[Pip]

Well its one month today until we fly. The Flat is on the rental market, the car is for sale, we've both handed in our notice at work, flights are booked (including Olive), leaving drinks organised etc etc - although there are still a million and one things to do, including the dreaded insurance inventory spreadsheet :uhoh

One thing that I wanted to ask, is whether its worth stockpiling anything to go in our container to take with us. Its only about 85% full and I don't really want to start buying furniture or anything big, but if there are any household/food items or cosmetic type things that I should start buying from supermarkets etc that are considerably more expensive over there than here, then we can easily squeeze in a couple of boxes of stuff.

Any suggestions ?!

p.s - not a walkers fan, and am already there on the marmite/gravy granules!

[The Hodges]

Hi Pip

Can't answer your questions, as we're in the same boat, so we'll keep an eye out for the replies, but I just wanted to say good luck with everything. Nervy time, isn't it?

Fingers crossed for you and Stuart and I'll get the OH to pm you, because she's good at things like that. :nice1

[wiki]

Great idea for a thread!

You could take a look at http://www.foodtown.co.nz/ or https://www.woolworths.co.nz/HomeShopping/default.aspx

to check the prices on some of your non-food everyday consumables.

[gil]

A vinegar shaker! Couldn't find them here anywhere despite sightings by other forum members (@ $6.95) so my daughter sent me one from Tesco, 95p!

Gil

[stu70]

I am not there but I guess I would hoard nothing. Why? I will try to adapt to local items and deal with it the way locals do. Why torture ourselves with accumulating something when its only going to last for so long(I guess my philosophical side has kicked in :) )Cheers.

[StevieD]

Hi pip, we go in march, don't think we have much room left in the container! But will squeeze some stuff in.

Good luck on the move - I think we all need it!!

[Ana&Steve]

We are stocking up on things that we won't know were to buy them in NZ, we won't know if we're getting a good price, or we won't have time right away once we are there to find the new brand we like. Some examples:
~Undergarments for both of us, eg: bras underwear, undershirts.
~Suits, we know wear to buy inexpensive nice ones here (need them for interviews)
~New tent
~Shoes
~Clothes (We went through all our clothes and shoes and gave much of them away)
We will also bring a few favorite food items, but as Stu said, we want to wean ourselves from what we can't have!

[barryp]

I would suggest bringing familiar some foods and personal care products. Sure, they won't last for long, but the complication of looking for suitable replacements can be deferred a wee bit - and you'll be busy enough moving and settling. (Just make sure you don't bring fresh foods or anything else on the MAF hit list.)

I second the shoes suggestion. IMO, quality footwear for men is very expensive and rare. Quality footwear for women is very expensive but not rare. (Athletic footwear is the same Asian-made stuff you know already, just a tad more expensive. Whew.)

We stocked up on:
- Blank CD/DVD media
- Vitamins and nonprescription medications
- Printer inks
- Casual clothing
- DVD's, CD's and books.
All of those items are FAR more expensive in NZ than back in the States. (Likewise camera film and home electronics.) I leave it to others to compare w/ UK prices; perhaps the decision for you should be different.

[StevieD]

I was going to ask what is the best form of attire for interviews..... I would suspect a suit but I think I read smart casual is fine.
I want to take soap powder (huge buckets from Costco),
taking some Cadbury's chocolate, Galaxy chocolate, Walker's crisps, vinegar bottle!

And most important of all, bucketloads of stuff from Ikea!!! :)

[willsken]

Have to say that when I opened the box containing the steak and ale pies (tinned) I was like a pig in muck!!! I brought enough to last a while and gravy and coffee and super noodles and spices and..... I also feel that it will be nice to have these things for a while as it will give me the chance to settle into other things and get used to all the other differences rather than trying to do it all at once.

I didn't pack any spray cans as I was unsure about being allowed to. I have found a replacement to Sure deodorant but it is very expensive in comparison also hair spray and L’Oreal make up are more than in the UK.

We also brought the boys some new footballs to bring….. these we could have bought here cheaper!

[Smiler]

Stock up on personal beauty products if you have room, like Ana says.

It saves you scouring the shops for the 1st few months and is essential especially if you have allergies, or really just prefer certain products.

Also like Willsken says, fave food products too for those homesick moments too. :nice1

If you need larger size bra's, stock up on those. A lingerie shop here just ordered some for me from the Uk as they stock the make but not the large size and they were comparable prices but I had to wait 3 months for them. :wah

BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ana&Steve]

I was going to ask what is the best form of attire for interviews..... I would suspect a suit but I think I read smart casual is fine. We were told that a suit is best for interviews, but it most likely won't be what you will wear to work.
I want to take soap powder (huge buckets from Costco), Oh ya, we have all that stuff, too! Tin Foil, baggies, paper towels...we always stock up so whatever's left when we move is going in teh container!
Ana

[Danny & Julie]

Hi,
My mum arrives at the weekend and this what we asked her to bring. Mostly things we miss & others because they are much cheaper in the uk.

Cadburys Choc - they do it here but it's just not the same
Batternburg Cake my DD loves it :yes
Walkers crisps
Robinsons Dilute juice - everything here is full of sugar & DH is diabetic
Boxer shorts - normal price here for 1 pair is about $15.00-$20.00
Jeans - all the mens trousers are one leg length so you have to have them altered.
Yorkshire pudding tins & a tin opener - we've been here 6 months and broken 4 they are all badly made.
Regarding a new suit my DH went to his interview in a suit and has never worn it to work. He is in mangement and goes semi smart. He had never see anyone wear a suit to work.

I think thats it.

[Trigirl]

I am not there but I guess I would hoard nothing. Why? I will try to adapt to local items and deal with it the way locals do. Why torture ourselves with accumulating something when its only going to last for so long(I guess my philosophical side has kicked in :) )Cheers.

aboslutely!!!!!

you can spend the next few months hoarding your few remaining packets of walkers crisps and your few last bisto gravy granules if thats how you want to live your life.

or if you prefer you can get on with the process of adapting to a new culture much quicker by not trying to hang on to the past.... there are things i could have brought over with me that would have made the first few weeks easier. but looking back there is nothing now that i wish i'd brought (hope that makes sense)

[Ana&Steve]

I just thought of another thing, books! I found them a bit pricey over there, so I've got a couple on order that are coming out before we leave. Also, I've been stocking up on DVDs, especially series that I like (Star Trek TNG, Battlestar Galactica, ooh I'm a nerd!) even though we plan on watching less TV in general, I am very fond of good shows! :D
Ana

[KerryS]

I can't think of much that I'd want. My mum sometimes sends me packs of jelly as I like eating the cubes, but more often I'm sending things from NZ over to them. They ask for Whittakers Chocolate - especially the orange and ginger varieties - and the Naked Organics muesli bars. I send them a package at least once a month with these in!
I'd stuff in as many books as possible, as they are expensive over here. I'm lucky as I get a discount at the Uni Bookshop, but I am also a big user of Amazon!

[Pip]

Thank everyone - some great suggestions. I do understand the point that people are making about needing to 'adapt' to NZ, but at the same time if we have space in our container and the same item is cheaper here, than there - it seems to make sense to lob some extra stuff in. I hadn't really thought about it, but as a couple of people suggested, the first few weeks will be so hectic, that anything that makes life easier, must be a good thing. :)

Right, better get my amazon order in (complete book addict - hope they have a decent library in Christchurch), my bravissimo order, and a few packets of batchelors pasta'n'sauce! Right - thats all my guilty secrets out now..

The Hodges - did you have any joy with letting the house yet ? - fingers crossed for you...

[Howie]

I just discovered Bendon and love their bras and they are not as expensive as I would have thought. Well, maybe I've just become desensitised to NZ prices. Books are terribly expensive here. Stock up on travel books if you know places you might want to travel to. I wish I had packed a (new) pooper scooper. Dog stuff is really expensive here.

[Pip]

Thanks Howie - don't have a dog, but a cat. was going to buy her a few bits when we arrived, but maybe I'll buy them here and put them in the container..

thanks for the tip!

[jubjub]

We were asked what we wanted posted for xmas, and after being here for nearly 18 months, the answer was nothing.... hubbys addiction to Alpen can be dealt with by Bramptins or the English Corner Shop.

But initially I missed familiar shampoos etc, although most of the global brands are here, clothes (where to buy was the main prob, being pregnant and more than a bit chubby!) and you make a few booboos on the food front to start with, but you get the hang of it, and find what you like.

If you want UK stuff that much you can order it online or go to british shops, but be prepared to pay a premium price..

If you are bringing your front loader washing machine, bring your favourite powder/tablets if they are a cheap supermarket brand. Only thing over here that goes in front loaders is Persil (sensitive or standard low suds).