Now that we've been in New Zealand for a year its probably time for an update... no complaints from the peanut gallery, I did warn that the blog wouldnt be updated often and in our defence its been a helluva year. The entire immigration process has been a whirlwind and if we expected things to quiet down once we were here - which we did - then we were delusional.
In the last year I've had 3 different jobs, Isabella has had 2 daycares and thankfully so far only 1 home. We've discovered that Aucklanders while friendly are not hospitable (our kiwi friends number, well, 0.5) and that out of sight really is out of mind when it comes to a lot of family and friends still in SA.
We dont regret making the move but in hindsight we could have been better prepared for the changes that come along with it!
The big positives for us all relate to the safety we feel here in comparison to when we lived in Johannesburg - there are no bars on our windows, no electric fences (hardly any fences at all really), no burglar alarms or any of the other paraphenalia that formed part of our daily life in Johannesburg. I no longer work myself into a panic deciding where to put Isabella's car seat so I can get her out if we are highjacked. Maybe I'm paranoid in comparison to friends and family who still live very happily in South Africa, but I am glad to be free of the fear that was invading every aspect of our life.
I dont know if we will be in New Zealand forever but I dont think we'd move back to South Africa now that we know what its like to live elsewhere.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monthly living costs V2
I thought I'd revisit our monthly living costs now that its been a year and we've got more of a grip on finances here. The exchange rate is now about R5/$1 which is also a lot better than when we moved over.
Rent: $1733 per month, but rent is paid weekly ($400 per week). Budget for 3 weeks rent when you start a rental contract (2 weeks deposit/bond and 1 week paid in advance). No change here as we are still in the same house but rental prices have dropped from when we first looked and we are considering downscaling to a smaller cheaper property.
Water: $70 for 6 months.
Power: $100 - $300 per month (summer/winter). There are a few different power companies here and you choose a provider and a package when you rent or buy a property.
Telephone & internet: $115 per month
Childcare: $1300 per month. This is for 1 child, under 3 years old and includes meals.
Petrol: $400 per month. This is based on 1 tank of petrol every week for 2 cars.
Parking: $200 per month. Unfortunately working in the city centre means paying for parking.
Food, cleaning materials and toiletries: $825 per month (R1235 per week)
Nappies: $60 per month (4 bags of nappies from a nappy wholesaler)
Car and home insurance: $180 per month (2 vehicles)
Mobile phone: $40 per month
Swimming classes for Belle: $60 per month
Medical insurance (basic cover for operations & hospital stays): $60 per month
Takeouts: $15 - $50 per meal ($15 will get fish and chips for 3, KFC is a bit pricier and pizzas pricier still)
This is a great site to create and manage a budget: http://www.sorted.org.nz/
Rent: $1733 per month, but rent is paid weekly ($400 per week). Budget for 3 weeks rent when you start a rental contract (2 weeks deposit/bond and 1 week paid in advance). No change here as we are still in the same house but rental prices have dropped from when we first looked and we are considering downscaling to a smaller cheaper property.
Water: $70 for 6 months.
Power: $100 - $300 per month (summer/winter). There are a few different power companies here and you choose a provider and a package when you rent or buy a property.
Telephone & internet: $115 per month
Childcare: $1300 per month. This is for 1 child, under 3 years old and includes meals.
Petrol: $400 per month. This is based on 1 tank of petrol every week for 2 cars.
Parking: $200 per month. Unfortunately working in the city centre means paying for parking.
Food, cleaning materials and toiletries: $825 per month (R1235 per week)
Nappies: $60 per month (4 bags of nappies from a nappy wholesaler)
Car and home insurance: $180 per month (2 vehicles)
Mobile phone: $40 per month
Swimming classes for Belle: $60 per month
Medical insurance (basic cover for operations & hospital stays): $60 per month
Takeouts: $15 - $50 per meal ($15 will get fish and chips for 3, KFC is a bit pricier and pizzas pricier still)
This is a great site to create and manage a budget: http://www.sorted.org.nz/
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