WHERE'S BEST TO LIVE IN NZ AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW:PART 3!!!!(HOLY SHIT!)

[AngryBeaver]

Can you believe we've finished finished off another thread? Jeez we can talk!!
Just an update..we've found a nice double glazed,4 bed house,with nice garden. So that's one stress off the last.
Hilongwhitecloud

Just hideous, hideous, hideous . Agent said she wouldn't sell me a leaky house (she's from the UK) but that most would. Huge job. DH said he's not up for a project - no surprise there as he's a lazy arse really but tbh I think I have enough on my plate.

NZ health services win again... 3 dollars for my psoriasis ointment. would have cost 10 times that in Ireland.

And full marks to my doc for being truly lovely... but as she was Indian I'm not sure I can give NZ the credit for that!

My dad's in Hong Kong - he gets here tomorrow am. Exciting but hope he's coping with the flight. He's a bit stressy about this sort of stuff. DH's dad's cousin is also in Auckland now and we see her Sunday. It's all go on the family front.

Today I officially 'started' at 6.30am and didn't sit down until 8.30pm. I am knackered. No time for lunch or anything. justabout - I honestly don't know how you did it when yours were a bit younger.

AB - are you doing OK? You've been quiet.

My house is full of pink batts. Is it normal to be so excited about insulation? I wonder if we will really notice the difference.

You should do. Temperature went up 4 degrees in our living area/kitchen when we put insulation in!

That would be good- we're okay at the moment but last winter was pretty chilly.

I told my DD that I'd asked for pink stuff especially for her.

What (approx) does everyone pay for a monthly Leccy bill. We've moved and using electric heaters now (with a bit of gas) and I'm wondering what to expect....

In this house we pay between $120 and about $350 a month depending on season. Our water is heated from tank gas, which also runs some heaters, and we go through about 6 a year at $100 each. I'm hoping the insulation and the econopanel I just installed may reduce our bills a little. The econopanel is 10c an hour to run and I leave it on overnight if it is cold in DD's room. Last winter we had 4 plug in rads we ran in bedrooms and the basement study when they were needed.

In other houses- with driers and heated bathroom floors- our winter bill were $600+.

www.consumer.org.nz/reports/appliance-running-costs/heating-cooling-lighting

You might find this interesting. I've always wondered if it would be cheaper to run proper central heating than oil rads plus a drier.

We run everything on electric - no gas and no wood burner. Bills in summer are about 130 and winter get up to about 250. I reckon over the year they average out about 180 a month. I have just switched suppliers to Powershop and am finding them better priced than Mercury - bills about $30 a month cheaper so far.

We probably have heaters on less than in Wellington though.

Our leccy bills go from 140ish in summer to 350ish in winter. When we moved I we got one of those "UK style central heating" companies to come and give us a quote for radiators and a combi boiler (how lovely would that be). Quote was approx 12-15 thousand dollars. And we would have to run off bottled gas which he reckoned could set us back $100 a week in winter. So we just stick with the heat pump.

When I went back to the uk at the end of last year for a visit I spent a good amount of time clinging to radiators (and hung my fresh undies and socks on them overnight so they were lovely and warm to get into in the morning)

$480/month don't ask me how or why because I don't know........enormous I know. Semi-rural so every time I turn on the tap, flush the toilet or open the garage door it requires power, but still...seems excessive!

Littlest - gulp - $600! Bet you're glad you don't live there any more.
Sibble - $480 - hope you're nice and toasty if nothing else!
Bobbish -

Think I'll budget for $350 over winter and see what happens. Old house so not insulated.

That was before the heat pump, just a log burner

Yeah, the annoying thing was, we weren't even that comfortable for 600$ a month! It was a horribly designed house- too hot in summer, too cold in winter. One issue was the layout. It was on 5 or 6 levels with the drying space 4 floors below the washing machine. It was easier to shove everything in the drier than cart it up and down the stairs. We took it cos we were completely stuck rental wise. Thank god we didn't buy it. We ended up buying a house that is mainly one level, plus a basement and our bills halved overnight.

Shells, I'd think a budget of $350 should be OK assuming you'll still air-dry the majority of clothes. Mine goes from $130 in summer to $250 in winter and I admit to using the dryer for almost every load of washing (approx 3 per week). I do try and turn off things at wall, not leave lights on and the kids are used to sleeping in cold bedrooms. Apparently old fridges and freezers can chew through a mountain of power. Gas is cheaper than electricity if its reticulated and the heater is flued. Freezing tonight huh? Snow on the Tararuas and Orongorongas brrrr. Kids at Daisies apparently enjoyed playing in it though!

Fun & games here - after a few reactions & a discussion with the plunkett nurse, it looks like DD2 might have a dairy intolerance. So no dairy for her and we'll try to reintroduce after she turns 1. No dairy for me either while I'm still feeding - although trace amounts are fine and I can start to reintroduce it sooner.

I haven't looked at the price of soy & other alternatives but I'd say they are shocking...

Just when we were finally nearly at the stage of just making one meal for everyone. Now it's separate meals for DD2 & myself if the others want cheese (and so much of my cooking Involves cheese or dairy of some sort)

vviola sympathies, I am dairy intolerant and ds1 is anaphylactic to tree nuts and sesame so shopping and eating out can be interesting. The good thing eventually about an intolerance if your dd doesn't grow out of it is that you/she will learn what her tolerance levels are. I can eat cheese -in moderation but not milk, cream etc....

Hi ladies,
Interesting to read all the heating info....dreading to think what heating bills will be like in Dunedin!

We have just put our flat on the Market, had a few viewings but I am a bit worried about the Greece/Spain situation affecting mortgages in the UK. Only time will tell I guess.

We have also booked a trip home in June/July. So excited but nervous as we'll make our decision after this trip. Am I mad to try and sell Dunedin to DH in deepest, darkest winter?!

DD2 is formula fed, bit worried about getting formula in NZ. Do you think it would be better to bring a couple of tins with me?

Hi, (Anxiously here)

vvviola. My ds1 had the same. After a couple of weeks of cutting out dairy from mine and his diet it kind of became 2nd nature. I think you quickly adapt to situations like this. (well you have to really don't you)

We introduced dairy once a month from 12 months old where we always got the same reaction from him until he was 18 months old and nothing. Now he's 20months old and can eat yoghurt and cheese like the rest of them and I'm enjoying milk on my cereal again.

Well looks like DP will be heading out to NZ first and we'll follow a couple months later due to finances. I suppose it kinda makes sense, he can sort out a house and what not ready for when we join him.

His medical is tomorrow and police checks where sent of a week or so ago so we're getting closer.

Trying to work out flights. I love the idea of getting a sky couch with 2 dc who will be 3 & nearly 2 but really don't want to fly through LA and that's the only way we'll get a sky couch. Looking at Singapore Airlines at the moment as I really would like to fly through Changai.

Too excited and nervous and confused.

Changai airport is great (as far as airports go). I went through LA when I moved out here because you got double the baggage allowance so may be worth checking on that. Otherwise I would avoid it like the plague!

Sorry to hear about the dairy allergy . At least you know what the problem is now and can start addressing it. Sucks that the soy milk and formulas are so expensive here. DD2 had severe reflux and the only formula she could take was $30 a tin. Not good when you are down to one income.

So cold again tonight! I am in bed with the leccy blanket on!