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Thread: Minimum Cost of Living...... Hair Shirt Style

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    Great Britain
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    1

    Default Minimum Cost of Living...... Hair Shirt Style

    Hey all I've been enjoying all i've been reading here. One thing I wanted to ask was about the cost of living.

    http://www.enz.org/cost-of-living-in-new-zealand.html

    Is there a cost lower than frugal, like Hair Shirt?

    That would be the absolute rock bottom amount of money to keep body and soul together?

    Could I then reduce food costs and the rest of the costs a bit more?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    37,824

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    Hello and welcome.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    UK to Christchurch
    Posts
    497

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    -- From a point of view of 'living'

    You can reduce food costs by eating seasonal fruit and veg - fruit can be 99 cents a kilo in season.

    Don't eat cereal for breakfast - have fruit

    Don't have the heating on get a fleecey blanket.

    I'm sure those who actually live there will give you a whole list of money saving ideas.

    --And some advice from a backpacking daughter

    If you go out for lunch go to Cobb and Co and eat the free snacks whilst you are waiting to order and only drink the free bottle of water - a bowl of wedges will feed two people easily. Most places give you free water so you never have to buy a drink if you don't want to.

    Staying in hostels there is always a free food shelf and some hostels do free breakfast or dinner. Hostels often have vouchers in the foyer.

    If you are having a treat (good for the soul) then go to Bethlehem near Tauranga and a one scoop icecream would easily be enough for two for about $2.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    412

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    Buy your fruit and vegs from veggie shop or dairy, meat from Mad Butcher unless there is a good special in Pack n Save, get the rest of the groceries in Pack n Save, and as Mikeandcaroline said buy seasonal. Try not to be tempted by imported British foods. If you like Marmite, the one which comes from England is called "Our Mate."

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Auckland
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    3,697

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    Save as much on electricity as possible (using those energy saving bulbs-its helps to keep the pockets green too!!)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    UK
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    68

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    You could try eating for $5 a day or less. You'd defo be able to get enough calories on that to keep you going. Less than $5 a day feeds you on white rice or white bread with cheap marg. Longer term you're stuffed eating like that but if you just want to keep body and soul together for a few months on not much money you could do it. No need to buy any clothes or shoes. Come in spring and dont use any heating. Do a flat share or live in a sleepout in someone's garden. Less than $100 a week all in.
    Last edited by little john; 24th October 2012 at 10:44 AM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Tauranga
    Posts
    201

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikeandcaroline View Post

    If you are having a treat (good for the soul) then go to Bethlehem near Tauranga and a one scoop icecream would easily be enough for two for about $2.
    Hey Mike and Caroline,

    Exactly where in Bethlehem can we get those $2 one scoop ice cream? Might just go get some tomorrow after school


    Amy

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Scotland - rural England
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    863

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    Hello & welcome!

    P

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    UK to Christchurch
    Posts
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    Quote Originally Posted by amy71 View Post
    Hey Mike and Caroline,

    Exactly where in Bethlehem can we get those $2 one scoop ice cream? Might just go get some tomorrow after school


    Amy
    Just looked on Google Earth and it is the Four Square on SH2 opposite the new shopping centre that has the Countdown supermarket in it. I think they do child size ones too.

    Have one for us until we can get there next year.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Tauranga
    Posts
    201

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikeandcaroline View Post
    Just looked on Google Earth and it is the Four Square on SH2 opposite the new shopping centre that has the Countdown supermarket in it. I think they do child size ones too.

    Have one for us until we can get there next year.

    Ahhhhh at Four Square. That's right beside my butcher. Never knew they had ice cream. We will have some first and give us a shout when you get here. We live 5 min away. Are you guys planning to settle in Tauranga?

    Amy

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