NZ living - Budget estimation
#16
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
And regarding the properties (I could only post links after my 5'th post) these all look good to my standard, at least worth having a viewing:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1521068565
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1526319548
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1528150328
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1527633729
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1513597467
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1527031684
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1535238692
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1536820575
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1522004196
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1521068565
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1526319548
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1528150328
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1527633729
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1513597467
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1527031684
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1535238692
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1536820575
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1522004196
#18
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Hey one had HRV (think thats stands for "Hasn't got Reasonable Ventilation")
To the OP - lack of a log burner or heat pump means you will be fully reliant on electric room heaters which can sap power, especially if the house is even slightly damp. Best budget power back to ~$350/mth for the winter months if that is the case.
To the OP - lack of a log burner or heat pump means you will be fully reliant on electric room heaters which can sap power, especially if the house is even slightly damp. Best budget power back to ~$350/mth for the winter months if that is the case.
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2014
Location: North Canterbury
Posts: 487
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
I'll give you one money saving on that budget you have
Sky
Don't bother wasting your money with that rubbish
Just get a free view box and then sign up to Netflix. You'll still be able to access tv on demand.
Then sign up to one of many vpns to receive the likes of I PLAYER and itv catch up.
Sky NZ is a complete waste of time, unless you're happy with 10 minutes of TV followed by 27 mins of Harvey Norman adverts. The only decent channel on there is an extra $10 on top. Joke of an organisation....
Sky
Don't bother wasting your money with that rubbish
Just get a free view box and then sign up to Netflix. You'll still be able to access tv on demand.
Then sign up to one of many vpns to receive the likes of I PLAYER and itv catch up.
Sky NZ is a complete waste of time, unless you're happy with 10 minutes of TV followed by 27 mins of Harvey Norman adverts. The only decent channel on there is an extra $10 on top. Joke of an organisation....
#20
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
That means limited travel around NZ, no romantic ideas of holidays to Fiji and the Pacific islands or weekends away to Aussie and saving pretty hard for a three to five yearly trip to the UK for special occasions / or events
The sting usually comes when you have to fund all the other random things that you never thought of and you'll soon start to feel the pinch when you get unexpected bills and need replacements for household stuff, towels, bedding, gadgets, furniture, appliances that get broken and the likes.
The sting usually comes when you have to fund all the other random things that you never thought of and you'll soon start to feel the pinch when you get unexpected bills and need replacements for household stuff, towels, bedding, gadgets, furniture, appliances that get broken and the likes.
I have a separate budget for the "first installment" to get the house equipped with the basic stuff. The rest will come from Europe, we have recently furnished our apartment so we have pretty much everything new, it should last a couple of years before replacing and at that stage we should be financially sound with two incomes.
Yeah, that's something to look at definitely. I'll try to find a place with the AC unit at least and then get some oil-filled electric radiators
I really appreciate all the feedback and advice, thank you all for your help.
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Manurewa is one of the least affluent and therefore cheaper areas of Auckland for housing; so not really the best place to choose as an indicator. You definitely need to up your rent budget if you want to move to better suburbs.
Last edited by Bo-Jangles; Feb 5th 2018 at 7:46 pm.
#22
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
we have just booked to go back to UK, outside of school term and for the 4 of us flight only are just shy of 8K with insurance .
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 201
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Ok you’ve obviously done lots of research which is great. I’ll give you feedback on where I differ from your figures - we are in Auckland, 2 adults, 2 kids (age 7 and 10)
Power - we have no gas and no wood burner so everything is electric. Ranges from lowest $100/month in summer to $280/month highest in winter.
Water - we are on water meter, don’t scrimp on using it (baths, watering garden etc), bill is $50-60 a month.
Mobiles - I’m on prepay and get an $8 monthly pack that has 60 mins and 250 texts - never use them all - any unused carries over to next month. I think other half and I get free calls to each other anyway as we are on same network (2 degrees). You can get packs with data too.
Our contents insurance is $503 a year so you are pretty spot on with that, obviously you can play around with excess amounts and how much you are insured for.
We don’t pay any bank fees but that’s because we have a mortgage with them.
We don’t spend anything like $150 a month on clothes, obviously we could but I don’t feel we need to.
School donation costs vary massively, Generally the schools in the more affluent areas have higher donation amounts as they get less funding from the govt. I’d say $500 a year is right at the top end of what an NZ state primary would ask for as a donation. Some lower decile schools don’t have one or its maybe $50 a year. Each schools website will tell you what the donation is. Our school is $80 per child per year.
Uniform - we get some passed on from other people, shirts about $35 new, skorts about $45. I prob spend about $100 a year on uniform. If I were buying it all New maybe $200-250? Again school websites will tell you uniform prices and it varies from school to school.
Power - we have no gas and no wood burner so everything is electric. Ranges from lowest $100/month in summer to $280/month highest in winter.
Water - we are on water meter, don’t scrimp on using it (baths, watering garden etc), bill is $50-60 a month.
Mobiles - I’m on prepay and get an $8 monthly pack that has 60 mins and 250 texts - never use them all - any unused carries over to next month. I think other half and I get free calls to each other anyway as we are on same network (2 degrees). You can get packs with data too.
Our contents insurance is $503 a year so you are pretty spot on with that, obviously you can play around with excess amounts and how much you are insured for.
We don’t pay any bank fees but that’s because we have a mortgage with them.
We don’t spend anything like $150 a month on clothes, obviously we could but I don’t feel we need to.
School donation costs vary massively, Generally the schools in the more affluent areas have higher donation amounts as they get less funding from the govt. I’d say $500 a year is right at the top end of what an NZ state primary would ask for as a donation. Some lower decile schools don’t have one or its maybe $50 a year. Each schools website will tell you what the donation is. Our school is $80 per child per year.
Uniform - we get some passed on from other people, shirts about $35 new, skorts about $45. I prob spend about $100 a year on uniform. If I were buying it all New maybe $200-250? Again school websites will tell you uniform prices and it varies from school to school.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 445
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Good luck with your move,
I won't quote figures as others have done Wifey works 30 hrs weekly, but over all we clear 130k between us before tax.
We live in Chch and have very little left. We have small mortgage.
Whatever you budget for in NZ it's never enough, life is so expensive here.
I won't quote figures as others have done Wifey works 30 hrs weekly, but over all we clear 130k between us before tax.
We live in Chch and have very little left. We have small mortgage.
Whatever you budget for in NZ it's never enough, life is so expensive here.
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: bottom of the world
Posts: 4,533
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Two of us bring in about 130 between us
We have a small mortgage and have never been so well off
I guess it depends what you choose to spend your money on
We have a small mortgage and have never been so well off
I guess it depends what you choose to spend your money on
#26
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 7
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Here’s ours
2 adults 1 7 yo 1 18yo
$300 groceries
$50 bits you forget at shop
$90 has and elec
35 home broadband and mobile phone
$45 catholic school board fee
$10youngest school and activity fee
$ 40 eldest school and activity/text book fee
$65 home contents building and car (x2) insurance
$480 mortgage
$50 council rates
$60 in diesel ( not inc ruc)
$8 rubbishy collection
$60 med insurance
THEN sports/dance clubs average of $160 term
Swimming lessons $160 a term
And if your child is good at sports then they play rep sport for your region that costs a lot of money in travel and coaching ( $700) per season
There’s lots more but these are the basics.
2 adults 1 7 yo 1 18yo
$300 groceries
$50 bits you forget at shop
$90 has and elec
35 home broadband and mobile phone
$45 catholic school board fee
$10youngest school and activity fee
$ 40 eldest school and activity/text book fee
$65 home contents building and car (x2) insurance
$480 mortgage
$50 council rates
$60 in diesel ( not inc ruc)
$8 rubbishy collection
$60 med insurance
THEN sports/dance clubs average of $160 term
Swimming lessons $160 a term
And if your child is good at sports then they play rep sport for your region that costs a lot of money in travel and coaching ( $700) per season
There’s lots more but these are the basics.
#27
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
Okays.
There seems to be a rush of the measleys this weekend.
Perhaps some of you can give context to your posts by saying what area of New Zealand you live.
The OP is looking at Auckland.
There seems to be a rush of the measleys this weekend.
Perhaps some of you can give context to your posts by saying what area of New Zealand you live.
The OP is looking at Auckland.
#28
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: bottom of the world
Posts: 4,533
Re: NZ living - Budget estimation
I'm in Otago but don't see it as relevant.
Food, service's and small mortgage are pretty much the same everywhere.
Its only house prices that vary.
Food, service's and small mortgage are pretty much the same everywhere.
Its only house prices that vary.