Hannah-NL
18th March 2005, 07:14 AM
Hi Sarah, if you only bought them 6 weeks ago, can't you go back to the shop? (Get a refund or new ones?) I mean for 25 dollars they should last longer then just those 6 weeks..
leslie
18th March 2005, 10:25 AM
o dear. for once i am lost for words.
Rammer
18th March 2005, 10:58 AM
OMG :wah
All this lot has almost put me off !
I have goda do a spreadsheet 2night for the cashflow side make sure we can afford it all.
Please reasure me, can u honestly survive ok on a 60K salary in wellie?
All this lot has almost put me off !
I have goda do a spreadsheet 2night for the cashflow side make sure we can afford it all.
Please reasure me, can u honestly survive ok on a 60K salary in wellie?
Carol
18th March 2005, 11:04 AM
how many kids?
:?
:?
Wannaway
18th March 2005, 12:43 PM
Milliemoo,
Sorry, haven't copied quote from your earlier posting.
Maybe I over egg things a little when I say we find things a struggle, but things are deniably tight. We have a set budget each week of $500 to cover feeding the family and everything else and we get through the money no problems. We have little slack for the one offs (eg this week we had to pay for car reg, so have to adjust our $500 weekly budget to account for that). we don't go hungry or anything, but I would find life very difficult if this was going to be it for the future. Fortunately this should be a temporary state of affairs because we are renting and not eating into capital, when we do buy yes our outgoings will drop considerably and we will have a lot more slack in the budget. But we are lucky in that regard, a lot of kiwis (and a fair few immigrants for that matter) are not so fortunate. There has been some crowing by the Government recently about the relatively low effective tax rate kiwis pay on income compared to other countries. as one of my colleagues put it (and an opposition MP), this does not mean NZ is a low tax country, rather it is a low wage economy.
As for other comments on this thread, I do actually really like it here and the attitude of the people (may not be apparent from my posts). Part of that attitude is a toughness and resilience that the Kiwis have, which has been partly borne out of necessity to survive and thrive and it is going to take a long time for a middle class home counties softy like me to come to terms with that!
Sorry, haven't copied quote from your earlier posting.
Maybe I over egg things a little when I say we find things a struggle, but things are deniably tight. We have a set budget each week of $500 to cover feeding the family and everything else and we get through the money no problems. We have little slack for the one offs (eg this week we had to pay for car reg, so have to adjust our $500 weekly budget to account for that). we don't go hungry or anything, but I would find life very difficult if this was going to be it for the future. Fortunately this should be a temporary state of affairs because we are renting and not eating into capital, when we do buy yes our outgoings will drop considerably and we will have a lot more slack in the budget. But we are lucky in that regard, a lot of kiwis (and a fair few immigrants for that matter) are not so fortunate. There has been some crowing by the Government recently about the relatively low effective tax rate kiwis pay on income compared to other countries. as one of my colleagues put it (and an opposition MP), this does not mean NZ is a low tax country, rather it is a low wage economy.
As for other comments on this thread, I do actually really like it here and the attitude of the people (may not be apparent from my posts). Part of that attitude is a toughness and resilience that the Kiwis have, which has been partly borne out of necessity to survive and thrive and it is going to take a long time for a middle class home counties softy like me to come to terms with that!
Aug & Feb
18th March 2005, 06:44 PM
Hi
This is my friend Kiwibird7's reply from Christchurch :angel
__________________________________________________ _________
Your writings indicates and confirms that there is a severe labour shortage in NZ. Local Kiwis have gone overseas to work because the wages overseas pay better than in NZ. (Hope you don't mind me saying this:- That is why I am puzzled why would UK chaps want to work in NZ rather than in UK where the pay is higher and the British Pound is definitely higher than the NZ$...but perhaps it is due to the better quality of life and peace in NZ that you all are looking for...right ?)
The burgeoning Domestic Purpose Benefit seems to suggest that money indeed can be made from producing more and more kids, hence the rising numbers of unmarried mothers who no doubt send their children to the very same state schools and face the same 'costs' as well and get by.
I too once had school going children who went through schools (STATE SCHOOLS) and I NEVER faced such terrifying costs on Excercise books and TEXTBOOKS are FREE. If you think those high decile schools are charging unncessarily, go for lower decile schools (say around 7) then which offer less of those Camps, trips and frills which are really NOT necessary for acing the NCEA level exams....have you considered changing schools ? Decile 7 is still a good school. You don't need decile 9 or 10.... ;)
Hope you all don't mind me saying :- All the examples of Moorf in Christchurch and Carol from Wellington show bad budgetting. Why? Because based on the average income of approx $348 per week, most Kiwis get by. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_business_story_skin/450249%3fformat=html
$1000 per month spent on food alone in CHRISTCHURCH is unbelievable too high. Here's why; 1KG of Meat per day (less than $10, Chicken nibbles $2.99-$3.99 kg, Mince Pork $5.95 kg at Verkerks, Choice Mince Beef $4.99kg, Beef $7-9kg), 25KG of Rice ($31) or A 10KG sack of Potatoes ($3.99), 1 loaf of Coupland Bread (700g=$1), 5KG of Flour($3.99). 1KG of Meat and 1KG of Carbohydrates (Potato, Rice or Flour) is enough to feed 2 adults and 3 children.
Methinks NZers are eating too much food anyway. I look around and I see PLENTY of OBESE people walking around....don't mean to upset anyone here...my apology if I have...but I am stating facts... :angel
If Moorf from Christchurch uses firewood for Winter then his average Electricity bill of $100 is way too high. I use a Nightstore heater and Water Heater (Night rate) and my electricity bill averages less than $100 per month. Maybe Moorf should shop around for the best Power Supplier by visiting this website http://www.consumer.org.nz/powerswitch/default.asp
Likewise, he too should shop around for the best insurance deal package for Home, Contents and Car.
Phone bill $100 a month? How can that be? Telstra Line Rental $29.95 whilst Telecom is $32.95. Internet (Kiwi on Line= $9.95 per month or $24.95 for 3 months) http://www.kol.co.nz/
<"After all people live where the work is....unfortunatley a quarter of the work in New Zealand is based in Auckland. What do you think us AUCKLANDERS should do?">
Aucklanders won't be staying long in AUCKLAND if the costs of living there outweigh the incomes earned and quality of life goes down.
Businesses would be shifting out to the cheaper regional towns and cities when Hubbard's escalating CITY RATES bite hard and the traffic jams worsen, the labour force would follow suit and the overated property prices in Auckland would face a PAINFUL correction. Get ready for that folks....
Sarah Jane, (just joking) perhaps your Hubby dear should quit that "left leaning sorry excuse for a newspaper" organisation and move to Hawkes Bay to set up a little Cafe... ;) doing business can be better income and more tax shelter...
If you think Auckland is expensive, you'd have a heart attack when it comes to Sydney Australia's overheads. :eek . Fortunately, you choose NZ insted of Ozland. Auckland is a very cheap city by international standards and a very pleasant one too. It was just ranked 8th overall in the annual Mercer quality of life survey.
I have a feeling that the high expenses you currently face are part and parcel of settling in. Once you're familiar with the place, overheads will drop considerably. Hang in there...do some re-adjustment and look for alternatives instead of sticking to the same products as in England...good luck on re-budgeting.
Hope I did not upset anyone here...just sharing my opinions freely... :laugh
KiwiBird7 (with some input from another friend Sam)
This is my friend Kiwibird7's reply from Christchurch :angel
__________________________________________________ _________
Your writings indicates and confirms that there is a severe labour shortage in NZ. Local Kiwis have gone overseas to work because the wages overseas pay better than in NZ. (Hope you don't mind me saying this:- That is why I am puzzled why would UK chaps want to work in NZ rather than in UK where the pay is higher and the British Pound is definitely higher than the NZ$...but perhaps it is due to the better quality of life and peace in NZ that you all are looking for...right ?)
The burgeoning Domestic Purpose Benefit seems to suggest that money indeed can be made from producing more and more kids, hence the rising numbers of unmarried mothers who no doubt send their children to the very same state schools and face the same 'costs' as well and get by.
I too once had school going children who went through schools (STATE SCHOOLS) and I NEVER faced such terrifying costs on Excercise books and TEXTBOOKS are FREE. If you think those high decile schools are charging unncessarily, go for lower decile schools (say around 7) then which offer less of those Camps, trips and frills which are really NOT necessary for acing the NCEA level exams....have you considered changing schools ? Decile 7 is still a good school. You don't need decile 9 or 10.... ;)
Hope you all don't mind me saying :- All the examples of Moorf in Christchurch and Carol from Wellington show bad budgetting. Why? Because based on the average income of approx $348 per week, most Kiwis get by. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_business_story_skin/450249%3fformat=html
$1000 per month spent on food alone in CHRISTCHURCH is unbelievable too high. Here's why; 1KG of Meat per day (less than $10, Chicken nibbles $2.99-$3.99 kg, Mince Pork $5.95 kg at Verkerks, Choice Mince Beef $4.99kg, Beef $7-9kg), 25KG of Rice ($31) or A 10KG sack of Potatoes ($3.99), 1 loaf of Coupland Bread (700g=$1), 5KG of Flour($3.99). 1KG of Meat and 1KG of Carbohydrates (Potato, Rice or Flour) is enough to feed 2 adults and 3 children.
Methinks NZers are eating too much food anyway. I look around and I see PLENTY of OBESE people walking around....don't mean to upset anyone here...my apology if I have...but I am stating facts... :angel
If Moorf from Christchurch uses firewood for Winter then his average Electricity bill of $100 is way too high. I use a Nightstore heater and Water Heater (Night rate) and my electricity bill averages less than $100 per month. Maybe Moorf should shop around for the best Power Supplier by visiting this website http://www.consumer.org.nz/powerswitch/default.asp
Likewise, he too should shop around for the best insurance deal package for Home, Contents and Car.
Phone bill $100 a month? How can that be? Telstra Line Rental $29.95 whilst Telecom is $32.95. Internet (Kiwi on Line= $9.95 per month or $24.95 for 3 months) http://www.kol.co.nz/
<"After all people live where the work is....unfortunatley a quarter of the work in New Zealand is based in Auckland. What do you think us AUCKLANDERS should do?">
Aucklanders won't be staying long in AUCKLAND if the costs of living there outweigh the incomes earned and quality of life goes down.
Businesses would be shifting out to the cheaper regional towns and cities when Hubbard's escalating CITY RATES bite hard and the traffic jams worsen, the labour force would follow suit and the overated property prices in Auckland would face a PAINFUL correction. Get ready for that folks....
Sarah Jane, (just joking) perhaps your Hubby dear should quit that "left leaning sorry excuse for a newspaper" organisation and move to Hawkes Bay to set up a little Cafe... ;) doing business can be better income and more tax shelter...
If you think Auckland is expensive, you'd have a heart attack when it comes to Sydney Australia's overheads. :eek . Fortunately, you choose NZ insted of Ozland. Auckland is a very cheap city by international standards and a very pleasant one too. It was just ranked 8th overall in the annual Mercer quality of life survey.
I have a feeling that the high expenses you currently face are part and parcel of settling in. Once you're familiar with the place, overheads will drop considerably. Hang in there...do some re-adjustment and look for alternatives instead of sticking to the same products as in England...good luck on re-budgeting.
Hope I did not upset anyone here...just sharing my opinions freely... :laugh
KiwiBird7 (with some input from another friend Sam)
Carol
18th March 2005, 07:07 PM
Hi
This is my friend Kiwibird7's reply from Christchurch :angel
__________________________________________________ _________
Hope you all don't mind me saying :- All the examples of Moorf in Christchurch and Carol from Wellington show bad budgetting. Why? Because based on the average income of approx $348 per week, most Kiwis get by.
Hope I did not upset anyone here...just sharing my opinions freely... :laugh
KiwiBird7 (with some input from another friend Sam)
Thank you SO much for your advice.
However -
$348 per week wouldnt even cover my mortgage rates and power.
And I'd like to eat something other than toast and marmite.
Are you actually a member of this forum or not??
This is my friend Kiwibird7's reply from Christchurch :angel
__________________________________________________ _________
Hope you all don't mind me saying :- All the examples of Moorf in Christchurch and Carol from Wellington show bad budgetting. Why? Because based on the average income of approx $348 per week, most Kiwis get by.
Hope I did not upset anyone here...just sharing my opinions freely... :laugh
KiwiBird7 (with some input from another friend Sam)
Thank you SO much for your advice.
However -
$348 per week wouldnt even cover my mortgage rates and power.
And I'd like to eat something other than toast and marmite.
Are you actually a member of this forum or not??
K1W1
18th March 2005, 07:41 PM
Bargain to be had this weekend!!! Call UK, Ireland, SA & Australia as much as you like this weekend for $10.
http://www.telecom.co.nz/content/0,3900,201450-1028,00.html
This offer doesnt come around very often so make the most of it!
http://www.telecom.co.nz/content/0,3900,201450-1028,00.html
This offer doesnt come around very often so make the most of it!
Gran
18th March 2005, 08:02 PM
Hello again Sara Jane,
I get the impression you have been using Countdown in Orewa, not the cheapest, I rarely go there. New World is the cheaper of the 2. Their milk (Pams) is 3.15 for 2 ltrs. The ordinary sliced bread (mon-fri) is 1.10 in Bin Inn on the main highway, they are good for loose cake mix, scone mix etc. too. How about making some muffins for the kids to take to school? Meat is a good price at Mad Butcher near New World, their milk is also cheap. And vegies and fruit are cheapest at the Indian shop next to New World. As a pensioner I have to watch prices. By the way I have seen the way the kids treat their sandals on the way home from school you wouldnt want to know, at my Grandchildrens school the whole school has been punished by making them wear shoes and socks all summer, boy are they upset.
I get the impression you have been using Countdown in Orewa, not the cheapest, I rarely go there. New World is the cheaper of the 2. Their milk (Pams) is 3.15 for 2 ltrs. The ordinary sliced bread (mon-fri) is 1.10 in Bin Inn on the main highway, they are good for loose cake mix, scone mix etc. too. How about making some muffins for the kids to take to school? Meat is a good price at Mad Butcher near New World, their milk is also cheap. And vegies and fruit are cheapest at the Indian shop next to New World. As a pensioner I have to watch prices. By the way I have seen the way the kids treat their sandals on the way home from school you wouldnt want to know, at my Grandchildrens school the whole school has been punished by making them wear shoes and socks all summer, boy are they upset.
Rob K
18th March 2005, 08:33 PM
Careful about choosing a lower decile school to avoid high fees:
One of the reasons I quit my job at a Decile 2 school in Chch recently (which is what brought us over here, btw), was that I found I was very poorly supported by the school regarding teaching my subject.
I'm a Math teacher, and have taught at the secondary and tertiary levels for 7 years. I was appalled to find that, after 3 weeks of classes and numerous pleas from me, my department / school admin had actually not even ordered any text or homework books that the students could take home with them.
If you understand the importance of success in Math as one key towards overall school and future career success, then you'll likely agree that this is unacceptable.
The same school spent money to rent a city stadium for an intramural track and field day - that I observed was great for some students but highly unwanted by many (who were forced to be there). I digress...the point is that the school was willing to pay for a pro sports stadium (and bus transportation as well), but I was told by the same people who did that, that the kids could do without proper Math text materials 3 weeks and beyond into the school year.
I basically gave up my job over that. Yes, we were already finding Chch too dear for a single teacher's income, but I was ready to give it at least a year. But trying to teach Math to mainly highly-deprived students with little support for their learning or futures from home - with the added setback of having not even the basic essentials, was the final straw.
I was excited about the challenge of raising student achievement in a school where students face many obstacles - but to be honest it's not worth the effort if the school culture and admin aren't truly interested in making the investment in that goal.
So be careful about choosing a school based on the costs of extra-curricular activities. There are far more important things involved.
If fees are a real concern, consider homeschooling - you not only decide what and how much to pay for, but get financial support from the govt as well to do it...
Cheers,
Rob
One of the reasons I quit my job at a Decile 2 school in Chch recently (which is what brought us over here, btw), was that I found I was very poorly supported by the school regarding teaching my subject.
I'm a Math teacher, and have taught at the secondary and tertiary levels for 7 years. I was appalled to find that, after 3 weeks of classes and numerous pleas from me, my department / school admin had actually not even ordered any text or homework books that the students could take home with them.
If you understand the importance of success in Math as one key towards overall school and future career success, then you'll likely agree that this is unacceptable.
The same school spent money to rent a city stadium for an intramural track and field day - that I observed was great for some students but highly unwanted by many (who were forced to be there). I digress...the point is that the school was willing to pay for a pro sports stadium (and bus transportation as well), but I was told by the same people who did that, that the kids could do without proper Math text materials 3 weeks and beyond into the school year.
I basically gave up my job over that. Yes, we were already finding Chch too dear for a single teacher's income, but I was ready to give it at least a year. But trying to teach Math to mainly highly-deprived students with little support for their learning or futures from home - with the added setback of having not even the basic essentials, was the final straw.
I was excited about the challenge of raising student achievement in a school where students face many obstacles - but to be honest it's not worth the effort if the school culture and admin aren't truly interested in making the investment in that goal.
So be careful about choosing a school based on the costs of extra-curricular activities. There are far more important things involved.
If fees are a real concern, consider homeschooling - you not only decide what and how much to pay for, but get financial support from the govt as well to do it...
Cheers,
Rob
veronica
18th March 2005, 11:02 PM
Aug and Feb, just out of curiousity, where are you living. It gets blooming chilly here in Christchurch and I for one am not prepared to live in a cold and damp house and just 'endure'. Yes I am capable of it but its not what our life is about. I havent a clue how much we spend on shopping weekly because we aren't the type of household that runs with that type of regime. We buy what we need when we need it. Yes we could all live on the cheapest cuts of meat, but do we want to, We eat a lot of fruit and Veggies in our house hold, they soon mount up and they weren't included in your listing, neither were other consumables like toilet paper or cleaning materials, I for one have no intention of giving those up. Theres lots of ways we could subsist, but in our house we prefer a certain quality of life too.
Moorf
19th March 2005, 12:10 AM
Firstly, Moorf is a she.
Secondly, nowhere in my post did I complain about our costs, I merely put them on show for all to see and for comparison.
I could cut back on the groceries but I like to cook and by that I don't mean meat and 2 veg each night.
Sure, we could cut back on our electricity by turning off a heater or two, but I like to feel cosy in my home. Again, my choice and I haven't complained about these costs.
Phone bill $100 a month? How can that be? Telstra Line Rental $29.95 whilst Telecom is $32.95. Internet (Kiwi on Line= $9.95 per month or $24.95 for 3 months)
We need broadband ($70/mth) for our business work and our own personal usage. We call home to the UK several times a month per family. NO WAY we'd use a crappy dial up pay-as-you-go service. :no
If Moorf from Christchurch uses firewood for Winter then his average Electricity bill of $100 is way too high. I use a Nightstore heater and Water Heater (Night rate) and my electricity bill averages less than $100 per month. Maybe Moorf should shop around for the best Power Supplier by visiting this website
I am giving examples based on my current use in a 3 bed, 2 living room, 1 dining room, terracotta floored uninsulated house, you can't comment on my usage without knowing my situation, house size and how thick my jumpers are..
Likewise, he too should shop around for the best insurance deal package for Home, Contents and Car.
We have, we have all our insurances with one company and get loyalty discounts as well as very competitive rates and no claims bonuses. We are very happy with our insurances.
$1000 per month spent on food alone in CHRISTCHURCH is unbelievable too high. Here's why; 1KG of Meat per day (less than $10, Chicken nibbles $2.99-$3.99 kg, Mince Pork $5.95 kg at Verkerks, Choice Mince Beef $4.99kg, Beef $7-9kg), 25KG of Rice ($31) or A 10KG sack of Potatoes ($3.99), 1 loaf of Coupland Bread (700g=$1), 5KG of Flour($3.99). 1KG of Meat and 1KG of Carbohydrates (Potato, Rice or Flour) is enough to feed 2 adults and 3 children.
Sorry, but we aren't prepared to live on meat and potatoes - we prefer a varied and more exciting diet - sure I could cut back but I like my extras - nowhere in my post will you see that I am complaining about my expenses, however I think they are pretty typical - £200 a week on food plus £200 over the month for those fresh items I buy every other day or so. I even spoke with a lady at Pak'n'Save till when buying my weekly shop recently, I commented that I was chuffed that I'd managed to get everything for just over $200 which was my weekly budget .. she commented that this was also her budget.. so I'm not alone.
Why doesn't Kiwibird7 join this forum, get to know us, and THEN comment on our appalling budgeting skills?
Moorf-ette
Secondly, nowhere in my post did I complain about our costs, I merely put them on show for all to see and for comparison.
I could cut back on the groceries but I like to cook and by that I don't mean meat and 2 veg each night.
Sure, we could cut back on our electricity by turning off a heater or two, but I like to feel cosy in my home. Again, my choice and I haven't complained about these costs.
Phone bill $100 a month? How can that be? Telstra Line Rental $29.95 whilst Telecom is $32.95. Internet (Kiwi on Line= $9.95 per month or $24.95 for 3 months)
We need broadband ($70/mth) for our business work and our own personal usage. We call home to the UK several times a month per family. NO WAY we'd use a crappy dial up pay-as-you-go service. :no
If Moorf from Christchurch uses firewood for Winter then his average Electricity bill of $100 is way too high. I use a Nightstore heater and Water Heater (Night rate) and my electricity bill averages less than $100 per month. Maybe Moorf should shop around for the best Power Supplier by visiting this website
I am giving examples based on my current use in a 3 bed, 2 living room, 1 dining room, terracotta floored uninsulated house, you can't comment on my usage without knowing my situation, house size and how thick my jumpers are..
Likewise, he too should shop around for the best insurance deal package for Home, Contents and Car.
We have, we have all our insurances with one company and get loyalty discounts as well as very competitive rates and no claims bonuses. We are very happy with our insurances.
$1000 per month spent on food alone in CHRISTCHURCH is unbelievable too high. Here's why; 1KG of Meat per day (less than $10, Chicken nibbles $2.99-$3.99 kg, Mince Pork $5.95 kg at Verkerks, Choice Mince Beef $4.99kg, Beef $7-9kg), 25KG of Rice ($31) or A 10KG sack of Potatoes ($3.99), 1 loaf of Coupland Bread (700g=$1), 5KG of Flour($3.99). 1KG of Meat and 1KG of Carbohydrates (Potato, Rice or Flour) is enough to feed 2 adults and 3 children.
Sorry, but we aren't prepared to live on meat and potatoes - we prefer a varied and more exciting diet - sure I could cut back but I like my extras - nowhere in my post will you see that I am complaining about my expenses, however I think they are pretty typical - £200 a week on food plus £200 over the month for those fresh items I buy every other day or so. I even spoke with a lady at Pak'n'Save till when buying my weekly shop recently, I commented that I was chuffed that I'd managed to get everything for just over $200 which was my weekly budget .. she commented that this was also her budget.. so I'm not alone.
Why doesn't Kiwibird7 join this forum, get to know us, and THEN comment on our appalling budgeting skills?
Moorf-ette
wayne
19th March 2005, 01:51 AM
Calm down now girls or it will be handbags at dawn,Yes NZ is an expensive place to live we all know that , Aucklands probably not the best place either, but do we really need this "I can run my budget better than you" nonsense it is all very negative I will be in NZ in two months time and yes we are heading for Akl as thats where my wifes family live we are prepared to have a lower standard of living but we certainly wont be banging on about it all the time .
Really if we wanted a higher standard of living we would go to the USA but NZ's home so its a case of making a go of it
Really if we wanted a higher standard of living we would go to the USA but NZ's home so its a case of making a go of it
Carol
19th March 2005, 06:58 AM
do we really need this "I can run my budget better than you" nonsense it is all very negative
no we don't .
no we don't .
Timbo
19th March 2005, 07:06 AM
Yes we do. It`s fun. :laugh
Carol
19th March 2005, 07:07 AM
shurrup you!
:P :laugh
:P :laugh
Diny
19th March 2005, 07:32 AM
Timbo behave !!!!!!!!!!!!
Part of that attitude is a toughness and resilience that the Kiwis have, which has been partly borne out of necessity to survive and thrive and it is going to take a long time for a middle class home counties softy like me to come to terms with that!
Wannaway ..... this comment really 'hit home' for me. Whenever we're in NZ, PB always tells me that I need to leave my 'English middle class' ideals at Heathrow. I find it really amusing and love winding him up by telling him that it won't take me long to whip the natives into shape. I tell him to look upon me as a 21st century missionary :nice1
Pleeeeeease folks ..... I say that in jest, no barrage of 'how dare you' -OK?
Diny
Part of that attitude is a toughness and resilience that the Kiwis have, which has been partly borne out of necessity to survive and thrive and it is going to take a long time for a middle class home counties softy like me to come to terms with that!
Wannaway ..... this comment really 'hit home' for me. Whenever we're in NZ, PB always tells me that I need to leave my 'English middle class' ideals at Heathrow. I find it really amusing and love winding him up by telling him that it won't take me long to whip the natives into shape. I tell him to look upon me as a 21st century missionary :nice1
Pleeeeeease folks ..... I say that in jest, no barrage of 'how dare you' -OK?
Diny
wilson182
19th March 2005, 08:09 AM
My daughter's school is decile 7, here in Chch and the school donation was $200.25. That included her textbooks which were provided by the school. We only had to by some stationery (sissors, rulers etc). She recently went on a three day camping trip, which was provided by the school and we only had to supply her equipment. They also asked for donations of some equipment, if parents had it, and also asked for volunteers (sp) to help out on the trip. She goes swimming twice a week at the mo, and again that is all provided by the school.
My young daughters primary school donation will be $30 from what I have read so far, but we will have to provide a school uniform for her.
Just to keep the debate going :mrgreen: our electricity bill in the old house was also approx $100 per month and that was without the heating on :eek
My young daughters primary school donation will be $30 from what I have read so far, but we will have to provide a school uniform for her.
Just to keep the debate going :mrgreen: our electricity bill in the old house was also approx $100 per month and that was without the heating on :eek
veronica
19th March 2005, 08:58 AM
re reading Aug and Febs posting, Who's Kiwibird7.....is this person not able to post for themself, are they from another forum. confused from Christchurch.....
How each of us manage our money and choose to spend it is up to us.
There are always ways you can cut down on spending, at least until you hit rock bottom. We have had to in the past.
Crikey, I've heard of the fashion police, the PC police, now we have the budget police!!!
How each of us manage our money and choose to spend it is up to us.
There are always ways you can cut down on spending, at least until you hit rock bottom. We have had to in the past.
Crikey, I've heard of the fashion police, the PC police, now we have the budget police!!!
Moorf
19th March 2005, 09:36 AM
I'm enjoying this thread and, from PM's and posts, it has at least given people food for thought (well budgeted food obviously! :laugh ).
It's an insight into the real differences and attitudes between an established Kiwi and a newbie Brit - albeit not always tactfully put. But at least when one goes to the supermarket and spends $200 they know they aren't being extravagant if they are used to shopping in, say, the UK and are buying similar products.
If I was truly unhappy about our finances, and I am sure this goes for many others, I could go out and get a "proper" job for $50k+ and put us in the $120k+ category but things just ain't that bad!
Wayne, some people on this board are frustrated by the lack of negativity when it comes to finances etc ... and those people are generally the ones that are already here and experiencing it. The forum isn't a place where you hear only good stuff about where you are moving - if you find what is being said is negative then take it on board or ignore and "wait and see".
As with other "whinges" there'll be lots of opinions based on peoples lifestyles back home .. for instance, Shagen was shocked at the lack of traffic at 8.30am on a workday in Chch, whereas Iain and Liz were appalled by the terrible traffic in the mornings! Kiwibird7 thought $1000 was a ridiculous amount to spend on groceries a month whereas I know of people who spend more like $300 a week. It's all relative.
Moorf
It's an insight into the real differences and attitudes between an established Kiwi and a newbie Brit - albeit not always tactfully put. But at least when one goes to the supermarket and spends $200 they know they aren't being extravagant if they are used to shopping in, say, the UK and are buying similar products.
If I was truly unhappy about our finances, and I am sure this goes for many others, I could go out and get a "proper" job for $50k+ and put us in the $120k+ category but things just ain't that bad!
Wayne, some people on this board are frustrated by the lack of negativity when it comes to finances etc ... and those people are generally the ones that are already here and experiencing it. The forum isn't a place where you hear only good stuff about where you are moving - if you find what is being said is negative then take it on board or ignore and "wait and see".
As with other "whinges" there'll be lots of opinions based on peoples lifestyles back home .. for instance, Shagen was shocked at the lack of traffic at 8.30am on a workday in Chch, whereas Iain and Liz were appalled by the terrible traffic in the mornings! Kiwibird7 thought $1000 was a ridiculous amount to spend on groceries a month whereas I know of people who spend more like $300 a week. It's all relative.
Moorf
Timbo
19th March 2005, 09:43 AM
Yep, quite agree Moorf. Lets have it all. The good. The bad. And the downright ugly.
The more informed we all are, the better our chances of settling in, or indeed, of changing our mind about the whole thing and sodding off to costa lotta (little britain) blanca.
The more informed we all are, the better our chances of settling in, or indeed, of changing our mind about the whole thing and sodding off to costa lotta (little britain) blanca.
Soon2baKiwi
19th March 2005, 11:30 AM
When I first told my husband about the problems some people were having in NZ not making ends meet, and the need for wives to work too, his reaction was that "it was never cheap to live in NZ and my mum and my friends' mums always worked". When I first met my inlaws I thought they were awfully mean :? but it's only since I've found forums like this that I've realised that that's how they lived in NZ. Thrifty. He only told me recently about his sister having a pet mouse when she was little and she left it on the windowsill overnight. When she went to get it the following morning it had frozen to death. :eek He had forgotten how cold the houses are in the winter in Wellington. But that's human nature. How many of us look back on our childhood summers and believe that there were endless days of sunshine?
markkellaway
19th March 2005, 11:43 AM
One thing that strikes me about this, how many of us live in the UK strictly on our monthly income? It seems that a lot of people have bought cars outright in NZ, rather than borrow for them, and have no credit cards to speak of. Surely things wouldn't be quite so "rosy" here without credit?
Another thing, one of the things I liked about NZ was the fact that the society doesn't seem quite so materialistic in general (there are exeptions of course, don't want to start a flame war! :no ), if this is due to things being a bit "tight" then maybe that's for the best. People seem to get used to it once they've been there a while.
Mark. :P
Another thing, one of the things I liked about NZ was the fact that the society doesn't seem quite so materialistic in general (there are exeptions of course, don't want to start a flame war! :no ), if this is due to things being a bit "tight" then maybe that's for the best. People seem to get used to it once they've been there a while.
Mark. :P
sarahw
19th March 2005, 01:16 PM
I've just read through this thread and quite enjoyed it - very interesting!!!
I think one factor we're all missing here is that the UK (along with a few other European countries & the US) probably has the highest standard of living in the world. I think we're being very unreasonable to expect we can transpose that standard of living (and earning!) to a country that simply doesn't have it. I think us Brits take far too much for granted, such as NHS, free schooling, the choice we have and the relative idea of 'poverty' being so different to most other places.
However, that said, I'm not saying that the standard of living here is low. Someone once said to me 'you'll never be rich in NZ but you will have a good life' - I agree 100% with that!
We absolutely love it here & its been a real change but we were geared up for it and have embraced a less materialistic life. We wouldn't swap our life here for our life in the UK including financial status - it has too many other strings attached.
We live comfortably in a nice suburb outside Welly on one salary $80K a year. We could live in a smaller house & a different suburb & save money if we wanted to but we choose this). I don't work (I am studying & do volunteer work too) we manage quite nicely but don't have any kids - yet. (I know they can be a drain on the old finances!) Yes, we have to live on a budget which we never did before, but we've moved here to have a life rather than hardly seeing each other and working all the hours we did in stressful jobs. I'm not saying that, like Moorf, I've not been tempted to go out & get some work just to boost our earnings so we can go out more ... but so far we've managed.
We moved here both for us, and for our future family - for opportunities & for the fact that kids can have the type of childhood we had when we were young.
I understand that every person's experience is different & wherever you are in NZ is different price-wise and we all spend our money differently, we all come over with differing amounts of savings, we all have different sized families, so we really can't compare directly with each other...
I know having kids is a struggle (and expensive) but in the UK I would have had to remain in a job of some shape or form to continue with my studies (and have kids) whereas here I have the opportunity to be at home here for a few years if I want to, so for us at least things are better here than at home even though we've made some large lifestyle changes to do it.
I think one factor we're all missing here is that the UK (along with a few other European countries & the US) probably has the highest standard of living in the world. I think we're being very unreasonable to expect we can transpose that standard of living (and earning!) to a country that simply doesn't have it. I think us Brits take far too much for granted, such as NHS, free schooling, the choice we have and the relative idea of 'poverty' being so different to most other places.
However, that said, I'm not saying that the standard of living here is low. Someone once said to me 'you'll never be rich in NZ but you will have a good life' - I agree 100% with that!
We absolutely love it here & its been a real change but we were geared up for it and have embraced a less materialistic life. We wouldn't swap our life here for our life in the UK including financial status - it has too many other strings attached.
We live comfortably in a nice suburb outside Welly on one salary $80K a year. We could live in a smaller house & a different suburb & save money if we wanted to but we choose this). I don't work (I am studying & do volunteer work too) we manage quite nicely but don't have any kids - yet. (I know they can be a drain on the old finances!) Yes, we have to live on a budget which we never did before, but we've moved here to have a life rather than hardly seeing each other and working all the hours we did in stressful jobs. I'm not saying that, like Moorf, I've not been tempted to go out & get some work just to boost our earnings so we can go out more ... but so far we've managed.
We moved here both for us, and for our future family - for opportunities & for the fact that kids can have the type of childhood we had when we were young.
I understand that every person's experience is different & wherever you are in NZ is different price-wise and we all spend our money differently, we all come over with differing amounts of savings, we all have different sized families, so we really can't compare directly with each other...
I know having kids is a struggle (and expensive) but in the UK I would have had to remain in a job of some shape or form to continue with my studies (and have kids) whereas here I have the opportunity to be at home here for a few years if I want to, so for us at least things are better here than at home even though we've made some large lifestyle changes to do it.
Carol
19th March 2005, 01:55 PM
I've just been out and bought 3kg of chicken feet for $4.50
Anyone fancy a bbq?
Bring your own wine wont you...
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) :nice1 :laugh
Anyone fancy a bbq?
Bring your own wine wont you...
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) :nice1 :laugh
Caven
19th March 2005, 03:49 PM
:laugh
You've been seen-off there Carol! There is no meat on chicken feet, you should have asked for legs. That must be a sizable bag too, 3 kilos of avine digits must be colossal... ;)
What's the buzzword for breast cutlets then? A bag of nipples?
Poor humour, I know but it's nearly 3 in the morning :laugh
You've been seen-off there Carol! There is no meat on chicken feet, you should have asked for legs. That must be a sizable bag too, 3 kilos of avine digits must be colossal... ;)
What's the buzzword for breast cutlets then? A bag of nipples?
Poor humour, I know but it's nearly 3 in the morning :laugh
Aug & Feb
19th March 2005, 04:32 PM
Hi Carol, Moorf, Veronica, Sarah Jane, other gals & guys on this interestingly frank thread,
Good morning or afternoon or nite (depending on which country we are in.. :laugh ) !!
Pls pardon KiwiBird7 :oops: . He is a retired person who has lived in Chch for the last 20+ years...also an immigrant. His words maybe blunt & direct & frank but he doesn't mean any harm....simply sharing his personal experiences and opinions. Really, he doesn't mean to insult or hurt or challenge anyone here. He's just having a discussion going on...which would open people's "eyes" and "ears"....which would benefit those of us not in NZ yet or those already in NZ & still adjusting. Anyway, will ask him log-in & post... :angel :typing :exit
Good morning or afternoon or nite (depending on which country we are in.. :laugh ) !!
Pls pardon KiwiBird7 :oops: . He is a retired person who has lived in Chch for the last 20+ years...also an immigrant. His words maybe blunt & direct & frank but he doesn't mean any harm....simply sharing his personal experiences and opinions. Really, he doesn't mean to insult or hurt or challenge anyone here. He's just having a discussion going on...which would open people's "eyes" and "ears"....which would benefit those of us not in NZ yet or those already in NZ & still adjusting. Anyway, will ask him log-in & post... :angel :typing :exit
Moorf
19th March 2005, 06:31 PM
One thing that strikes me about this, how many of us live in the UK strictly on our monthly income? It seems that a lot of people have bought cars outright in NZ, rather than borrow for them, and have no credit cards to speak of. Surely things wouldn't be quite so "rosy" here without credit?
Very true Mark, we own all we have except a small mortgage and we don't intend getting credit cards... but watch this space! :laugh Hubby did mention we might get one so that we can pay for stuff over the phone and online.. but it's not intended to bolster our spending power.
Very true Mark, we own all we have except a small mortgage and we don't intend getting credit cards... but watch this space! :laugh Hubby did mention we might get one so that we can pay for stuff over the phone and online.. but it's not intended to bolster our spending power.
leslie
19th March 2005, 08:06 PM
however expensive nz may be food wise surely we cannot be worse off than here - someone calculated we spend £1500/ month on feed living modestly in sw london (thanks for that!). that is $4000 in nz dollars, and while not relative i can assure you it presents a stroppy amount of our monthly income.
i'll trade your troubles! 10 weeks to go...
i suggest people consider what happens when the national revenue leaves the dark ages in the way they calculate and collect tax revenue. and it will happen. we all know the uk black market is quite unbelievable and a lot of people will be financially crushed when 'cash' is removed from the equation. between that and pensions scenario...
i might be poor in new zealand but i'll be poor and happy if it kills me...
i'll trade your troubles! 10 weeks to go...
i suggest people consider what happens when the national revenue leaves the dark ages in the way they calculate and collect tax revenue. and it will happen. we all know the uk black market is quite unbelievable and a lot of people will be financially crushed when 'cash' is removed from the equation. between that and pensions scenario...
i might be poor in new zealand but i'll be poor and happy if it kills me...
Diny
19th March 2005, 09:13 PM
What an interesting thread this has turned out to be. I for one strongly uphold the necessity for both negative and positive reports and opinions regarding all aspects of moving to and living in NZ. What's that they say about fore-warned is fore-armed?
The other day I logged onto the Woolworths site and did a 'sample' weekly shop, just the usual things that I would buy over here. I clocked up over $300 worth of goods so I know that a 'tightening of the belt' will be required there.
It's all a case of change and being able to adapt. Of course it's going to be tricky to begin with, but all of us are capable - and should be willing and prepared - to accept change. Mind you, I think that having a good moan about things and being able to vent your spleen on the pages of this forum is good for the soul. Nobody should take it as a 'slight' against their own personal experiences and circumstances.
I remember when we had our eldest son, I was due to go back to work after a few months maternity leave. However I decided not to go back (for a multitude of reasons) .... but I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I had worrying about how we would manage without my income. It was a sizeable chunk each month that we were eliminating. But we did manage, we still do. It simply meant a change of lifestyle.
Diny
The other day I logged onto the Woolworths site and did a 'sample' weekly shop, just the usual things that I would buy over here. I clocked up over $300 worth of goods so I know that a 'tightening of the belt' will be required there.
It's all a case of change and being able to adapt. Of course it's going to be tricky to begin with, but all of us are capable - and should be willing and prepared - to accept change. Mind you, I think that having a good moan about things and being able to vent your spleen on the pages of this forum is good for the soul. Nobody should take it as a 'slight' against their own personal experiences and circumstances.
I remember when we had our eldest son, I was due to go back to work after a few months maternity leave. However I decided not to go back (for a multitude of reasons) .... but I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I had worrying about how we would manage without my income. It was a sizeable chunk each month that we were eliminating. But we did manage, we still do. It simply meant a change of lifestyle.
Diny
Carol
19th March 2005, 09:17 PM
Just been to Pak'n'save for the weeks shop.
$350
And I STILL forgot the toilet rolls!
:?
$350
And I STILL forgot the toilet rolls!
:?
wilson182
19th March 2005, 09:22 PM
i might be poor in new zealand but i'll be poor and happy if it kills me...
:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh
:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh
Moorf
19th March 2005, 09:45 PM
Bet u remembered the wine! ;) :mrgreen:
Sarah Jane
20th March 2005, 01:33 AM
Hannnah ...I lived in Irthlingborough. I loved my little town there. and I would love to go back given the chance....
Sarah Jane
20th March 2005, 01:39 AM
Kiwi
I am replying yto your question of flapjack......in uk it's an oaty thing stuck together with sugar and syrup. Buy yourself lots of porridge oats and sugar an you'll be well on your way with making a flapjack.
I am replying yto your question of flapjack......in uk it's an oaty thing stuck together with sugar and syrup. Buy yourself lots of porridge oats and sugar an you'll be well on your way with making a flapjack.
Carol
20th March 2005, 08:51 AM
Bet u remembered the wine! ;) :mrgreen:
ummmm....let me see.....OH yes.....I did manage that!
:laugh
ummmm....let me see.....OH yes.....I did manage that!
:laugh
Miffy
21st March 2005, 09:31 AM
What an interesting thread. Thanks very much for everyones points of view.
(BTW I think Kiwi7 should join as I liked his/her brutal honesty.)
Lots has been said about houw pricey thing are in NZ. I'm still not sure living in NZ can be more expensive than the UK (When I say the UK I mean London and the SE.) Come on this is rip off britain surely NZ can't be worse than what happened here ????? ..... but I'll find out in 5 weeks time :mrgreen: and let you all know :)
One question to Sarah-Jane: (sorry for it being personal)
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
(BTW I think Kiwi7 should join as I liked his/her brutal honesty.)
Lots has been said about houw pricey thing are in NZ. I'm still not sure living in NZ can be more expensive than the UK (When I say the UK I mean London and the SE.) Come on this is rip off britain surely NZ can't be worse than what happened here ????? ..... but I'll find out in 5 weeks time :mrgreen: and let you all know :)
One question to Sarah-Jane: (sorry for it being personal)
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
veronica
21st March 2005, 09:41 AM
I am not sure Kiwi7's post was entirely, well honest doesn't seem the right word. perhaps comprehensive would be better. I would certainly feel there was a lot left out of his reported posting.
Hannah
21st March 2005, 01:47 PM
Hi Sara Jane...
Irthlingborough!!! I live on Irthlingborough Road! I am about to do some research on people's health in Irthlingborough and will have the joy of sitting drinking tea with local residents committees and the folks from the interestingly named "Centre for the Elderly and Disabled"!!! I've lived here 6 years and Irthlingborough hasn't changed one bit ! Wellingborough is changing massively with a 3000 home development planned for the East side over the next 4 years, a near doubling of the town.
As for Kiwibird I reckon he/she should join - adds diversity to the forum and stimulates the blood pressure!!!!
This thread is an excellent example of the honesty of people on this forum and those still in the UK are hearing real life stuff, not the fodder of your usual "Living and Working in.." books. I really appreciate this - thanks y'all.
Hannah (not the Netherlands one!!!)
Irthlingborough!!! I live on Irthlingborough Road! I am about to do some research on people's health in Irthlingborough and will have the joy of sitting drinking tea with local residents committees and the folks from the interestingly named "Centre for the Elderly and Disabled"!!! I've lived here 6 years and Irthlingborough hasn't changed one bit ! Wellingborough is changing massively with a 3000 home development planned for the East side over the next 4 years, a near doubling of the town.
As for Kiwibird I reckon he/she should join - adds diversity to the forum and stimulates the blood pressure!!!!
This thread is an excellent example of the honesty of people on this forum and those still in the UK are hearing real life stuff, not the fodder of your usual "Living and Working in.." books. I really appreciate this - thanks y'all.
Hannah (not the Netherlands one!!!)
Wannaway
21st March 2005, 01:49 PM
I don't think there is a "rip off" culture in NZ in the same way as there is in, say, the UK. It seems to me that things seem expensive here because wages are not competitive. As far as prices of goods go, one thing you have to accept is that this a much smaller market than UK/Europe/US and is a long way from anywhere, so the cost fo shipping/importing etc is bound to have an upward effect on prices. Also, because it is a small market you don't have the same level of competition as in the UK etc, which generally is consumer advantageous.
So I think it has less to do with prices and more to do with wages. As someone posted earlier in the thread, don't come to NZ to make piles of money and they are right (and I for one had forgotten that), it is a question of readjusting your sights and looking to settle into that simpler way of life I think most of us would like. I have only been in NZ for 5 months and have to stop thinking in UK terms, now I am in Rome I need to do as the Romans do (so to speak). I am getting there but I reckon it will take some time yet, and probably a bit of that mindset won't leave me for years.
The key message is that there will be a period of readjustment required and for some that may be more painful (or seem more painful) than others, but if you can keep in mind the basic rationale for wanting to come here you should pull through that and start to appreciate all that is good about the place (and it ain't money!) and there are a lot of good things.
So I think it has less to do with prices and more to do with wages. As someone posted earlier in the thread, don't come to NZ to make piles of money and they are right (and I for one had forgotten that), it is a question of readjusting your sights and looking to settle into that simpler way of life I think most of us would like. I have only been in NZ for 5 months and have to stop thinking in UK terms, now I am in Rome I need to do as the Romans do (so to speak). I am getting there but I reckon it will take some time yet, and probably a bit of that mindset won't leave me for years.
The key message is that there will be a period of readjustment required and for some that may be more painful (or seem more painful) than others, but if you can keep in mind the basic rationale for wanting to come here you should pull through that and start to appreciate all that is good about the place (and it ain't money!) and there are a lot of good things.
Hannah
21st March 2005, 02:03 PM
I'm wondering whether things will be any different for us in NZ. My partner is so tight that he has fitted 15W low energy bulbs around the house and has worked out that it costs us £7.49 to leave all of them turned on 24/7 all year round ... and he still goes round the house whining if someone leaves a light on. He even worked out how much a years supply of paper plates cost compared to hot water and washing up liquid to be sure that eating of our willow pattern plates (from a charity shop) was cost effective (he was drunk at the time!).
I think he'll fit into NZ life pretty well - he was so impressed at all of the mint condition mark 1 fiesta's and escorts he saw cruising round Thames! (evidence of good car maintenance and keen budgetting he tells me). We have a wood burner too - so far we have burned our garden fence, tree house and half a silver burch from our friends garden!!!
Hannah
I think he'll fit into NZ life pretty well - he was so impressed at all of the mint condition mark 1 fiesta's and escorts he saw cruising round Thames! (evidence of good car maintenance and keen budgetting he tells me). We have a wood burner too - so far we have burned our garden fence, tree house and half a silver burch from our friends garden!!!
Hannah
Sarah Jane
21st March 2005, 04:35 PM
One question to Sarah-Jane: (sorry for it being personal)
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
Hubby only worked for Mail on Sunday on a Saturday on a 10 hour shift so the journey was once a week which he did as the money was so good....but he hated the journey and was really tired of it....it put an extra 7 hours in travelling time on a days work. He worked for a local paper for the rest of the week but wages are poor in Devon which is why he kept up the trips to London.
There's no way he'd consider doing that any more, and you certainly couldn't do it on a daily basis.
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
Hubby only worked for Mail on Sunday on a Saturday on a 10 hour shift so the journey was once a week which he did as the money was so good....but he hated the journey and was really tired of it....it put an extra 7 hours in travelling time on a days work. He worked for a local paper for the rest of the week but wages are poor in Devon which is why he kept up the trips to London.
There's no way he'd consider doing that any more, and you certainly couldn't do it on a daily basis.
Diny
21st March 2005, 08:29 PM
Hannah
Your hubby would get on so well with my brother in law.
Your hubby would get on so well with my brother in law.
wilson182
21st March 2005, 09:34 PM
One question to Sarah-Jane: (sorry for it being personal)
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
Hubby only worked for Mail on Sunday on a Saturday on a 10 hour shift so the journey was once a week which he did as the money was so good....but he hated the journey and was really tired of it....it put an extra 7 hours in travelling time on a days work. He worked for a local paper for the rest of the week but wages are poor in Devon which is why he kept up the trips to London.
There's no way he'd consider doing that any more, and you certainly couldn't do it on a daily basis.
I have to agree there, one of our main movitvations for moving here was the hours hubby was having to work, including his daily four hour commute(sp) into London from Portsmouth. Sitting on that tube for a couple of hours a day is enough to make the strongest person lose the will to live. :laugh Here is home before me most days, and that is a luxury money can't buy. (especially when he cooks dinner :nice1 )
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
Hubby only worked for Mail on Sunday on a Saturday on a 10 hour shift so the journey was once a week which he did as the money was so good....but he hated the journey and was really tired of it....it put an extra 7 hours in travelling time on a days work. He worked for a local paper for the rest of the week but wages are poor in Devon which is why he kept up the trips to London.
There's no way he'd consider doing that any more, and you certainly couldn't do it on a daily basis.
I have to agree there, one of our main movitvations for moving here was the hours hubby was having to work, including his daily four hour commute(sp) into London from Portsmouth. Sitting on that tube for a couple of hours a day is enough to make the strongest person lose the will to live. :laugh Here is home before me most days, and that is a luxury money can't buy. (especially when he cooks dinner :nice1 )
Miffy
22nd March 2005, 01:57 AM
One question to Sarah-Jane: (sorry for it being personal)
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
Hubby only worked for Mail on Sunday on a Saturday on a 10 hour shift so the journey was once a week which he did as the money was so good....but he hated the journey and was really tired of it....it put an extra 7 hours in travelling time on a days work. He worked for a local paper for the rest of the week but wages are poor in Devon which is why he kept up the trips to London.
There's no way he'd consider doing that any more, and you certainly couldn't do it on a daily basis.
Oh he only did it once a week, I did wonder how anyone could do that kind of journey every day :eek :eek
If you lived down in Devon with your hubby working for the Mail on Sunday, surely you were used to one hell of a comute. Devon to London must have been nasty. So have you not thought of doing a similar comute over in NZ so you can live in a more reasonable area????
:-)
Hubby only worked for Mail on Sunday on a Saturday on a 10 hour shift so the journey was once a week which he did as the money was so good....but he hated the journey and was really tired of it....it put an extra 7 hours in travelling time on a days work. He worked for a local paper for the rest of the week but wages are poor in Devon which is why he kept up the trips to London.
There's no way he'd consider doing that any more, and you certainly couldn't do it on a daily basis.
Oh he only did it once a week, I did wonder how anyone could do that kind of journey every day :eek :eek
KiwiB
22nd March 2005, 04:11 PM
My first choice supermarket is Pak'N Save which I found have the lowest food prices generally. Countdown supermarket is my 2nd choice supermarket, in fact I hardly step into Countdown Supermarket.
People may not be aware that a price differential of around 50 cents may sound trivial but when multiplied over several items each week DO ADD UP SUBSTANTIALLY. This principle applies across the board from Groceries, Schools, Stationery, Power, Phone, Insurance etc etc.Hence the saying, watch the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves.
Furthermore, there are OFTEN hefty discounts or SPECIAL OFFERS which come on a very regular basis that one can really take advantage of in buying basic groceries like bread, fruit juices, eggs, peanut butter, tuna etc etc.
For example,
Tip Top Ice-Cream 2L (a very popular brand) normally quite expensive goes for $2.99,
The Nescafe Classic 100g parallel import at the WAREHOUSE is $2.99 but I buy The International Roasts 100g granules for around $1.39. Keri Fruit juices 3L goes for around $2.80.
40 rolls of Toilet Paper goes for $9.95 at THE WAREHOUSE.
A tray of 30 eggs (size 6) on offer ranges between $3.99 - $4.99.
And Potatoes are really cheap in Christchurch around $3.99 for 10 KGs.
Most of the items most immigrants purchased on our weekly grocery shopping trips often go on special offers very frequently and the savings are VERY SUBSTANTIAL, believe me.
It really isn't too difficult to shop wisely, just a little time (after all PARKING is FREE) but effort is needed. Perhaps those who earn around $30,000 or less a year would make that little effort. You know...it is only through concerted consumer effort that keeps prices low and put those profiteers out of business. :cheers
<"I am giving examples based on my current use in a 3 bed, 2 living room, 1 dining room, terracotta floored uninsulated house, you can't comment on my usage without knowing my situation, house size and how thick my jumpers are..">
Then the examples of people living in UNINSULATED HOUSES using $400 worth of FIREWOOD and still using electricity to heat up the house. The Christchurch City Council has even offered subsidies for ENERGY inefficient houses to improve their insulation to cut down on energy consumption.
<"We need broadband ($70/mth) for our business work and our own personal usage. We call home to the UK several times a month per family. NO WAY we'd use a crappy dial up pay-as-you-go service.">
The so called crabby Dial Up Internet isn't pay as you go, it is flat rate unlimited surfing, adequate for most purposes except for those keen on downloading movies and music.
I now understand why the above examples cannot get by based on the high income earned (falling into the highest tax bracket). I would add that their lifestyles cannot be average or used as comparisons because the bulk of Kiwis do not earn incomes of $70,000 or more per year....
KiwiBird7
People may not be aware that a price differential of around 50 cents may sound trivial but when multiplied over several items each week DO ADD UP SUBSTANTIALLY. This principle applies across the board from Groceries, Schools, Stationery, Power, Phone, Insurance etc etc.Hence the saying, watch the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves.
Furthermore, there are OFTEN hefty discounts or SPECIAL OFFERS which come on a very regular basis that one can really take advantage of in buying basic groceries like bread, fruit juices, eggs, peanut butter, tuna etc etc.
For example,
Tip Top Ice-Cream 2L (a very popular brand) normally quite expensive goes for $2.99,
The Nescafe Classic 100g parallel import at the WAREHOUSE is $2.99 but I buy The International Roasts 100g granules for around $1.39. Keri Fruit juices 3L goes for around $2.80.
40 rolls of Toilet Paper goes for $9.95 at THE WAREHOUSE.
A tray of 30 eggs (size 6) on offer ranges between $3.99 - $4.99.
And Potatoes are really cheap in Christchurch around $3.99 for 10 KGs.
Most of the items most immigrants purchased on our weekly grocery shopping trips often go on special offers very frequently and the savings are VERY SUBSTANTIAL, believe me.
It really isn't too difficult to shop wisely, just a little time (after all PARKING is FREE) but effort is needed. Perhaps those who earn around $30,000 or less a year would make that little effort. You know...it is only through concerted consumer effort that keeps prices low and put those profiteers out of business. :cheers
<"I am giving examples based on my current use in a 3 bed, 2 living room, 1 dining room, terracotta floored uninsulated house, you can't comment on my usage without knowing my situation, house size and how thick my jumpers are..">
Then the examples of people living in UNINSULATED HOUSES using $400 worth of FIREWOOD and still using electricity to heat up the house. The Christchurch City Council has even offered subsidies for ENERGY inefficient houses to improve their insulation to cut down on energy consumption.
<"We need broadband ($70/mth) for our business work and our own personal usage. We call home to the UK several times a month per family. NO WAY we'd use a crappy dial up pay-as-you-go service.">
The so called crabby Dial Up Internet isn't pay as you go, it is flat rate unlimited surfing, adequate for most purposes except for those keen on downloading movies and music.
I now understand why the above examples cannot get by based on the high income earned (falling into the highest tax bracket). I would add that their lifestyles cannot be average or used as comparisons because the bulk of Kiwis do not earn incomes of $70,000 or more per year....
KiwiBird7
Moorf
22nd March 2005, 07:20 PM
Then the examples of people living in UNINSULATED HOUSES using $400 worth of FIREWOOD and still using electricity to heat up the house. The Christchurch City Council has even offered subsidies for ENERGY inefficient houses to improve their insulation to cut down on energy consumption.
You mis-understand, or I explained incorrectly.. the house we are in is RENTED - it has no heating except a wall mounted electric heater which merely heats the thermo-stat above it to the required temp and then turns off.... there was very little decent housing available to rent when we arrived and we rented this place over summer - our elec bill was noted and Yes, it would have covered items such as having our oil heaters on during cold spells.
The house we have BOUGHT but not yet moved into is what we spent the $400 for firewood on - having spoken to locals at work and acquaintances my hubby and I found that $400 would more than keep us going thru the winter - this is our main heating - the house IS insulated, below floor and in roof etc. Note we also bought macrocarpa as it's a denser wood that burns hotter - yes, it's more expensive.
As for broadband versus dial-up there's no compromise for us - broadband every time - if we couldn't get that then we'd pay for satellite. SOME dial up's are pay as you go, some are an 0800 number. Whilst the Lynx type option is great for a temporary "fix" it isn't what we would use full time... and you are wrong to assume everyone uses their connections for "entertainment" use - we ship large files/dbases around the world and Woz works from the UK via internet. In fact, we have never downloaded music OR movies, perhaps a few games, that's it!
Anyway, as I said before I was posting OUR experiences/costs and requirements as an example so anyone who read the post as it was intended would have seen where their financial differences would lie. I am not complaining about our finances, and we're not on $70K either! We're happy with our finances AND we eat well, eat out and use our lovely fast broadband!! Hey, we can even afford to run 2 cars, own a dog, buy clothes, call home AND go away for the weekend... so we must be doing SOMETHING right!!
I wouldn't like to asssume that our finances would work in, say, Wellington or Auckland - speaking to people there I think you would definitely need $70K plus as rent, real estate, services/rates etc ARE higher so if you aren't coming across with a huge wad to put down on a house then you may find it hard. (Isn't that where this thread started? :laugh )
I think it's dangerous to tell immigrants that they can live on $30K - perhaps those Kiwi's who are living in their houses they bought before the boom might be able to cope - but I really don't see a family from the UK living on $30k or under... just my opinion but I just don't think they'd "hack" it.
:cheers
Moorf
You mis-understand, or I explained incorrectly.. the house we are in is RENTED - it has no heating except a wall mounted electric heater which merely heats the thermo-stat above it to the required temp and then turns off.... there was very little decent housing available to rent when we arrived and we rented this place over summer - our elec bill was noted and Yes, it would have covered items such as having our oil heaters on during cold spells.
The house we have BOUGHT but not yet moved into is what we spent the $400 for firewood on - having spoken to locals at work and acquaintances my hubby and I found that $400 would more than keep us going thru the winter - this is our main heating - the house IS insulated, below floor and in roof etc. Note we also bought macrocarpa as it's a denser wood that burns hotter - yes, it's more expensive.
As for broadband versus dial-up there's no compromise for us - broadband every time - if we couldn't get that then we'd pay for satellite. SOME dial up's are pay as you go, some are an 0800 number. Whilst the Lynx type option is great for a temporary "fix" it isn't what we would use full time... and you are wrong to assume everyone uses their connections for "entertainment" use - we ship large files/dbases around the world and Woz works from the UK via internet. In fact, we have never downloaded music OR movies, perhaps a few games, that's it!
Anyway, as I said before I was posting OUR experiences/costs and requirements as an example so anyone who read the post as it was intended would have seen where their financial differences would lie. I am not complaining about our finances, and we're not on $70K either! We're happy with our finances AND we eat well, eat out and use our lovely fast broadband!! Hey, we can even afford to run 2 cars, own a dog, buy clothes, call home AND go away for the weekend... so we must be doing SOMETHING right!!
I wouldn't like to asssume that our finances would work in, say, Wellington or Auckland - speaking to people there I think you would definitely need $70K plus as rent, real estate, services/rates etc ARE higher so if you aren't coming across with a huge wad to put down on a house then you may find it hard. (Isn't that where this thread started? :laugh )
I think it's dangerous to tell immigrants that they can live on $30K - perhaps those Kiwi's who are living in their houses they bought before the boom might be able to cope - but I really don't see a family from the UK living on $30k or under... just my opinion but I just don't think they'd "hack" it.
:cheers
Moorf
veronica
22nd March 2005, 07:36 PM
Got to agree with that,
""I think it's dangerous to tell immigrants that they can live on $30K - perhaps those Kiwi's who are living in their houses they bought before the boom might be able to cope - but I really don't see a family from the UK living on $30k or under... just my opinion but I just don't think they'd "hack" it. ""
Most people coming here from the UK are coming for a better quality of life, and subsisting on the cheapest food and worrying where every penny is going definately doesnt improve the quality of life. I think most of them are prepared to make adjustments just not to take such a retrograde step.
As for broad band, the links we have with our families are mainly via the internet and it is also used for work, at least with broad band we only need the one phone line and if someone is on the internet then the business calls can still come through. So to us its worth every cent we pay for it.
""I think it's dangerous to tell immigrants that they can live on $30K - perhaps those Kiwi's who are living in their houses they bought before the boom might be able to cope - but I really don't see a family from the UK living on $30k or under... just my opinion but I just don't think they'd "hack" it. ""
Most people coming here from the UK are coming for a better quality of life, and subsisting on the cheapest food and worrying where every penny is going definately doesnt improve the quality of life. I think most of them are prepared to make adjustments just not to take such a retrograde step.
As for broad band, the links we have with our families are mainly via the internet and it is also used for work, at least with broad band we only need the one phone line and if someone is on the internet then the business calls can still come through. So to us its worth every cent we pay for it.
KiwiB
24th March 2005, 05:38 AM
<"having spoken to locals at work and acquaintances my hubby and I found that $400 would more than keep us going thru the winter">
That was what I was trying to point out to you all along. That is why I found all the costings posted so far somewhat puzzling, having lived in NZ for many years.....
You will soon discover that locals on the current average NZ income of $30,000 per annum can hack it and own property that is if they are prudent and 'sorted'. http://www.sorted.co.nz/
Why do you think property prices are still booming all across NZ and not just Auckland? It is because local demand is also fueling the boom, not just the newly arrived immigrants who flood into Auckland.
In my humble opinion, generally UK emigrants are still in culture shock because the average income in UK is probably much higher than NZ. And new comers, UK emigrants, like tourists may end up paying more than they should for the same goods and services until they know better and learn where to shop. Only then would they be able to enjoy a better quality of life for less. :nice1
<"Most people coming here from the UK are coming for a better quality of life, and subsisting on the cheapest food and worrying where every penny is going definately doesnt improve the quality of life. I think most of them are prepared to make adjustments just not to take such a retrograde step.">
1. I am still wondering why some UK emigrants would come to NZ to work unless the pay they are getting here is very much higher than what they were getting in UK vis a vis exchange rate and all.
2. I believe that food prices in NZ (meat, veges etc) are generally cheaper than UK prices and Europe hence all those protective tariffs against NZ agricultural products put up by the EU.
3. Property prices should be cheaper in NZ compared with UK (eg Auckland vs LONDON)
From the economic point of view, if the above 3 points are valid then I am puzzled over the 'problems' some of these UK emigrants (not meaning Moorf whom I believe is happy in CHch) have highlighted and if the above 3 points are not valid, then why are they still in NZ ?
Just my 2 cents worth of opinions.
That was what I was trying to point out to you all along. That is why I found all the costings posted so far somewhat puzzling, having lived in NZ for many years.....
You will soon discover that locals on the current average NZ income of $30,000 per annum can hack it and own property that is if they are prudent and 'sorted'. http://www.sorted.co.nz/
Why do you think property prices are still booming all across NZ and not just Auckland? It is because local demand is also fueling the boom, not just the newly arrived immigrants who flood into Auckland.
In my humble opinion, generally UK emigrants are still in culture shock because the average income in UK is probably much higher than NZ. And new comers, UK emigrants, like tourists may end up paying more than they should for the same goods and services until they know better and learn where to shop. Only then would they be able to enjoy a better quality of life for less. :nice1
<"Most people coming here from the UK are coming for a better quality of life, and subsisting on the cheapest food and worrying where every penny is going definately doesnt improve the quality of life. I think most of them are prepared to make adjustments just not to take such a retrograde step.">
1. I am still wondering why some UK emigrants would come to NZ to work unless the pay they are getting here is very much higher than what they were getting in UK vis a vis exchange rate and all.
2. I believe that food prices in NZ (meat, veges etc) are generally cheaper than UK prices and Europe hence all those protective tariffs against NZ agricultural products put up by the EU.
3. Property prices should be cheaper in NZ compared with UK (eg Auckland vs LONDON)
From the economic point of view, if the above 3 points are valid then I am puzzled over the 'problems' some of these UK emigrants (not meaning Moorf whom I believe is happy in CHch) have highlighted and if the above 3 points are not valid, then why are they still in NZ ?
Just my 2 cents worth of opinions.
Milliemoo
24th March 2005, 07:39 AM
Like that website. Thanks
Milliemoo :nice1
Milliemoo :nice1
Wannaway
24th March 2005, 08:58 AM
There is so much more to this than merely "goods being more expensive" or "wages are low". I have to say I don't like comments that question why certain emigrants want to come here, or more pertinently, "are still here" if they are still experiencing culture shock (or whatever you want to call it). Everyone is bound to experience this to some degree or other, and in different ways too, you can't help feeling displaced after such a major chnage in life.
I like it here and want to say but that does not alter my belief that the cost of living here is relatively high compared to incomes, and that is a different experience to the previous 38 years of my life. Thats all, its not a moan, its not a whinge, its a statement of my feelings and my observations from the last 5 months. Also, I work with a lot of people who have worked abroad (mainly Ireland and the UK) and quite a few of them were born and brought up outside of Auckland and many of them have said to me that Auckland is epensive compared to the rest of New Zealand and relatively expensive compared to the places they lived when abroad.
I think the value of this thread is the exchange of people's experiences and knowledge based on their first few months etc of life in a new country and, I for one, am hoping that prospective migrants take this thread as just a sharing of that experience to give them more info etc for when they start their journey.
I like it here and want to say but that does not alter my belief that the cost of living here is relatively high compared to incomes, and that is a different experience to the previous 38 years of my life. Thats all, its not a moan, its not a whinge, its a statement of my feelings and my observations from the last 5 months. Also, I work with a lot of people who have worked abroad (mainly Ireland and the UK) and quite a few of them were born and brought up outside of Auckland and many of them have said to me that Auckland is epensive compared to the rest of New Zealand and relatively expensive compared to the places they lived when abroad.
I think the value of this thread is the exchange of people's experiences and knowledge based on their first few months etc of life in a new country and, I for one, am hoping that prospective migrants take this thread as just a sharing of that experience to give them more info etc for when they start their journey.
Diny
24th March 2005, 09:23 AM
I have to say I don't like comments that question why certain emigrants want to come here, or more pertinently, "are still here"
I totally agree. If folks are having abit of 'culture shock' and are finding things financially difficult, they don't need to hear comments like this. They come onto this forum and post their feelings, opinions and questions in the hope that there's others out there experiencing the same things. You can research your NZ finances and budgets until the cows come home but nobody can predict reality down to the last penny (or should I say cent).
Periods of adjustment can be very trying. Some will glide through it with a 'devil may care' attitude, others will have many sleepless nights. It doesn't mean that anybody is more prepared, capable or qualified. It simply means that we all adjust at a different pace. What everybody needs is informed encouragement.
Sorry if I've gone slightly off topic, but I feel very strongly about the "I've been here longer than you" attitude that occasionally crops up.
Diny
I totally agree. If folks are having abit of 'culture shock' and are finding things financially difficult, they don't need to hear comments like this. They come onto this forum and post their feelings, opinions and questions in the hope that there's others out there experiencing the same things. You can research your NZ finances and budgets until the cows come home but nobody can predict reality down to the last penny (or should I say cent).
Periods of adjustment can be very trying. Some will glide through it with a 'devil may care' attitude, others will have many sleepless nights. It doesn't mean that anybody is more prepared, capable or qualified. It simply means that we all adjust at a different pace. What everybody needs is informed encouragement.
Sorry if I've gone slightly off topic, but I feel very strongly about the "I've been here longer than you" attitude that occasionally crops up.
Diny
veronica
24th March 2005, 09:44 AM
Disregarding point one as we each have different and personal reasons for making the move.
Point 2 is actually very debatable from a UK point of view. A loaf of bread can be bought in the Uk for .30 / .35 pence, here the cheapest is about $0.99 and milk is a similar price in both places. Meat is cheaper, veggies about the same, tinned and processed food about the same, imported foods more expensive.(to be expected given the distance) Other household consumables again about the same. My own feeling is that food prices have risen quite a bit in the last 3 years here, anyone else think so.
point 3 Yes property is a lot cheaper, and so are the invisible things like insurance, can't answer for electricity, internet about the same, medical and opticians more expensive. Its the property being so much cheaper that allows a lot of us Brits to reduce the mortgage amount and make living in NZ with its lower wages a viable prospect.
Point 2 is actually very debatable from a UK point of view. A loaf of bread can be bought in the Uk for .30 / .35 pence, here the cheapest is about $0.99 and milk is a similar price in both places. Meat is cheaper, veggies about the same, tinned and processed food about the same, imported foods more expensive.(to be expected given the distance) Other household consumables again about the same. My own feeling is that food prices have risen quite a bit in the last 3 years here, anyone else think so.
point 3 Yes property is a lot cheaper, and so are the invisible things like insurance, can't answer for electricity, internet about the same, medical and opticians more expensive. Its the property being so much cheaper that allows a lot of us Brits to reduce the mortgage amount and make living in NZ with its lower wages a viable prospect.
Hannah
24th March 2005, 10:24 AM
Hiya,
i agree that we shouldn't be beating each other up about whether they are subsisting on $70K when others are surviving on less or whatever - everyone is different, and perceives their lifestyle differently. We all have different expectations too. The fact that this forum is so good is simply because everyone does feel free to express how they feel about their new life in NZ without being accused of financial mismanagement, poor budgetting skills or wanting desirable products which are not essential to survival. this is a great thread for people like me looking at coming to NZ in future and I am sure others value experiences of people who are still coping with the transition. finding bread a bit dearer than expected doesn't mean you are all desperately unhappy i'm sure!!!!
Cheers to all who have been so open about your finances :cheers
i agree that we shouldn't be beating each other up about whether they are subsisting on $70K when others are surviving on less or whatever - everyone is different, and perceives their lifestyle differently. We all have different expectations too. The fact that this forum is so good is simply because everyone does feel free to express how they feel about their new life in NZ without being accused of financial mismanagement, poor budgetting skills or wanting desirable products which are not essential to survival. this is a great thread for people like me looking at coming to NZ in future and I am sure others value experiences of people who are still coping with the transition. finding bread a bit dearer than expected doesn't mean you are all desperately unhappy i'm sure!!!!
Cheers to all who have been so open about your finances :cheers
Moorf
24th March 2005, 10:49 AM
3. Property prices should be cheaper in NZ compared with UK (eg Auckland vs LONDON)
If we were getting London salaries then yes, they'd be dirt cheap, but it's all relative here - costs, insurances, shopping, food.. all relative to what you will be earning :nice1
KiwiB - there are lots of threads on here where you can read reasons why people are prepared to give up UK salaries etc to move to NZ... start with this one http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=833&highlight=reasons
:nice1
If we were getting London salaries then yes, they'd be dirt cheap, but it's all relative here - costs, insurances, shopping, food.. all relative to what you will be earning :nice1
KiwiB - there are lots of threads on here where you can read reasons why people are prepared to give up UK salaries etc to move to NZ... start with this one http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=833&highlight=reasons
:nice1
ruthyroo
24th March 2005, 02:36 PM
Wow what a fascinating thread - it's like watching a slow motion car crash where UK and NZ lifestyles are coming head to head!
My tuppence worth is that I have come to the realisation that the 'average lifestyle' in the UK and NZ are very very different. Thriftiness and 'surviving' on as little as possible are ways of life in NZ - they are normal. Whereas for lots of us coming from the UK, these are very new things to learn about - and some of us find it hard. Like Moorf, I have no desire the 'survive' on big plates of spuds and white supermarket bread jsut becuase they are cheap - I'm here to have a life and for me that means good food, plenty NZ wine and the chance to explore NZ and the South Pacific through regular holidays. If we stay here and buy, i want a decent house, with a bit of land, room to park the boat (!), and I want to be able to furnish it as I see fit. I didn't travel all this way just to 'survive'! And to me (and many other UK immigrants) that qualifies as an 'average' life - for me. Crash bang wallop up against the kiwi lifestyle!!
My tuppence worth is that I have come to the realisation that the 'average lifestyle' in the UK and NZ are very very different. Thriftiness and 'surviving' on as little as possible are ways of life in NZ - they are normal. Whereas for lots of us coming from the UK, these are very new things to learn about - and some of us find it hard. Like Moorf, I have no desire the 'survive' on big plates of spuds and white supermarket bread jsut becuase they are cheap - I'm here to have a life and for me that means good food, plenty NZ wine and the chance to explore NZ and the South Pacific through regular holidays. If we stay here and buy, i want a decent house, with a bit of land, room to park the boat (!), and I want to be able to furnish it as I see fit. I didn't travel all this way just to 'survive'! And to me (and many other UK immigrants) that qualifies as an 'average' life - for me. Crash bang wallop up against the kiwi lifestyle!!
leslie
24th March 2005, 03:17 PM
i am not sure you can have both. at least i haven't found anywhere that combines nz lifestyle with euro/ 1st world consumerism - dont know anyone who has. maybe some parts of the usa???
what i find a bit comical is how tied to consumables brits have become in a single generation. there is an interesting study to be had...
what i find a bit comical is how tied to consumables brits have become in a single generation. there is an interesting study to be had...
Carol
24th March 2005, 07:23 PM
Life is FAR too short to drink crap wine!
Think I might make that my new signature............ :nice1
Think I might make that my new signature............ :nice1
Diny
24th March 2005, 08:22 PM
I didn't travel all this way just to 'survive'! And to me (and many other UK immigrants) that qualifies as an 'average' life - for me
Life is FAR too short to drink crap wine!
I couldn't agree more with the above comments.
Diny
Life is FAR too short to drink crap wine!
I couldn't agree more with the above comments.
Diny
Carol
24th March 2005, 08:24 PM
:cheers
good morning oh lovely one! :mrgreen:
good morning oh lovely one! :mrgreen:
cpgrant
24th March 2005, 08:26 PM
Life is FAR too short to drink crap wine!
Think I might make that my new signature............ :nice1
Have you seen Sideways? Sounds like it could be your kinda movie.
Think I might make that my new signature............ :nice1
Have you seen Sideways? Sounds like it could be your kinda movie.
Carol
24th March 2005, 08:26 PM
nope.........
Might go off and have a look for it now...
Might go off and have a look for it now...
Carol
24th March 2005, 08:29 PM
sounds good!!!!
But I'm not really a wine "buff"....just cheap and wine.
Also cheap and coffee.....would rather do without.
But I'm not really a wine "buff"....just cheap and wine.
Also cheap and coffee.....would rather do without.
leslie
24th March 2005, 10:02 PM
i love my wine but if its a choice bewteen london and vino veritas...
jonSE
25th March 2005, 12:12 AM
Leslie
that seems like a no brainer to me
Vino veritas every time
returning to the topic in hand
from the perspective of someone who lived and worked in central london and perhaps fortunately am employed doing the same job effectively as I did in London ( I am a structural Engineer in case delusions of fat cat bankers pervert the illusion) at the same salary as I had in the UK converted at todays rates.
Yes food is relatively more expensive on average, housing is cheaper, but the cost of rental housing seems expensive at the bottom end of the market (We are paying $330NZ pw for a 3 bedroom property with two garages, which is a reasonable rent in relation to what it would cost to buy the place) Yet at the bottom end of the market you would be hard pushed to rent a room only for $150NZ per week in Auckland
Wine is probably cheaper here, even the cheap stuff, whcih is better than cheap wine in France.
there is a big cost in both money and time in starting afresh anywhere (not just nZ) just imagine having to insure your house and cars, get the cars mot'd, open a telphone account, elec account, all those other household things, all at the same time, in a country which has systems with which you are not familiar,no opportunity to search out the best deal....
Have to get it all done and organised, no time to search. The cost does hurt even when you can well afford it.
The wine is still good though.
jon
that seems like a no brainer to me
Vino veritas every time
returning to the topic in hand
from the perspective of someone who lived and worked in central london and perhaps fortunately am employed doing the same job effectively as I did in London ( I am a structural Engineer in case delusions of fat cat bankers pervert the illusion) at the same salary as I had in the UK converted at todays rates.
Yes food is relatively more expensive on average, housing is cheaper, but the cost of rental housing seems expensive at the bottom end of the market (We are paying $330NZ pw for a 3 bedroom property with two garages, which is a reasonable rent in relation to what it would cost to buy the place) Yet at the bottom end of the market you would be hard pushed to rent a room only for $150NZ per week in Auckland
Wine is probably cheaper here, even the cheap stuff, whcih is better than cheap wine in France.
there is a big cost in both money and time in starting afresh anywhere (not just nZ) just imagine having to insure your house and cars, get the cars mot'd, open a telphone account, elec account, all those other household things, all at the same time, in a country which has systems with which you are not familiar,no opportunity to search out the best deal....
Have to get it all done and organised, no time to search. The cost does hurt even when you can well afford it.
The wine is still good though.
jon
leslie
25th March 2005, 12:45 AM
setting up new is a shock - no matter how you slice it. its one of the reasons i just take anything useful now. hard experience. its not just the cost, its the dragging your tired butt around an unfamiliar city day in day out trying to sort the finer points when there are a thousand other things you'd rather blow your time on. even the tiny jobs take herculean effort. pah.
good to know about wine. i fancy the idea of trying to make my own irish cream but intend to leave the mighty grape well alone until bottled.
in preparation for nz i am dying several silk tops black/ grey (i think). they will look sooooooooo fun with jeans. recycling gone decadent or stupid. news at 10. viva life on the edge...
good to know about wine. i fancy the idea of trying to make my own irish cream but intend to leave the mighty grape well alone until bottled.
in preparation for nz i am dying several silk tops black/ grey (i think). they will look sooooooooo fun with jeans. recycling gone decadent or stupid. news at 10. viva life on the edge...
Moorf
25th March 2005, 01:35 AM
setting up new is a shock - no matter how you slice it. its one of the reasons i just take anything useful now. hard experience. its not just the cost, its the dragging your tired butt around an unfamiliar city day in day out trying to sort the finer points when there are a thousand other things you'd rather blow your time on. even the tiny jobs take herculean effort. pah.
Hell yeah - for the last few weeks we've had no time to "enjoy" NZ as we've been out sorting the new house/furniture and generally fretting - hence our weekend away this Easter - we needed the time before we move next Fri and we start settling in.
Reminds me of our first week or so here - buying car, getting rental, banks a/c's etc... haemorraging money.
Hell yeah - for the last few weeks we've had no time to "enjoy" NZ as we've been out sorting the new house/furniture and generally fretting - hence our weekend away this Easter - we needed the time before we move next Fri and we start settling in.
Reminds me of our first week or so here - buying car, getting rental, banks a/c's etc... haemorraging money.
leslie
25th March 2005, 03:36 AM
am now the proud owner of one navy silk shirt (???) and a really nice black one. onwards and upwards
we've rented neighbours garage and are filling it with cool stuff we will eventually need. this time the container wont be half empty and we will have time to spend having fun when we arrive. tarlton here we come!
we've rented neighbours garage and are filling it with cool stuff we will eventually need. this time the container wont be half empty and we will have time to spend having fun when we arrive. tarlton here we come!
viv.joshipura
1st April 2005, 10:09 AM
Hi Sarah,
I am currently based in Birmingham UK and about to submit my EOI. Got 2 girls. The older one starts school this fall. We were in touch with the recruitment specialists based in Auckland. However after reading your contribution, maybe we should rethink about coming to NZ. Is the standard of living that expensive everywhere (in NZ)?
thanks viv
I am currently based in Birmingham UK and about to submit my EOI. Got 2 girls. The older one starts school this fall. We were in touch with the recruitment specialists based in Auckland. However after reading your contribution, maybe we should rethink about coming to NZ. Is the standard of living that expensive everywhere (in NZ)?
thanks viv
Soon2baKiwi
2nd April 2005, 12:05 PM
Lord I'm feeling philisophical tonght :oops: I spend 9 months of the year living on a very tight budget because my OH is a car salesman and only the first three months are any good money wise. The last three months have been great but now it's starting to die off and I hate it. It's been lovely not having to worry about spending money on myself. My idea of decadence is doing a complete shop in Tescos instead of only getting what I need and then going to Lidl. The difference has been quite marked this year because it's been so good.
I know people say it all the time but I really have no interest in labels, brands, big house for big house sake etc.etc. BUT... I want to be happy. You cannot be happy if you're worrying about money. It is, apart from other things, the greatest cause of marriage breakdowns and as I've only just got married I don't want to go courting disaster. :? My mother used to say "when poverty flies in the window, love flies out the door" This was when she was trying to get my sisters and I to marry a rich man :laugh That didn't work. :wah
NZ is expensive relatively speaking, I don't think anyone can dispute that. So, the only way to ensure our comfort and happiness is to make sure we earn enough money to be able to live comfortably. Instead of trying to get everything cheaper we need to earn enough to be able to afford the prices that are being asked. Although, I'll still try to get everything cheaper :yes If the wages being offered aren't enough, we'll have to get a second income of some sort. I look on all of this as an opportunity and an adventure; we're still pioneers in a sense. Look at us all - when most people our age (even the young ones amongst us) are settling down to middle age, we're travelling to the far side of the world to start a new life. The price of a pint of milk should not be the difference between us making a success of it or not. I don't mean to be facetious. As I said at the beginning I'm being philisophical tonight.
I know people say it all the time but I really have no interest in labels, brands, big house for big house sake etc.etc. BUT... I want to be happy. You cannot be happy if you're worrying about money. It is, apart from other things, the greatest cause of marriage breakdowns and as I've only just got married I don't want to go courting disaster. :? My mother used to say "when poverty flies in the window, love flies out the door" This was when she was trying to get my sisters and I to marry a rich man :laugh That didn't work. :wah
NZ is expensive relatively speaking, I don't think anyone can dispute that. So, the only way to ensure our comfort and happiness is to make sure we earn enough money to be able to live comfortably. Instead of trying to get everything cheaper we need to earn enough to be able to afford the prices that are being asked. Although, I'll still try to get everything cheaper :yes If the wages being offered aren't enough, we'll have to get a second income of some sort. I look on all of this as an opportunity and an adventure; we're still pioneers in a sense. Look at us all - when most people our age (even the young ones amongst us) are settling down to middle age, we're travelling to the far side of the world to start a new life. The price of a pint of milk should not be the difference between us making a success of it or not. I don't mean to be facetious. As I said at the beginning I'm being philisophical tonight.
Singel
3rd April 2005, 12:58 AM
We did not realise how expensive living in Auckland until we rented a 3-bedroom unfurnished house for $360 per week. We were told that the average income is $35,000 per annum which is about $538 per week after tax. How on earth can these people survive here? :no
Having spoken to people with kids, our understanding that they spend an average of $250 per week on grocery alone and do not include utility bills and running/maintenance of 2 cars. There is no doubts that you need 2-person incomes in order to survive in Auckland.
As new emigrants, starting is very hard................ :wah
1) We have spent a big chunk of monies on immigration expenses (payment for WTR visas, PR, medical & police reports, Dutch document translation fees, NZQA assessment reports, driving theory and licence fees) for just the 2 of us.
2) Imported old Japanese car is also expensive here.
IMO, overall the costs of living in Auckland is high.
Having spoken to people with kids, our understanding that they spend an average of $250 per week on grocery alone and do not include utility bills and running/maintenance of 2 cars. There is no doubts that you need 2-person incomes in order to survive in Auckland.
As new emigrants, starting is very hard................ :wah
1) We have spent a big chunk of monies on immigration expenses (payment for WTR visas, PR, medical & police reports, Dutch document translation fees, NZQA assessment reports, driving theory and licence fees) for just the 2 of us.
2) Imported old Japanese car is also expensive here.
IMO, overall the costs of living in Auckland is high.
heimatseeker
3rd April 2005, 11:35 AM
I look on all of this as an opportunity and an adventure; we're still pioneers in a sense. Look at us all - when most people our age (even the young ones amongst us) are settling down to middle age, we're travelling to the far side of the world to start a new life. The price of a pint of milk should not be the difference between us making a success of it or not.
*Very* well said - thank you! :smile
*Very* well said - thank you! :smile
psh12001
3rd April 2005, 04:49 PM
I could nt read that mail and not have a wee say on your comments. Firstly i thought , why the hell dont you go back home then, but then a bit further into reading , i discovered that you have only been here a few months.
We too have 5 kids now as some others on here, and i have a income of $40,000 a year and wife does a part time evenings job two nights a week and is on about $6000. we did struggle in the early months but now were are living quite nicely in christchurch. I have not been to the city of Auckland, only stepped foot in the airport for a few hours on the way here, so i can not comment, but all them prices for school etc you scared me to death. We can get a loaf for 89c here in New word, either white, brown or toast.... school fees for 3 kids was $240 for primary school and i dont mind paying that for a good school . There is no barbed wire , anti scale rollers in sight, unlike their uk school.... just a lovely river boundry and wide open playing fields.
I do understand where you are coming from but you have to make a big choice when coming here, and it starts while you are still in the UK.... it is whether you live here and forget the past or you stay in the Uk. If you try to go on comparing pounds and dollars all the time , it will drive you nuts
The sooner you convert to $ and cents the better.
You can go places here for nothing... you can buy cheap stuff if you shop arround and look for it. but mostly of all you have to remember that although its very much like the Uk....it isnt and you have to accept the changes.
As for the flights.... once you have been here a few years , you wont have anyone in the Uk to bother about, you will probably have lost touch with them... they will still all be doing the same old things as they were when you left....
we feel why bother to go to somewhere where you will probably say hello for the first 5- 10 minutes and then what.....think i would prefer to pay for the few of them to come here and spend the rest of my hard earned cash on exploring pastures new like OZ and NZ or even fiji
We too have 5 kids now as some others on here, and i have a income of $40,000 a year and wife does a part time evenings job two nights a week and is on about $6000. we did struggle in the early months but now were are living quite nicely in christchurch. I have not been to the city of Auckland, only stepped foot in the airport for a few hours on the way here, so i can not comment, but all them prices for school etc you scared me to death. We can get a loaf for 89c here in New word, either white, brown or toast.... school fees for 3 kids was $240 for primary school and i dont mind paying that for a good school . There is no barbed wire , anti scale rollers in sight, unlike their uk school.... just a lovely river boundry and wide open playing fields.
I do understand where you are coming from but you have to make a big choice when coming here, and it starts while you are still in the UK.... it is whether you live here and forget the past or you stay in the Uk. If you try to go on comparing pounds and dollars all the time , it will drive you nuts
The sooner you convert to $ and cents the better.
You can go places here for nothing... you can buy cheap stuff if you shop arround and look for it. but mostly of all you have to remember that although its very much like the Uk....it isnt and you have to accept the changes.
As for the flights.... once you have been here a few years , you wont have anyone in the Uk to bother about, you will probably have lost touch with them... they will still all be doing the same old things as they were when you left....
we feel why bother to go to somewhere where you will probably say hello for the first 5- 10 minutes and then what.....think i would prefer to pay for the few of them to come here and spend the rest of my hard earned cash on exploring pastures new like OZ and NZ or even fiji
Diny
3rd April 2005, 09:27 PM
As for the flights.... once you have been here a few years , you wont have anyone in the Uk to bother about, you will probably have lost touch with them
Speak for yourself on that one, keeping in touch with friends and family is hardley a 'bother'. But there again, it all depends whether you like each other in the first place I guess.
Diny
Speak for yourself on that one, keeping in touch with friends and family is hardley a 'bother'. But there again, it all depends whether you like each other in the first place I guess.
Diny
Carol
3rd April 2005, 09:39 PM
Well....9 years has had to be a "test"
Couldn't WAIT to see them all again at Christmas......and vice versa.
Of course - we DO all like...nay love each other.
Couldn't WAIT to see them all again at Christmas......and vice versa.
Of course - we DO all like...nay love each other.
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