bdglm3

I've seen this a few times here but here is my stab at doing a monthly budget for living in Auckland for a family of four- 2 adults 2 kids.

I don't expect it to be completely accurate but I need something to go on.
Am I way off?
Thanks for any input in advance.

Rent $3466 ($800pw)
Health Care $230
Food Shopping $1400
Car loan $400
Car insurance $50
Fuel $180
Phone/net $120
Rates $170
Electricity $130
Gas $50
School $80
Travel/commute $200
Clothes $100
Sky$70
Mobiles $100
Breakdown Cover $40

ad132

I cant comment on ammounts ... but have done monthly budget myself as a spreadsheet as looking to move in sept .... Only things missing that I had was ... house insurance, water rates, social (nights out/gym/playing football - same as what do in UK, cant see me stopping!) and then put column as other as always something in a month that have to spend extra! Birthdays etc. Someone else may confirm this but if your renting I dont think you have to pay council rates

bdglm3

Oh yeah thanks! Do u now how much water rates are?

Genesis

There are not water rates as such here (in my town anyway). In Palmy we pay about $2200 to the local council p/a in general rates AND an extra $450 odd p/a to 'Horizons' Regional council. This covers other stuff I assume that the more local council do not charge for.

Don't know if it is different up in the Supercity, I am sure your rates will be more eh? Re most of the budget think you are on the money save for gas and leccy. I think maybe another 30% on top? You may be well frugal and be able to eek that estimate out but power is expensive here. Apparently in NZ it is just another thing that we are overcharged for and have been for a very long time.

lapsed kiwi

No rates if you're renting
Healthcare seems high
No cash to buy a car? You can get a good one for $15k. I've never borowed to buy a car in my life, but maybe that's just me
Need to include contents insurance
You may be a bit under for gas and power, especially in a rental
Mobiles - $19 per month for a good value package with 2degrees

Bo-Jangles

Water rates in Auckland have changed vastly in the past year, we're now on monthly charge whereas it was six monthly and for us (low users, rarely wash or water the garden LOL) it's averaging at $40 per month.

Our most recent electric bill; summertime, two people, out all day for at least five days a week and still $149 for the month. Expect it to creep up from hereon in and maybe reach $350 at least one month during the winter.

Not sure what you figured gas cost would be for? LPG cooking or BBQ maybe?

You seem to be planning on buying an awful lot of food. I spend at most $135 per week for two adults, a cat and all cleaning, laundry and most toiletries.

I spend $150pm on petrol and that's just for me (24kms per day return journey) five days a week to work and back in a piddly little shopping cart of a car, so you might reconsider that if you're talking of a family motor, weekends out and about etc.

You really won't get much in the way of clothes for $100, one pair of decent leather shoes for an adult would cost $150 to $200 a pair.

Car WOF $45 to $50 every six months if it's over three years old (just changed to annually I think)
Car servicing / repairs and maintenance?
Road user charge for diesel car?
Annual rego (like road tax)?

Clappy

Rent - $800 per week - you'll get a decent house for that (for two adults and two children)

Food Shopping - $1400 - we get through that as a couple but we are extravagant and I don't worry about going to the cheapest place

Car Insurance - $50 - car insurance is not compulsory here, but I pay about that amount (over 40, no claims)

Fuel + Travel and commute - I take the bus to work from the city to the North Shore and that costs $200 per month, my wife walks to work that costs $0, on top of that I get through $90 for petrol by running about to the supermarket / malls / relatives in the same city

Rates - are not your problem if you are renting

Electricity - our last monthly bill was $150, that was for two adults. Expect a much higher bill in winter when we turn the heaters on. But we don't have gas on top of that.

Clothes - you won't get much for $100 a month

Breakdown Cover - Joining the AA costs $90 a year, there are other options that I think cost slightly less

EDIT: If you will be driving into central Auckland every day to work then expect to have to pay $200 per month for parking

davros1984

Here is ours as a couple approximately (no dependents).

Rent - $480 a week (1920 a month)
Food - $230-250 a fortnight at CD (500 a month)
Internet - $99 a month
Sky Sports - $110 a month
Electricity - $120-180 a month ($120 in summer, 180 in winter)
Water - $70 a month
Bus Fair for me into the city - $30 a week ($120 a month)
Car Insurance - $500 a year
AA BreakDown Cover - $60-80 a year
Contents Insurance - $500 a year
Clothes - Zero - bought enough clothes at home to survive 2 years!
Car Road Tax/Rego - $145 per 6 months
WOF/MOT - $120 a year.
Car Service - $200-400 a year (depending on small vs large service)
Petrol for the Mrs work - $15 a week / $60 a month.
Hope that helps.

TommyLuck

A massive help

By my calculations your yearly budget is around $35k, which given you include Sky Sports and Internet in this sounds reasonable to me.

bdglm3

This is all such a great help everyone, thanks!

Obviously this is just an indicator, haven't put a figure in for extras, holidays, birthdays as I don't do that here, just see what we have at the time and take it from there.

davros1984

Not sure how life would be without Sky Sports and the Rugby channel. Love the Super XV and international rugby.

I am sure there are other things we've missed. I.e. additional cost for car brakes or anything that might go wrong. At the same there there's family birthdays, friends birthdays, my partners 30th birthday (coming soon) as well as eating out, socialising and having the odd $8 half-pint of beer.

northeastlad

This is really informative! Especially Davros1984's input (I'd be going there as a couple, maybe with a mate).