living in nz
May 3rd 2009, 11:15 am
#1
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living in nz
we have been here for 14 weeks now i am on a 2 year work visa, im on $25 an hour but my wage is going up to $35 in 2 weeks, i am a builder here and i have been reading about people saying they couldent live on $50000 a year? i have managed on $800 a week since i have been here i have 2 kids and a wife it is a bit tight but its enough the way im seeing it is the life stye is worth the drop in wages!!! were at the top of the north in the bay of islands it can get a bit quiet here but when i sit back and look how happy the family is its worth it, nz is the best move i ever made and i feel vey lucky to be here
May 3rd 2009, 11:49 am
#2
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Re: living in nz
Thats great Paul, glad you're enjoying it ... great to hear
May 3rd 2009, 1:59 pm
#3
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Re: living in nz
we have been here for 14 weeks now i am on a 2 year work visa, im on $25 an hour but my wage is going up to $35 in 2 weeks, i am a builder here and i have been reading about people saying they couldent live on $50000 a year? i have managed on $800 a week since i have been here i have 2 kids and a wife it is a bit tight but its enough the way im seeing it is the life stye is worth the drop in wages!!! were at the top of the north in the bay of islands it can get a bit quiet here but when i sit back and look how happy the family is its worth it, nz is the best move i ever made and i feel vey lucky to be here
We live on £21k a year here in the UK (low mortgage) just takes a bit of planning and I guess it depends what you're used to. Keep on enjoying your new life 
May 3rd 2009, 3:26 pm
#4
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Re: living in nz
Thats great! Wonderful to hear good things about living costs in NZ!
Thanks
Thanks
May 3rd 2009, 7:42 pm
#5
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Location: Rolleston, Canterbury NZ
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Re: living in nz
Hi, yes we are living on $63,000 a year and all is good, renting a lovely house and doing the things we want to do. This weekend we only spent $20 for a family of four, and still really had a good time, spent $11 Sunday mountain biking through the forest (free), going to the beach (free) eating yummy cheese rolls and cake from the bakers ($11) and than back for a BBQ of Kababs (from food budget). On saturday went fishing (free) and then over the neighbors with wine and beer ($19).
If you keep an eye on what you are spending, it can be done. I'm going to start selling things on Trademe soon, we bought over tons of stuff which are just clogging up the garage, so might as well get rid.
All is good so far
If you keep an eye on what you are spending, it can be done. I'm going to start selling things on Trademe soon, we bought over tons of stuff which are just clogging up the garage, so might as well get rid.
All is good so far
May 3rd 2009, 10:31 pm
#6
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Re: living in nz
we have been here for 14 weeks now i am on a 2 year work visa, im on $25 an hour but my wage is going up to $35 in 2 weeks, i am a builder here and i have been reading about people saying they couldent live on $50000 a year? i have managed on $800 a week since i have been here i have 2 kids and a wife it is a bit tight but its enough the way im seeing it is the life stye is worth the drop in wages!!! were at the top of the north in the bay of islands it can get a bit quiet here but when i sit back and look how happy the family is its worth it, nz is the best move i ever made and i feel vey lucky to be here
May 4th 2009, 2:04 am
#7
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Re: living in nz
It's nice to hear you're happy so far in the Bay of Islands, sounds good...
BUT..... 14 weeks in NZ is not a very long time as far as judging ability to live on a given salary - especially when those 14 weeks were during NZ's best weather months! I don't know if you'll be needing heating over the winter up where you are, but if things are already a bit 'tight' as you mentioned and you haven't even been through a winter here yet...
Here in Chch, the real test comes from approx 15 June onwards (teebrown in Rolleston, take note!), when winter happens pretty much bang on. Just a few years back people here had their fires/heating going up until Christmas day it was that cold (15 June to 25 Dec = more than 6 months!) Plus one does have to get through an entire year of school expenses, WOF and registration, clothes and other necessities purchases, broken items/appliances that need replacing, dental or medical expenses, and so on and so on before one can really make a judgment about being able to live on a $xx salary. And too, as was mentioned, where you are in NZ can make a difference, as can whether or not you're renting.
By the time we'd lived here a year, we had a very different idea about what the cost of living was going to be than what we'd had in our first few months! Unfortunately, you can only sell everything you own on TradeMe once! But then what??
(Note: my things to sell on TradeMe fill my garage too! They're my last and final 'emergency fund', and so there they sit taking up all my space as having them gone would mean I'm well and truly broke! 
)
BUT..... 14 weeks in NZ is not a very long time as far as judging ability to live on a given salary - especially when those 14 weeks were during NZ's best weather months! I don't know if you'll be needing heating over the winter up where you are, but if things are already a bit 'tight' as you mentioned and you haven't even been through a winter here yet...
Here in Chch, the real test comes from approx 15 June onwards (teebrown in Rolleston, take note!), when winter happens pretty much bang on. Just a few years back people here had their fires/heating going up until Christmas day it was that cold (15 June to 25 Dec = more than 6 months!) Plus one does have to get through an entire year of school expenses, WOF and registration, clothes and other necessities purchases, broken items/appliances that need replacing, dental or medical expenses, and so on and so on before one can really make a judgment about being able to live on a $xx salary. And too, as was mentioned, where you are in NZ can make a difference, as can whether or not you're renting.
By the time we'd lived here a year, we had a very different idea about what the cost of living was going to be than what we'd had in our first few months! Unfortunately, you can only sell everything you own on TradeMe once! But then what??
(Note: my things to sell on TradeMe fill my garage too! They're my last and final 'emergency fund', and so there they sit taking up all my space as having them gone would mean I'm well and truly broke! )
Last edited by Black Sheep; May 4th 2009 at 2:21 am.
May 4th 2009, 2:40 am
#8
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Posts: 336
Re: living in nz
Hi, yes we are living on $63,000 a year and all is good, renting a lovely house and doing the things we want to do. This weekend we only spent $20 for a family of four, and still really had a good time, spent $11 Sunday mountain biking through the forest (free), going to the beach (free) eating yummy cheese rolls and cake from the bakers ($11) and than back for a BBQ of Kababs (from food budget). On saturday went fishing (free) and then over the neighbors with wine and beer ($19).
If you keep an eye on what you are spending, it can be done. I'm going to start selling things on Trademe soon, we bought over tons of stuff which are just clogging up the garage, so might as well get rid.
All is good so far
If you keep an eye on what you are spending, it can be done. I'm going to start selling things on Trademe soon, we bought over tons of stuff which are just clogging up the garage, so might as well get rid.
All is good so far
we had 34 boxes that we never unpacked till after 3 years that tells you how much we was in need of it all!!!still like you I sold a lot only to buy new as my new home was to be an ex show home and it would not look good at all as we came from 1746 cottage in the uk. BY the way fishing is not free hope you had a licence as they could even take the car/ and rods if you was found fishing without one
have a look at www.cantafly,com fishing club my other half loves it goes all the time many club trip, great network of fishing mates and much more hope this will help.Lin
May 4th 2009, 3:29 am
#9
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Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Northland
Posts: 1,288
Re: living in nz
Hi Paul, I'm in the bay of Islands too 
Glad you're enjoying life.
As far as heating goes - yes you probably will need some wood for the logburner over winter, but you won't get a frost! Coldest may be around 7 degrees. Usually it's much warmer than that though 15 - 16 pretty regularly in our experience. We're 4 years down the line and have never ever had the log burner on for 6 months! 1 square m of wood does us all winter.
Biggest problem will be rain
but you never know it could be a much better winter than last year.
Glad you're enjoying life.
As far as heating goes - yes you probably will need some wood for the logburner over winter, but you won't get a frost! Coldest may be around 7 degrees. Usually it's much warmer than that though 15 - 16 pretty regularly in our experience. We're 4 years down the line and have never ever had the log burner on for 6 months! 1 square m of wood does us all winter.
Biggest problem will be rain
but you never know it could be a much better winter than last year.
May 4th 2009, 8:37 am
#10
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,208
Re: living in nz
Great to hear how well you and your family have settled in Paul and how happy you sound. Congratulations! Thank you for the update.
Thank you for the update.
May 4th 2009, 9:23 am
#11
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Re: living in nz
14 weeks in NZ is not a very long time as far as judging ability to live on a given salary - especially when those 14 weeks were during NZ's best weather months! I don't know if you'll be needing heating over the winter up where you are, but if things are already a bit 'tight' as you mentioned and you haven't even been through a winter here yet...
Here in Chch, the real test comes from approx 15 June onwards (teebrown in Rolleston, take note!), when winter happens pretty much bang on. Just a few years back people here had their fires/heating going up until Christmas day it was that cold (15 June to 25 Dec = more than 6 months!) Plus one does have to get through an entire year of school expenses, WOF and registration, clothes and other necessities purchases, broken items/appliances that need replacing, dental or medical expenses, and so on and so on before one can really make a judgment about being able to live on a $xx salary. And too, as was mentioned, where you are in NZ can make a difference, as can whether or not you're renting.
Here in Chch, the real test comes from approx 15 June onwards (teebrown in Rolleston, take note!), when winter happens pretty much bang on. Just a few years back people here had their fires/heating going up until Christmas day it was that cold (15 June to 25 Dec = more than 6 months!) Plus one does have to get through an entire year of school expenses, WOF and registration, clothes and other necessities purchases, broken items/appliances that need replacing, dental or medical expenses, and so on and so on before one can really make a judgment about being able to live on a $xx salary. And too, as was mentioned, where you are in NZ can make a difference, as can whether or not you're renting.
Windforward a couple of years to when you havent been outside the Bay Of Islands and maybe fancy travelling a bit, but you now need a new car, and a new fridge and washing machine, oh and a new telly, and new glasses, and its about time you had that trip to the dentist etc etc etc.
May 4th 2009, 10:02 am
#12
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 66
Re: living in nz
since we have been here we have had to pay for my wife to go to the dentist $123, just had the car wof cost me $250 but if you go carefull with the money i feal we can scrape by. it may not sound nice but things can only get better as far as im concerned i work hard and were happy!!! ive just got 2 trailor loads of fire wood for free from a guy at work that will keep us going for ages!! we are happy here more happy then back in the uk anyway!!!!! nz is the best even tho we havent been here long. we think back we use to struggle in the uk aswell so why not struggle that bit in a nicer place
le in the uk aswell so why not struggle that bit in a nicer place
May 4th 2009, 7:40 pm
#13
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Re: living in nz
Hi good day had by all we had 34 boxes that we never unpacked till after 3 years that tells you how much we was in need of it all!!!still like you I sold a lot only to buy new as my new home was to be an ex show home and it would not look good at all as we came from 1746 cottage in the uk. BY the way fishing is not free hope you had a licence as they could even take the car/ and rods if you was found fishing without one have a look at www.cantafly,com fishing club my other half loves it goes all the time many club trip, great network of fishing mates and much more hope this will help.
Lin
we had 34 boxes that we never unpacked till after 3 years that tells you how much we was in need of it all!!!still like you I sold a lot only to buy new as my new home was to be an ex show home and it would not look good at all as we came from 1746 cottage in the uk. BY the way fishing is not free hope you had a licence as they could even take the car/ and rods if you was found fishing without one have a look at www.cantafly,com fishing club my other half loves it goes all the time many club trip, great network of fishing mates and much more hope this will help.Lin
- but all good fun
May 4th 2009, 7:43 pm
#14
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Rolleston, Canterbury NZ
Posts: 631
Re: living in nz
It's nice to hear you're happy so far in the Bay of Islands, sounds good...
BUT..... 14 weeks in NZ is not a very long time as far as judging ability to live on a given salary - especially when those 14 weeks were during NZ's best weather months! I don't know if you'll be needing heating over the winter up where you are, but if things are already a bit 'tight' as you mentioned and you haven't even been through a winter here yet...
Here in Chch, the real test comes from approx 15 June onwards (teebrown in Rolleston, take note!), when winter happens pretty much bang on. Just a few years back people here had their fires/heating going up until Christmas day it was that cold (15 June to 25 Dec = more than 6 months!) Plus one does have to get through an entire year of school expenses, WOF and registration, clothes and other necessities purchases, broken items/appliances that need replacing, dental or medical expenses, and so on and so on before one can really make a judgment about being able to live on a $xx salary. And too, as was mentioned, where you are in NZ can make a difference, as can whether or not you're renting.
By the time we'd lived here a year, we had a very different idea about what the cost of living was going to be than what we'd had in our first few months! Unfortunately, you can only sell everything you own on TradeMe once! But then what?? (Note: my things to sell on TradeMe fill my garage too! They're my last and final 'emergency fund', and so there they sit taking up all my space as having them gone would mean I'm well and truly broke! )
BUT..... 14 weeks in NZ is not a very long time as far as judging ability to live on a given salary - especially when those 14 weeks were during NZ's best weather months! I don't know if you'll be needing heating over the winter up where you are, but if things are already a bit 'tight' as you mentioned and you haven't even been through a winter here yet...
Here in Chch, the real test comes from approx 15 June onwards (teebrown in Rolleston, take note!), when winter happens pretty much bang on. Just a few years back people here had their fires/heating going up until Christmas day it was that cold (15 June to 25 Dec = more than 6 months!) Plus one does have to get through an entire year of school expenses, WOF and registration, clothes and other necessities purchases, broken items/appliances that need replacing, dental or medical expenses, and so on and so on before one can really make a judgment about being able to live on a $xx salary. And too, as was mentioned, where you are in NZ can make a difference, as can whether or not you're renting.
By the time we'd lived here a year, we had a very different idea about what the cost of living was going to be than what we'd had in our first few months! Unfortunately, you can only sell everything you own on TradeMe once! But then what??
(Note: my things to sell on TradeMe fill my garage too! They're my last and final 'emergency fund', and so there they sit taking up all my space as having them gone would mean I'm well and truly broke! )
May 4th 2009, 7:58 pm
#15
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Re: living in nz
What I don't understand is a builder gets almost double my wage yet I work with people in need. Those with drug and alcohol additions and mental health. Without people like me the world would be a nastier place to live, yet charities struggle to pay good wages. Tight government.