Mandie

OMG some of you on $120,000 pa...i've just been offered job as a midwife for $40,000 and you're struggling, bloody hell i'll be in the gutter.

will really need the advice of sourflour (karma coming your way)

karonious

I thought $43 000 sounded OK until I realised that our new grad was only slightly behind me paywise and he was in his first post. I found out that the new graduates get $40 000 here (in the Waikato DHB at least) . Bearing in mind that new grads can take no responsibility whatsoever in their first year, I was quite aggrieved as you might imagine. I talked my way into a pay rise after 6 months, so it's not so bad now. And once you have done your PDRP (portfolio) you ought to go up by another $3 000 if I rememebr correctly.

Mandie

Really, you've gotta be kidding...is that in nursing or midwifery? or both!

Zigzag

Hi guys, very new to this site, only registered today. Just started thinking about emigrating to NZ or Oz. Me, hubby, & 2 boys (4 and 1).

I'm a bit concerned after reading this thread, that life is going to be really difficult over there, we'll be more broke than we are here, and the weather will be the same!
You've all said that its worth it, and life is better....HOW? How is it better there if you are all struggling??

And I am really looking to believe you, its taken me 8 years to convince Hubby to consider this, and i'm looking for reality...but also positives!!

Thanks!

karonious

That was actually quite misleading: sorry.
Our new grads are not allowed to be the only nurse on shift. They are never put down as shift co-ordinator. They can can dispense medication without needing supervision. On my ward they don't tend to have a caseload on their own but co-work patients with another nurse.
In England, I was on my own after 4 months, quite often in charge of a forensic admission ward. Granted, I had recourse to advice from the ward downstairs or the on-call nurse but at the end of the day, you don't have time for that in an emergency. I think your first year in the UK would gain you far more experience than a first year in NZ.
Can't answer for midwifery as I have no experience of it either here or there.

KiwiKate

Hi ZigZag - don't be put off, but it is better to be fore-warned.
However, I have to say for me personally (family of 4 too), we are not really struggling at all - my hubby is only on $65k and I don't work - but we still manage to save $500 per month, plus go out and enjoy ourselves.
The key is definitely budgeting, and making sure you can afford the main things.
Some things are cheaper here, and if you look at the overall cost of living (especially outside Auckland) it's very reasonable. I for one would never look back - we have a much better lifestyle, maybe not so materialistic as in Uk where we were self employed and had great tax breaks and could afford more 'stuff' - but this is the happiest we've been in a long time, as we now have time to do all the things we just procrastinated about before.
So plan well, and you should be fine. Good luck

soulflour

We're not stuggling either! Like Kiwikate we put away $500 a month and have a FAB life of fun and frolics We have a combined income of $70 - dp is on $54k and i work part time... but for the first year or so we were on $43k.

And.... who told you the weather is the same as the UK???? granted we're up in the Northland, but it's SO hot for most of the year - and hot during the day in the winter too! Trust me, the weather is nothing like the UK!

It's just a question of learning a new way of life, with new shops and services etc...

And if we all share our knowledge and budgeting etc. we'll be fine

SF

xx

Rustie

This is an excellent way to compare electricity provider prices and they have lots of free calculators for lots of other things too, http://www.consumer.org.nz/powerswitch/

I'd recommend you find out about telephone/internet providers too as that's really steep. Check out when Telecom are running their cheap international calls weekends (limited to $6 for up to 2 hours to UK), always dial 0161 at other times to bring down the cost (see here http://www.telecom.co.nz/content/0,8...00.html?nv=sd).

Also, I'd look at getting a freeview box, or use an old sky dish if possible cos that would be free!, and get rid of Sky as then you get a number of channels, good signals and save lots of $.

The Bin Inn is excellent for bulk buys like all cooking ingredients, cereals, washing up liquids, shampoo's, oils, well loads really, just remember to take in some old containers to fill up!

I make most things from scratch, pasties, cakes, even bread (without breadmaker!) and it all tastes soooo much better!

Also, register on your local Freecycle.org site and see what comes up, you'll be amazed with some of it!

Mandie

I know what you mean about the uk...within the first 3 months of being qualified i had students working with me and i was supervising them scary or what!!!

Wiz'n'Ton

I agree with Sky. It is not as good as UK Sky far fewer channels.

If you are worried about reception on the TV have a look at Freeview. I was paying huge costs for Sky just for the football. Now I watch it all on Broadband.

Also for phone costs I find Telstra cheaper, or give your company a call as lots do cheap rates with a special code. i call the UK for an hour at a time and it costs me a few dollars.

For food I find the best way is to shop around a bit and buy bulk. I go to the Mad Butcher and buy my meat in bulk and wrap it seperately in the freezer for seperate meals. $30 of meat does me and my wife for over two weeks. I get my fruit and veg from specialist shops, takes longer but I do definately see the benefits.

Cars are reliable here so an older car will usually do the job and is likely to suprise you at how well an older car will go.

When I bought furniture for my house I got it all from Trade Me great quality and very cheap. Even better you can resell it all again on Trade Me

happynz

Phone cards for long distance are a bargain. My wife calls my mom in the US every Saturday and yaks for hours. I think the card works out to something like NZ$0.02 a minute. The card is Kiwi Call, but there are heaps of different ones with similar rates.

KiwiKate

Yeah, I forgot to mention that! We are still out at the beach most days, it is warm and sunny, and I haven't used the dryer in ages (only for the March 29th rain )

Where abouts in Northland are you, Soulflour??

P2L

We're in Blenheim & it's definitely still suntan weather down here!! Forecast 21deg here this afternoon

We bought a nice new shiny Ford Territory and are talking about getting rid of it already basically cos it costs $90 a time to fill up and when you're doing 100k a week taking kids to and from school this soon adds up.

Like lots of other expats, our income has dropped radically since arriving here. My OH worked freelance in the Uk which was fab ££££ but no holiday or sick pay. Here we are on $75 a year with 3 kids. We qualify for $100 family tax credit so TBH it's not worth me looking at working even part time at the moment. I would have to earn enough $$ to cover the tax credits and childcare costs too

But would I swap my new life for the old one?? NO!!!!! (but I do miss my friends like crazy)

dlmckay

We live on a budget. It was hard getting used to, but it's ok to live with it now.

My income is $45K pa. Hubby works as an apprentice and is on $24,960 pa.

We have three children, two in school and afterschool club, one in full time daycare. We qualify for childcare supplement, so only pay weekly $10 of $160 daycare bill, and $20 of $110 afterschool bill.

We qualify for Family Tax Credit, but are slightly over the Accommodation Supplement cut off.

The rates changed on 1 April 2007, so if you were slightly under the cut off points last year, it may well be worth checking again.

Our weekly bill for the supermarket is budgeted at $150 a week with $30 for Mad Butcher and $15 for veges/fruit. These are my max amounts and we frequently spend under that. We never buy any of the "big ticket" items at full price. 5l orange juice, washing powder and cat biscuit is ALWAYS bought when it's reduced and we stock up for the next time it's down in price.

All my bills are paid by monthly direct debit. Our only debt is the mortgage. Interest rates here are just too crippling to contemplate getting any sort of loan or HP for us.

We run two cars - the one that sits in traffic is only 700cc and 10 years old. I spend $25 a week on fuel. If we were to use the bigger van, we'd easily spend over $50 a week. By switching to a smaller engine, you'll save an amazing amount each month right there.

I also feed three large dogs on $10 a week (combined) because I don't feed them commercial dog food. They are all fit, well and are competing dogs.

And we try to budget to save $500 a month too. It's not easy, but can be done - you just have to get your head around doing what the kiwis do.

Spacecake799

Hi,
Can you just explain what the accomodation supplement is?
Also what do you eat for that amount of money? especially when your not a veg or salad loving family. Thanks
Carole