[boduke]

Apologies if this has been covered, I have done a couple of searches but too much irrelevant info pops up, just wondering if anyone can advise on the costs that we will have to pay out intially when we arrive, we now about the obvious deposit and rent in advance for place to live but was thinking about the cost of gettin utilities connected and other cost which we may not have thought of or budgeted for.

Many Thanks :roll

[jubjub]

If you are renting, then the electric will probably want around $150, as a bond, which will be refunded against your final bill. Rent in advance & bond for house can be as much as 4 weeks rent, I think ours was three.

Its amazing where the money goes to start with, so make sure you have more than you think you will need. We managed to go through maybe as much as $2000 we dont seem to be able to account for, and it cant all have been on takeaway.

[veronica]

Can't help much on the set up costs for utilities except to say don't forget the car expenses.....BUT....beware the spending spree when you first get here, we are all guilty of the 'well thats only $5 thats just £2, ' way of thinking, but from now on you will be earning NZ$ so its best to start thinking of how many mins/hours will I have to work for that amount pretty much straight away.

Besides that as I have prattled on before, bring everything with you. a lot of money is spent on little things like paperclips, sellotape, etc, stuff that you always had in that drawer at home and never had to replace all in one hit before. the costs of all the little bits like that soon add up.

[Simon & Emily]

Hi boduke,

I can't help you out at all, because we're still here in the UK, but we are only a couple of miles from you, so I thought I'd say 'Hello' and welcome to the fourm. :nice1

Whereabouts are you in the whole rollercoaster ride?

Emily

[Smiler]

Boduke

Sal's right it's $150 for the lectric bond and 100 for the telephone, but these were both waived as I applied to pay by direct debit.

Some banks ask you to put money in if you open an account too, about $200 with BNZ but $500 with ASB.

3 or 4 weeks rental bond plus 1st weeks rent up front.

A big shop to stock up on basic food storecupboard items. (and wine)

Car or rental car

And all those little things you find you need like Veronica says, cost to replace.
I've just looked at what I've spent in the 1st few weeks, :o to say but thats without the OH's credit card bill.

On the up side, we have bought some stuff that we needed to replace anyway in the UK and got some good bargains by being in the right place at the right time (and a little legwork and bartering :D )

Deborah

[David with a dream]

Hi, car insurance. We had a Honda CRV and the insurance fully comp was............wait for it............... just $190, less than half of what I was paying here in the UK....ahhhh happy days of big cars and cheep petrol! Good luck......David