Where's Best to Live in NZ and what do we need to know: PART TWO!!!

[AngryBeaver]

Wow,have just gone to post and it wouldn't except it! So have had to start a new thread. Hope everyone finds it ok.I feel a bit like we've all been out for the night and somehow got seperated and no one has their mobile!!
Anyway,this was the question I've had to cut and paste from the old thread:...

Sorry,have had a quick look but can't see...has anyone used emirates?
I think the sky couch thing looks good,but we'd have to buy a couple and that would be pricey.
Dh reckons Emirates are fine,but I don't think he's anticipating how different it's going to be travelling that disatnce with 3 exhausted infants.
He has limited travel experience as it is and the longest he has been on a plane with them is 3 hours. He keeps saying it will be fine,they'll sleep for loads of it...somehow I'm thinking this will not happen!!

Ok,have nothing to offer to you lolly,haven't been here long enough.
But,oh my gawd,have just been to Coundown. I went quiet and dh asked me what was up "Er,it's reeeally expensive?" I replied.. the veggies were mega bucks and meat prettyh steep. Do you lot know something I don't ?Please tell me you do,coz I'm a bit scared now!

Probably not best placed to advise AB - I spent $450 on a Countdown internet shop today. All I can say in my defence is that it did include tonnes of Xmas goodies, xmas tree lights etc. My usual shop is more like $200 per week. But, yes, it is more costly than the UK if you try and replicate the trolley of goods you would usually buy.

For fruit and veggies, you get better prices if you buy in season at the local market. Right now, for example, golden kiwis and strawberries are pretty cheap because they are local. We don't have the same proximity to Europe that you had in the UK so imported out-of-season stuff is expensive. It does take time to adapt to buying in season but you'll save $$$.

Also, keep an eye out for specials. There's nearly always some sort of cheese on special (don't know about meat, veggie here) and same for bread too. When you are settled, perhaps buy a big freezer and stock up on things like sliced bread when it's on offer.

Oh, and if you've got a local Warehouse, you can buy cheap loo rolls, cleaning products, chocolate etc there.

I never buy fruit and veggies or meat from Countdown unless it's on special AB.

Look around for fruit and veg shops, they're usually cheaper. E.g. green grapes were $6.99 a kilo at my local Countdown a few weeks ago and they were $3.99 a kilo at the fruit and veg shop.

Start thinking about concentrating on buying stuff that is in season as it will be cheaper. Look out for a butchers and see if it's cheaper, if not, start stocking up on meat that is on special at the supermarket (easier when you are in your own place and have a freezer to store meat in). Quite a lot of people did mention to you in your earlier thread that groceries can be pricey here...oh and the Countdown own brand stuff is fine (all the stuff I've used anyway, staples like flour, sugar etc). I spend about $200 a week and I could do it a bit cheaper but not if we wanted any treats or nice stuff...

We spend about 250 a week for three which includes a $30 tin of formula every other week and a packet of nappies every week.

You do need to get used to spending more on food here and finding ways to keep costs down. We don't buy certain cheeses cos they are too expensive and buy lots of stuff on special. Cambridge has a brilliant farmers market too so check that out. I built a garden at the start of this year and am growing my own herbs, salad and some veg like courgettes. It's not cheaper at this stage but I love being able to pick my own. We cook from scratch most days - even pizza.

Try Pak n Save for staples. Nothing wrong with own brand goods. Bulk buy and only buy what's in season and as hard as it is don't compare prices to the UK as you'll go mad. Get a chest freezer and buy when on special including bread and rolls. Take if from the person who spend $1,000 in Pak in Save not so long ago! Stunning even by my standards for a family or 4. I shop in bulk, buy fresh from butchers and fruit n veggie shops and only go every 3-4 weeks if I can. You'll get used to where to buy certain goods from eventually.

$1000 ! How many trolleys did you use?! (I have an image in my head of supermarket sweep - Sibble grabbing all the deals off the shelves, elbowing less fortunate shoppers out of the way!)

lol, yes I did have 3 that trip. I usually have 2. Dh thought (and probably still does) that I'd lost the plot. $5-600 is usual but $1,000 was quite a stunning effort. Poor checkout girl, I asked her to put it through in 2 batches so I got 2 10c off petrol vouchers as well. The funniest thing is I only have a barina, I forgot about getting it all in the car when I bought it. I had all the seats down and it was piled high, nearly on 2 wheels. Took forever to unload and put away at home.

it is a bit of a shock AB , especially if you shopped at Countdown - probably the most expensive place to shop in NZ. I only get things from there when they are on special offer or if I can't get any free range meat from the market.

I usually shop at Pak n Save for dry goods, freezer stuff, bread (the best bread rolls in town IMO), tins, baking wotnots etc. I only buy seasonal veg - keeps the cost down - from the market if possible. Our local market is also the best place for fresh fish and free range reared meat. I spend about $180 a week for 3 of us, but I have found I cook from scratch a lot more here, which keeps costs down too.

You do spend a greater proportion of your income on food in NZ, but it's not vastly expensive. Try out the farmers market in Hamilton, I foudn their website here

try buying in bulk too to keep costs down. I'm a bit lazy as I live round the corner from New World so I pop there if I run out of stuff mid week, but I've got friends who only buy dry goods etc. once a month and buy the biggest box/bag to keep the costs down.

Ok,I know everyone said things were a bit more pricey...I think the reality just made me go "ohhhh,shit!" Also,I think in the back of my mind I was thinking,Right, things are going to be really tight here,he's not going to want to try for a baby anytime soon. Which really upset me.

Anyway,feeling a bit better today,think am very hormonal and tired because the 18 month old will not go in a travel cot,so he's in bed with me and keeps me awake fidgetting/snoring/clinging! Exhausting

Thanks shelscrape,for the link and tips. I'll just have to get into the NZ way of thinking won't I?
It's just weird,because if I was bored in the UK,I'd just get the kids in the car and go to the massive Tesco 20 mins away. Do some shopping,buying whatever I fancied,browsing and probably buying the kids a toy/book/clothes each.

I guess now when i need to get out,I'll go for a walk or to the Library!!

I'm meeting a mner this week,who has been very kind to me..hopefully she can give me the nod as to where to shop around here!

There are loads of great kids playgrounds in NZ which is where I tend to go if I'm a bit stumped. Have you contacted plunkett yet? They will have an office building somewhere.

justabout- there is a pretty big Asian population here. Auckland will be 1/5th Asian in the next few years. Although kiwi's use the term Asian for anyone from China to Indonesia and Pakistan. So you can get spices etc but you may need to go to a special shop. I've not found a great Indian one in Auckland yet so would be interested if anyone has? I'm also looking for some Indian clothes. Most lentils you can buy and they are relatively cheap.

justabout there are lots of shops that sell spices near where I am, there's quite a big Indian population in west Auckland. I mean, you can buy them in supermarkets too. You reminded me of this article I read in the Herald a bit ago about a couple who have opened a spice shop on the Shore. It doesn't actually give you the name of the shop in the article but it says it is next door to Birkenhead primary school so hopefully not too far from where you end up on the Shore.

No no - don't shop at Countdown! Definitely Pak n Save. Its hardly inspiring - but that helps me not to be tempted into buying too many treats. Very good on basics. And of course you're going to spend more to start with as you have to buy everything. Once your store cupboard up and running won't be so bad.

Agree with others - definitely buy veges from market - much cheaper. And meat on special only. We are a family of 5 and manage on about $250 a week which includes one lot of fish and chips and milk and bread top ups.

Also agree with your comment that you can't really use the supermarket as an outing anymore. You need to go free all the way and after a while you get to the place where its so much nicer to hang at the library or park or whatever anyway. You can use the $2 shop for treats if you want, or my lot are just happy with an ice cream usually.

Get your budget tips here. Happy to keep 'em coming!

I was just going to suggest the $2 shop for treats, though I'm not sure Cambridge will have one. Hamilton will though. Some of the stuff from there is a bit plastic-tat but it's good for stuff like colouring books, crayons, chalk, balls and some toys.

littlestkiwi I'm not sure where the nearest good spice shop would be for you, there are some in the Sandringham/Balmoral area but that's still not that close to you...

I can't remember where you are thelittlestkiwi but Mount Roskill sprang to mind for Indian spices, clothes, anything really. If you want to remind me where you are and I'll ask an Indian friend of mine where she recommends.

AB, can I just say something about your comment about the shopping and feeling upset about how the prices might affect your DH's desire to try for another baby? I have been following your story and I know you have been through a difficult time, and now you are in the middle of a HUGE upheaval - it's really tough (and exciting too) to move to a new country, with so much to get used to and figure out.

I think it really won't help if each new challenge makes you worry about the baby issue... you probably need to give yourselves a bit of time and space to get used to your new surroundings, get into the house, figure out your budget etc etc - and the chances are that once you've done all that you'll be able to see your way to affording another baby anyway.

When we moved from NZ to France I was horrified at the high prices and unsure how much disposable income we would really have, and I was terrified to buy anything really :) but after a while I learned how local people managed it and got used to paying more for some things and less for others - like in your case people have said how you need to basically just find free fun for the kids rather than stuff you have to pay for.

I wish you all the best with settling in and hope you're really happy in NZ!

AB I can't remember, did you get work visas or residency in the end?

If you got residency/when you get it you will prob be entitled to Working For Families which are tax credits for people with kids. With 3 kids, if your family income is under about $100k, you will receive something. You have to be a permanent resident or citizen to be eligible though.

I don't know if you have to have been here a certain amount of time to receive it but that website may help or there is a phone number for enquiries too.

I know,weta,but I always have it in the back of my mind. I try and be sensible about it,but my emotions overtake.

There is a 2 dollar shop in Cambridge,by the way! Oh yes,tracked that sucker down on the first day!

We are in the process of applying for permanant residency,we have a talent visa.So hopefully,I'll be able to apply for Working For Families soon enough.

DD (5) had her first day at school today,she loved it. Phew

Sibble,am very impressed at your shopping acumen

Justabout..We got all our spices from the fruit and veg shop.They were pretty cheap. It was owned by an Asian family though.

That's totally understandable of course AB... it can be so hard sometimes!

Yes, everyone seems to have moved on in that repect. But I can't forget

Oh AB - you've got so much to deal with. I feel sad for you . DH may well cone round in 6 months or so once you're settled. I know how it feels though to want another one and it's all consuming isn't it? If you can think it will happen, in time, that could take the pressure off. Focus on getting through each day just now. What ages are kids?

Snow has set in in Scotland - 2 kids on scooters and 2 in a Phil and teds uphill on ice to school and nursery this morning reminds me why we need to leave. I'm totally over it. Dh has sorted of accepted the job (I think- we find it hard to talk over demanding toddlers) and they have given him a contact in HQ to start the visa process.

I have a couple of questions:

1. how would I get a bank account in NZ to put money into before getting in the country
2. money exchange agencies -better than the bank or so I hear- moneycorp or hifax?
3. am I ok to find a rental in Auckland before contacting the school or do I need to contact schools from UK now to see if they have places? Ds1 will be 5.5 on arrival
4. the 20 hours free childcare for over 3s. Could I get that if not a resident and just on a visa?
5. who would you use to ship your life over?

(sorry - more than a couple-answers on the back of a postcard)

Thanks justabout