[cornerofsilence]

How does any one manage here?

My husband has been a plumber for 35 years with his own business but when we come to NZ his starting wage was 16 dollars an hour.

[jocalla]

I think for us we have just 'adjusted'

Major shock at first. I never thought I was materialistic in the uk at all, but now that I don't have the money I can soooo see how much I wasted in the UK.

We pretty much only just get buy, and Jon is on $13.12 / hour plus overtime (which is compulsory for us!) So we watch every penny

I cook alot more now, don't buy convenience foods. We have alot more family time now though, sit playing board games of an evening together, which we very rarely done in the UK. Go out on bike rides, you know just free stuff. Museum is free to and the kids like going there :nice1 You actually become more creative when you have no money! ;) :P

I do find it difficult though when the kids want something that we can't afford, which was very rarely said to them in the UK, reminds me of my childhood, mum saying we can't afford it! But this has its good points aswell. They appreciate things more when they do get it!

This is my first winter here and I am stuggling big time, hate the cold at the best of times! But everytime I put on the heating I just think of that electric metre spinning round!! :eek So have the worry of higher bills to come yet!

Even though Jon's wages are extremely low compared to UK he is happy! Really enjoys his job and doesn't work on such a deadline as to what he used to. So my way of looking at things now is, as long as he is happy in his job and we pay our way then thats good enough for the time being.

Joanne

[sarahw]

Joanne you are so right - its not until you are put in a situation like this that you realise how much money was frittered away on useless bits & pieces in the UK.

It has been tighter than it was for us in the UK - we earn a third of what we earned in the UK.

You just learn to watch what you spend, find cheaper places to shop (Warehouse - whoohoo!) and do loads of stuff that doesn't cost anything. Museums, walks, beach, have friends round for dinner rather than going out. Take your own wine to restaurants if you do go (well those that are BYO!)

Me too - cook everything from scratch - and eat with the seasons (don't have a heap of choice not to though since the shops don't tend to stock stuff all year round like they did at home!) Not buy ready meals/pre-packaged food as its not cheap! Watch what's on offer in the supermarket - this week 48cents for 4 kiwi fruit!!!!

Oh yes and wear all your clothes at once to keep warm! :laugh Seriously though I do wear about 5 layers as work is colder than home! You learn creative ways not to have the heating on - like enticing the cats to sit on your knee every evening, opening all the curtains in your North facing rooms & make the most of daylighting (getting heat for free from the sun).

Ian's earning a third of what he did in the UK but, as Joanne's other half is, very happy & I would rather be short on money than happiness.

[Carol]

Every night without fail - I curl up on my sofa wrapped up in a hand made quilt to keep me warm.

Now......
there are a number of things going on there.....



1. Never had a quilt in England.
2. Never needed one because we had central heating.
3. The quilt.........which is gorgeous......was made for me (us) as a Christmas present two years ago by a friend i have made here.....a kiwi. We were invited to their place that Christmas because we have no family here - and as she said - "Christmas is a time for family".
4. She told us to use it every day because that is what it is for....and to give her a thought when we use it - which I do. (No-one else gets a chance!)
5. She has just offerred me a flat she owns in Taupo to use in the holidays while I get my floors polyurathaned.
6. I treasure her as a friend....she started off as a colleague.
7. There is much more to that quilt than meets the eye.......

Carol

[veronica]

it seems criminal that to get a plumber in we have to pay a minimum of $53 to $60 an hour and the plumber himself is paid such low wages. the only way round it seems to be to go self employed and set up your own business.. put an ad in the local paper and see what response you get.

I have been thinking about setting up a data base of tradesmen and skills in the chch area for other forum people to use if they need a plumber sparky chippy etc. any one interested!!!!!

[Carol]

Sounds like a plan........

[Diny]

I have been thinking about setting up a data base of tradesmen and skills in the chch area for other forum people to use if they need a plumber sparky chippy etc. any one interested!!!!!


Veronica - this is a really sensible idea - well done you for coming up with it. However you could make it a 'forum wide' thing ... not just Christchurch - a kind of data base of all forum members (if they're interested in being included of course) - where they are based, what services they can offer and a contact e-mail or phone number. It could cover all skills from plumber, sparkies and carpenters to accountants, chefs, teachers (for private tuition) etc .... anybody really, and not just forum members either.

I think you've spawned a real 'goer' ....... I would be more than happy to help with any 'setting up' ... please feel free to let me know if there's anything you would like me to do.

Well done ........ I think you may have reached the point of no return with that suggestion (Douglas permitting).

Diny

[jo b]

Veronica,

Brilliant idea,

I for one will certainly use it as we will be building our own, so painters decorators etc, I would prefer to pay less for the trade but know more money is going in the pocket of the tradesman if you know what I mean.

Jo

[Kim39]

Hey if you need the materials haulin` you can count me in :laugh

Kim

[jonSE]

Not sure if I should post this here or on a new thread

I earn the same here more or less as I did in the UK (NZ salary converted into £). I have the same stresses and pressures at work I did in the UK . I had this vague idea I was coming to this pioneering country and I was going to do something more interesting. Dream on.

Lots of jobs will be paid a lot less than the UK - I don't know why the examples above Plumbers and Electricians are so badly paid as they seem to be in almost the same shortage as they are in the UK yet wages are apparently stupidly low. (Bus drivers in Auckland earn $15/hr)

Yes despite Helen and Labour it is a good place to be but don't come here thinking it is the Land of Milk and Honey

Jon

Coming to terms with realities
Them Maoris were good eh?

[wayne]

I think your husband should look for another job, as my son got a job as an electrician last week and is started on $20 per hour and this is without NZ certs