The Down Side?

sesame · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:36 am Post subject:

funny!! ....hope our dear kiwi members are amused? Rolling Eyes

thanks for being a good sport! (by the way - i realized that we wear or use polyester alot = fleece!! we love it! fleece blankets, hats, jackets ..... cool

)

no - that's not a down side to nz - in my opinion there are no downsides ...

it's the summer christmas i'll need to get used to - that's about it ....

Wink

Lisa. · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:56 am Post subject:

Hi Sesame,
Don't worry the Kiwi's dont take offence easily, they know how to take a joke Laughing

I know what you mean about Christmas in the summer, how weird will that be, be nice to have a barbie on the beach Chritmas day, i love new experiences so should be alright.....This is weird though i got a Chritmas card from friends in Auckland with a snow scene on it Nutcase

did think that a little odd Laughing

Lisa

sesame · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:02 am Post subject:

barbie on the beach! my first thought (never having heard that expression before) Rolling Eyes

- a barbie doll on the beach? Confused

took me back 35 years to my doll collection .... then - oh, yes, BBQ! with 'fab food' as my husband would say (after hearing that in one of the posts i read to him)

thanks for putting my mind to rest ....

Yes

sesame~

Robert · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:49 pm Post subject: Downsides

Most Kiwis complain about political correctness and the bureaucracy/nanny state. We laughed at this as we thought how can it be more nanny than Britain but we found out recently

We brought our two small toy type dogs over. I am talking small here, if you put them both together, you might make a cocker spaniel and they are couch potatoes! We found that here in Christchurch we have to have them licensed - fair enough - as this is to pay for dog control. But if you have two or more, you have to have your garden inspected (at a fee naturally). The inspector came round and said that we had to increase the fencing to prevent straying (ok, I will go with that), have a beware of dog sign on the gate and fit a remote door bell so that people can contact us without meeting the pooches. People will probably be thinking yeah so what but why two dogs? I could have a Rottweiler trained in security home defending instead of two moppets and not have this inquisition. Nutcase

South Island power cuts??? We have been warned that the electricity might get turned off for a couple of hours as peak times as the network is not up to the task. Ok this might be scare-mongering to get more investment but how can you run grow the economy when the infrastructure can't handle the load? You might think that it won't affect you as you live/are moving to the North Island but the same economic weakness exist. Hmmm

Finally, money - it just drains away, every time you turn around there is another demand for cash. We were speaking to another migrant (4years+) last week from Scotland and he asking how the money was holding up. He said that the kiwis see migrants as sources of money. The international students have been demonstrating recently saying a similar thing that their fees just keep going up and up and they viewed in terms of their money. It is understandable as wages are not good here particularly in comparision with Australia (an australian acquaintance describes the NZ$ as the Pacific Peso...)

Yes, it is a lovely country but once you have got over the touristing there are downsides - they might be different that the ones you are used to but they are there.

sesame · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 7:27 am Post subject:

you know these are the posts that make me cringe - but they are the ones that really help ALOT - very interesting, robert , thank you for sharing .... my sweet husband is very 'afraid' of the impending financial side of our move (given we're starting 'fresh' as i like to put it) ... anyhow - your email got us talking again - and now i need to get on the email with kiwi - cause SHE knows that peso like the back of her hand ....

it's all good - i keep telling myself, ...we can do this .....

sesame~
Shy

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:14 am Post subject:

Yeh....Once the mone is spent the truth is you have to survive on the local labour market rates. It is illusuory to think that you can remain rich...certainly you feel that way when you can see the dollars in your bank account but beware of extending yourself too much. It's advisable to plan for another source of income e.g a rental property...my wife and I are considering buying a little smaller to provide another income and use a second property/or land as a cash cow!

sesame · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:24 am Post subject:

Hi, Karl!

do you really feel that one good job (and you did mention that your wife had a phd and was sought after etc...) isn't enough to live on? (we don't have many $ in the bank to look at) guess it all depends on the standard of living you're vested in .... a rental sounds like a good investment in any case - (this coming from a current renter who will most likely stay one for some time to come

)

oh, maybe we SHOULD go to OZ ....... ?? Confused

sesame~

can you tell i'm having a mid-planning-crisis?

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:37 am Post subject:

Hi Sesame,

Don't mean to put you off but it is very important to do your sums. Better before you come out than when you get here! It all depends on where you are going to live. We are living in one of the most expensive areas in NZ and a second property is useful from a tax point of view while reatining the prospect of capital growth in the long term. Housing on the North Shore is V Expensive. You can but in at NZ$300-350K for a 3 bed house on a small section i.e not much yard. The better 4 bed family homes are in the NZ$550-750K range.

Anyone contemplating migrating, and I've done it twice, just needs to be aware that it's not all abed of roses and once the money has gone your disposable income may not go as far as you imagine. it all depends on what you expect to do socially.

I still get up in the morning walk to the local beach 300m away with my girls and think YES! It was definately right for us and our children! Nice One

sesame · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:07 am Post subject:

thanks Karl,

i'm summing I'm summing Yes

oh, and roses aren't my thing at all (although they are magnificent and beautiful of course) - i'm more on a bed of dandelions - that suits me just fine!

hmmmmmm ..... time for a cup of tea ......

sesame~ Shy

Lisa. · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:44 am Post subject:

Hi karltsmith et al.
I have just phoned my friends in Auckland, Browns Bay, they moved out there last Sept, i rang as i started to worry about cost of living etc.

They said that it's no bed of roses and that they both have to work to pay their mortgage and living costs and that if i thought i could come out there and not work, i.e live off one wage, i should think again Uhoh

So my next question to them was, if you could turn back the clock and have the knowledge you have now, would you have stayed in England?..The answer...We would definately come out here, so it may be hard and you will have to work hard but it's still worth it Yes

phew!

Yipeeeeeee i'm off to New Zealand

Lisa

sesame · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:21 am Post subject:

http://www.jaiatipis.com/gallery.html

i guess i/we have it going for us that those abodes appeal to us instead of a mortgage if it's all we can afford initially - we'll do that socially no problem Yes

so our dream is on and on it's way! nz all the way!!!

sesame~

i'm pretty good with a solar panel too!
then you all can come to us for a 'retreat'

Laughing

Lisa. · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:27 am Post subject: Tipi's

Hey Sesame,
That's a great idea, we may end up in one of those at this rate, just been checking out rentals in ChCh Eek

Lisa

Moorf · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

Glad this thread served a purpose - it certainly has made us think what to do with our money - don't want to fritter away our profits from our property sale and the income from rental of this flat won't be huge.

Is Queenstown a good area to look for rental investment / holiday homes for rental etc? Does it have a year round tourist season?

I noted the comment re property prices being high in the North Island - are they still rising? And is property in Christchurch peaking or rising? Any property market links welcome

aurora · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 11:25 am Post subject:

chinese girl · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 2:55 pm Post subject: