduced joint income that concerns us :(

[benandclare]

Only been here since end March - but already finding that the cost of living is higher than in the UK, not good!:(


We also found that in our first few months we thought the cost of living was higher, but now having been here some 9 months our bank balance is growing nicely.
We've not taken a holiday but have bought season tickets for both the rugby and a seasons skiing and this on a reduced income from the UK and also I'm only working part time. So in a very simplistic view we have to say it's cheaper for us to live over here than in UK.

Ben

[Belmont Babes]

For what it's worth here are my thoughts after 5 weeks (which I know isn't long)....Before we came we were advised to only consider coming to NZ if you can afford to be here mortgage free, ie. buy a house outright or pay the rent through funds invested. At the moment, I think this is probably a fair statement although I am not earning yet. Paul's salary is quite a bit lower than UK and the weekly food bill looks to be approximately the same.

[benandclare]

The first results of a Statistics NZ survey of 7000 people who gained permanent residence here in 2004-05....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10511260


http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4553848a6530.html

[Pebbles]

....Before we came we were advised to only consider coming to NZ if you can afford to be here mortgage free, ie. buy a house outright or pay the rent through funds invested.

We have always been told that we were crazy to rent but have always lived more than comfortably. Which is something I cannot say of all my house-owning friends and family .. It sometimes sounds like one can only be happy owning a home. All I know right now is that I am not loosing any sleep (or money) over a house sale.
We will adjust to lower wages and higher cost of living if that is the way it is. What do you really really need after all?

[CityBlue]

We have always been told that we were crazy to rent but have always lived more than comfortably. Which is something I cannot say of all my house-owning friends and family .. It sometimes sounds like one can only be happy owning a home. All I know right now is that I am not loosing any sleep (or money) over a house sale.
We will adjust to lower wages and higher cost of living if that is the way it is. What do you really really need after all?

Thats exactly how we live and have no intention of buying whilst there is still a big gap between the cost of buying and renting. (renting being much cheaper for us)

Having said that we still own in uk..if we didnt I might be a lot less comfortable :exit