Return to NZ after 15 years in UK...how do people manage financially?

[pixiegumboot]

Thinking about returning home after 15 years in the UK. Will be returning with DH, DS1&2.
Trouble is, whenever we do the sums, NZ just seems horrifically expensive, particularly for food. Even more so mortgages.

So how do people manage? What do you think you need to earn to have a comfortable family life?....nothing major just not having to budget down to the last cent!
Thoughts welcome, BTW will be living Mt Maunganui/Papamoa.

Ok I was probably being a bit silly saying everything being way more expensive. Things that definitely are more dear in Nz are:

• food
• books
• clothes
• formula
• nappies & wipes
• bed linen (or Manchester )
• stuff for house like furniture/ cushions
• mobile phones and internet
• entertainment i.e concert tickets etc
• cosmetics/ toiletries

Things that are comparable or cheaper in Nz:

• running and buying a car
• cost of public transport
• eating out
• booze either from supermarket or out
• getting to beautiful places quickly :)
• decent accommodation for a weekend away- the motels are great here

Others may have different experiences and or things to add

Cosmetics yes....batiste dry shampoo that I can't live without £2.99 vs $20!!!! 20 dollars!!!!

If you were to consider shipping household items back to NZ, such as items of furniture, do you think it would be worthwhile (bearing in mind there will be shipping costs)? We are trying to work out if we do head back whether it's worth it - have heard furniture is either good quality but very expensive or cheap and nasty.

Any thoughts?

I think the general consensus is that it's worth shipping most things. Anything you end up not wanting you could probably sell for a decent price on Trade Me.

A friend shipped (amongst other things) some IKEA children's drawers and when she sold them a few years later got more for them than she had originally paid for them new!

I shipped some 3 nice old chests of drawers (family stuff) and it cost me £300 - for the equivalent $600 I wouldn't have got such nice stuff here. I actually wish I had shipped more.

Definitely ship out furniture if you can.

Some more things I thought of that may or may not be relevant to you OP: medical costs (incl opticians checks, dentists etc) and shoes are way more expensive here.

But childcare: daycare and nannies I have found to be comparable if not slightly cheaper than what people I know in the uk are paying.

I'm also a Kiwi, living in London for 21 years now, I have never worked a full year in New Zealand so don't feel I lived there as a grown up. I worry most about culture shock, going back as a Kiwi who has lived more of my life away, very unfamiliar with the politics and working environment.

Absolutely ship, cheaper than replacing. As already said you will pay through the nose for quality goods, affordable is often cheap rubbish. If you decide you don't want it when you get here you will be amazed what sells on trade me and often more than you paid in the UK. I left a front loading washing machine behind, as Dh insisted everybody only had top loaders, bought a house and the laundry was built for a front loader so had to go and buy one!

Also as people a less materialistic (on the whole) the sofa and armchairs we were embarrassed to have in our house in the UK as they looked 'tired' lasted another 5-6 years here as everybody kept telling us there was nothing wrong with them. You might look at your things with fresh eyes once you arrive.

Costed it; £4k to ship whole house. would never replace everything for $8knz

I think you are right pixigumboot it would cost more to replace a whole house lot and I've heard if you are going to ship then ship EVERYTHING, things I wouldn't have thought of like buckets, mops, spare linens and well everything I guess would be so annoying to have to fork out $100 to get new brooms / buckets / extra duvet for guests or whatever when you had perfectly serviceable ones that you got rid of.

I also have this sad plan to stock up on tea bags, bisto instant gravy, persil and other such items, so shipping it has to be... NZ tea is pretty dire!

How much does a clean from the dental hygienist cost in NZ these days? I paid £35 for mine last month.

Drs visit and scripts were free for my two under fives when we visited in Jan, adults are about $30 - $50 is that right, how much are adult scripts?

kiwidreamer I pay $90 for a clean from hygienist. That's a 30 min appt.

Adult prescriptions have just gone up from $3 to $5. I pay $17 for the drs but most places are more than that.

If you really miss British tea etc there are several "British goods shops" in Auckland which sell loads of food, drinks etc and some of them deliver nationally. Some New Worlds also have a UK section with stuff like that in.

I agree ship most things, not sure you need to bother with buckets, they're $1.40 at the Warehouse!

Good to have that confirmed, thanks everyone! DH is of the view that shipping costs will outweigh any potential benefit but sounds like that's not the case. We weren't thinking of anything hugely fancy - our furniture at the moment is Ikea and getting quite worn - sounds like our idea of replacing it to send back might be worthwhile.

For those of you who lived in NZ pre-DCs and went back with a family, how did you find the adjustment? Was the change in pace something you'd already experienced once you'd had children so the transition was easier or were there still lifestyle or cultural differences you hadn't expected?

Plus you don't have to spend every weekend in target and the Warehouse. This should not be underestimated!

Yes, agree with that. And bloody Briscoes!

oh there is Target in NZ now that's good!

Target Furniture I'm afraid. Not Target. Sadly.