bw1122

Hi everyone,

I am new on here and have just had an offer of service for the New Zealand Air Force and will be posted to Auckland Air Force Base when I eventually get there after leaving the RAF. I am just after information on where is good to rent in the area of Auckland as I am married with 2 children and have been informed there is a shortage of base housing in the area. I was advised to look into areas upto about an hours commute to bring housing costs down.

Also after general information on what cost of living is like and whether you guys think I'll be able to maintain a good standard of living for my family on a salary of between 60-63000 nzd. We have never lived off just the single wage before.

Any other information would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Helen256

Hello!

I'm not there yet but I'm sure the clever bunnies will be on here soon enough to help out (I'm going to peek in too as we're in a similar situation with my hubby being an engineer). Good luck!

MrsFychan

Welcome to BE

personally if you have never lived off one salary before NZ isn't really the place to be starting it, especially Auckland from what I have been reading about cost of living especially in Auckland.
But as long as you can budget well lots of people manage it.
Don't know what sort of help the Forces would give you on top on salary, maybe rent contributions if you are not living on base or a community card ? things that you could look in to.

Do you have family/friends here? If not I would suggest that you try and make contacts before you come so your wife has people who will help fill her day, having kids will be one way to make friends so look at groups they could attend etc.

ask lots of questions

davros1984

Would it be your plan to stay in Auckland long-term?

If so, Please don't even consider it, unless the forces will cover the majority of your living costs. Auckland is a very crazy-expensive place to live and even living an hour out doesn't make house prices affordable. Plenty of other threads on here with regards to auckland, housing and the cost of living.

bw1122

Thanks for the replies. I am trying to find out if the Air Force subsidise housing if now military property available. I'd like to think they would, they do here.

Doubt very much that I will be in Auckland long term, will probably move around the bases for a bit if I stay in past the minimum 3 years, or I may just leave and try to make my way as a Civilian. from what I have read my trade, Information Technology and Networking is a well paid job!?

MrsFychan

If you can get a job in that field, I personally think it needs to come off the skills list as to many people in this field going for to few jobs. Know one person who has been here over 2 yrs in the IT field and still not been able to secure a position despite moving from Wellington to Auckland.

Hopefully you won't have problems but I would say make sure you have a back up plan and money saved and not used to cover living here if things don't work out.

pippalonghorn

I agree with Mrs Fychan. Make sure you have enough money put aside incase things don't work out.

Hubby, my daughter and I survive off around $50,000 per anum. When I say survive that's all we really do. There are no treats and it takes forever to save up for little trips away camping etc. you will have an extra $10,000 to play with.
Our rent is $360 per week and we have no debt at all.

It's a personal choice and it also depends on what you want to gain from the move. If property and investments are you're type of thing then I wouldn't pick NZ unless you have lots of money saved up. If you just want outdoor living at its best NZ is the place. The outdoor lifestyle is great and there are lots to do for free. I believe NZ is paradise but only if you have the money to really enjoy it here.

Mark Smith

Here, here.

BEVS

+ 1

Justcol

I wont bullshit you mate, but you'll seriously struggle on that amount.
Expect lots of posts about how you can get bye by cutting costs, growing your own food and washing your clothes in the sink

barnsleymat

This is very true, reminds me of this sketch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13JK5kChbRw&noredirect=1

Four British Expats

pippalonghorn

I'm crying with laughing watching that. The first half of the sketch describes my life at the moment. especially describing their homes! Classic

marooned5

Until i could find a job too, we lived on $72000 - me OH and kids - with rent at $350 p/wk and no expensive hobbies or 'smokes' etc - its bearable - just - you can afford enough to eat and some trips around NZ. Its OK in the short term, but not a long-term proposition. Apart form anything else, you couldn't afford flights back to the UK on that wage - which would be terrible if you needed to get back urgently, or just didn't like the feeling of being trapped. I wouldn't move to AKL on $63000 unless you just wanted a subsidised 'holiday' for a couple of years.

Tom1983

Being in IT, it depends on the company and type of role you have

Proejct Managers are paid well despite being useless (well the ones i've had to work with have generally been useless). My level of work is average, I don't earn anywhere near the rate someone with my experience should do according to careers.govt.nz. Take a look at that site, search for your job and then minus $5k to give you an idea (on average)

However, the pay is better in Auckland and Wellington. They seem to be where most of the I.T jobs are.

On $63k and on one wage, personally I wouldn't do it. From what I've read and understood in Auckland, you'll struggle to have a decent standard of living. Take a look at realestate.co.nz to give you an idea of rental prices then take a look at a countdown online shop.

gazmac

I managed to sustain (in my view) a better lifestyle living in Meadowbank (Auckland) for 18months renting and then another 12 months in Pukekohe (South Aucks) than I could have done in the UK.

I had 1 dependent for 12 months and two thereafter.

My initial base wage was 49k but with allowances this was around 60k

I paid 300$ a week rent, renting the bottom floor of a 3 storey house with our landlord.

Without a son we had a lot of disposable income, played lots of poker in the casino, eat out a lot, and did pretty much whatever we wanted.

With a son we still had a lot of disposable income but just used it differently the poker had to go and in its place were trips to the beach and parks - I noticed no difference financially.

This would appear not to be the same for everyone.

But its important to have positives as well as negatives - which you will hear mostly.

The post about washing your clothes in the sink is a little extreme and to be frank I think the overall negativity is bullshit.

I posted on another thread that I thought you shouldnt let the opinions and experiences of others including myself effect your own desicion - I stand by that.

I wont be getting into a debate with other forum users about the pros and cons of living in Auckland - All I can offer is my own experiences.
Good luck