Wellington weekly expenses

[babsnaik]

New to Wellington and looking for a job and trying to figure out the weekly expenses.

Just trying to calculate the weekly money required for living in Wellington Central

- 500 $ for Weekly Rent
- 300 $ for school for Daycare
- 200 $ Groceries & Food
- 100 $ Transportation
- 200 $ Misc

So its working out to nearly 1300 $ a week which is quite high.

What are your thought about this Wellingtonians ? Is this right or I am missing something ?

Any ways to reduce this expenses ?

[girlwithanewf]

You won't need anywhere near $100 per week for transportation. You can get a monthly card I think for $145 which gives you unlimited travel on Go Wellington buses zones 1 - 3. Information here:
http://www.metlink.org.nz/adults/
I don't even have that, just load up my prepaid snapper card which you can buy from most small grocery shops etc. (dairies). I don't spend anything like that on the bus. You can walk from many places as well, even cheaper. Or did you mean a car?

And when you say $300 for school, not sure what you mean? I don't know the price of daycare for younger children but primary school is free if you have the correct visa (except stationery, uniform, voluntary donations, trips etc which do not add up to that much.)

All the best.

[babsnaik]

Hi,

Yes - I meant if U buy a car - U have to pay so much $100 as loan repayment a week.

$300 is for daycare is the norm here - I found out.

If you want a lavish life - U need both parents to work here in NZ

[kiwi.]

Ours is:

$400 rent
$230 daycare
$65 train + some for gas.
$food - no idea. We just buy what we want. Should really keep track and plan better.
$wine - way too much. Should probably cut down, but its so good.
$buying lunch everyday. Really need to start bringing it.

The only number that seems a little high could be your rent, but if you're planning on being in central Wellington then its probably realistic.

[Azkateaz]

We're in Wellington and this is our weekly breakdown:

590 - rent
80 - bus fare (for 4)
350 - groceries
40 - Electric/gas
40 - Internet
150 - fun stuff
180 - au pair

We alo have some other costs in the year for car rego and wof but I don't calculate that for weekly costs. Your costs seem pretty accurate to me!

[babsnaik]

$230 day care - May I know which one and how many hours everyday please ?

I want to check out some of the day care centers

[babsnaik]

If I get $1200 per week - we will have to balance out the money till my wife finds a job.

[Jacqi B]

Until your wife gets a job you surely wont need to pay for day care.
As girlwithanewf says, the bus will cost much less than that and if you are paying a high rent because you are in the CBD, you will be able to walk to most places.
"If you want a lavish life you need both parents to work" - isn't that true in most places?
I'm not sure what you are including under 'misc' (although you are right to allot money for 'misc') but it is as high as your grocery bill - seems excessive to me.