Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
#16
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
That's just for 2 of you though, isn't it?
Bit tougher for family of 4. Also you have to allow for school fees which seem to appear all year round, think ours have come to about $600 not including the donation + uniforms, books etc, etc..
Also, Doctors, Dentist, Opticians, Car Tax, Wof, Heating fuel etc......
Bit tougher for family of 4. Also you have to allow for school fees which seem to appear all year round, think ours have come to about $600 not including the donation + uniforms, books etc, etc..
Also, Doctors, Dentist, Opticians, Car Tax, Wof, Heating fuel etc......
Anyway - we agree it'shard!!
#17
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
Just had an extra bill come through today for a metal/art project my son did, which consists of a 100x100x25mm piece of wood, 3 setscrews, 4 short lengths of threaded studding & 3 short lengths of round bar.
The result is good, but they want $50 to pay for the materials
Will take a piccy of the item when I can find my camera, I think it's great!!!
#18
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
Going off topic a bit but a friend of mine just had to fork out $110 for a school trip. They said it wasn't compulsory to go, but it was really as it was a class school field trip.
#19
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
Phyl x
#20
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
There are some on here who have substantial savings & still get it.
#21
Enjoying retirement
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Rural Taranaki
Posts: 320
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
If it is, they keep it REALLY quiet. Anyone know for certain?
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 405
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
Note that you have to 'register' for WFF:
http://www.ird.govt.nz/online-servic...fftc-2010.html
If I was you, I'd phone them up ASAP to explain my situation and clarify things - if you are eligible for WFF it may be possible, if you've been misinformed and have missed WFF payments because of it for instance, for you to get some or all of the payments you've missed.
When you register for WFF, you can opt to receive it weekly, fortnightly, or all in one lump sum at the end of the tax year. So certainly if you're entitled to it, once you register for it you could start receiving it in your bank account immediately.
(By my calculations, on a $38K salary and with 2 children under 12, you're entitled to............ $201 PER WEEK!! That's $871 per month, $10,452 per year. That's a hell of a lot of money to be missing out on. Best you get on the phone right now!! WFF calculator here: https://interact2.ird.govt.nz/forms/famcalc2009/ )
EDIT - I've just seen that you are only recently arrived in NZ. According to the WFF ( http://www.ird.govt.nz/wff-tax-credi...s/eligibility/ ):
You must meet at least one of the following residency requirements:
* You are both a New Zealand resident and a New Zealand tax resident and have been in New Zealand continuously for at least 12 months at any time.
* You are caring for a child who is both present and resident in New Zealand.
* You are both a New Zealand resident and a New Zealand tax resident and have been in New Zealand continuously for at least 12 months at any time.
* You are caring for a child who is both present and resident in New Zealand.
Last edited by Black Sheep; Dec 15th 2009 at 9:37 pm.
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 278
Re: Help and advice needed from those experienced in NZ life
i have to say that at 50K a year.. and $260K loan.. you will struggle.. and hard.. life will be at a bare min.
its do able in the short term.. but not going to be much fun if thats your life
i suspect you will have to rent.. might not be much difference in the rent v loan.. but the standard of housing will be much better.
I must admit.. i struggle to work out how the average paid kiwi family who is buying a house now ( not the ones who have hit the housing escalator) survive.
We are a family of 4 ( soon to be 5!) and the family income is more than double that and while we are nice and happy.. we're still not in the traveling by business class style of living ( couldnt bring myself to pay the price!)
its do able in the short term.. but not going to be much fun if thats your life
i suspect you will have to rent.. might not be much difference in the rent v loan.. but the standard of housing will be much better.
I must admit.. i struggle to work out how the average paid kiwi family who is buying a house now ( not the ones who have hit the housing escalator) survive.
We are a family of 4 ( soon to be 5!) and the family income is more than double that and while we are nice and happy.. we're still not in the traveling by business class style of living ( couldnt bring myself to pay the price!)