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Thread: Average Monthly Expenditure Survey

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    27

    Default Average Monthly Expenditure Survey

    Hello everybody,

    I've been doing some research on the government statistics web site regarding the average monthly expenditure (excluding mortgage/rent payments) and have calculated that an average couple with one child spend approximately NZ$2,800/month.

    To develop my research further and also make a judgment on the quality of lifestyle I could have in NZ, could I ask that anyone currently living in New Zealand put down the following information.

    1) Size of family
    2) Location in New Zealand
    3) Approximate monthly expenditure (excluding mortgages/rent).
    4) Whether they considered they lived frugally, comfortably or lavishly

    Apart from myself, (who incidently is obsessed with figures), I think the above information will be quite useful to many prospective migrants.

    Thank you in advance for any input you can make.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    chch, syd,kent, chch back 10 yrs
    Posts
    321

    Default

    I'll play.

    7 in our family...2 big people pretending to be parents and 5 little people always crying!

    We live in freezin raining christchurch (and looking at the gold coast!)

    We spend all my hubbies wages of 39k!
    He just got a job after 6 yrs of study...I know...relief! and he is now a primary school teacher. We have student loans a plenty and repaying mortgage but that is all...no hp's or credit cards.

    Maybe what you want to know is how much is food..$180 a week,
    rates $20 pw, insurance car reg etc $11pw, electric /phone $40

    etc? maybe..or do you just want to know if people do really spend 2800 a month? we spend about 1900 a month...then mortgage

    we live FRUGALLY...have had too. We are not 'rich' by any means, but we do live ok, not too many restaurant dinners..but it doesnt mean we dont eat out (just with friends etc but that makes restaurant treats really enjoyable places to be )

    people dont care what you drive cos although we have number plate 'letters' all the imports get the new letter...even though the import is 15 yrs old...doesnt really matter if you drive a c reg (is at the moment) or a V reg..who cares.

    If you want to pick my brains....just email.

    Nic

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Feilding originally Warrington
    Posts
    639

    Default

    After nearly 3 months here I have a fair idea of what our expenses are. They are distorted a bit because we are spending loads every month on renovating the house and still buying bits and pieces of furniture for the house, so we are spending all of Dave's salary every month. He comes out with about $4,400 pm after tax. Salary $72,000. We don't have a mortgage.

    But the basics are:-

    Supermarket shopping $600 pm - includes wine
    Car insurance - $70pm - MR2 and RAV 4 - both 10 years old, this should reduce when we get NZ driving licences
    House insurance - buildings and contents $47 pm
    Petrol $120 pm - this is a 32km return commute for Dave and not a lot of driving round for me and weekends driving around
    Eating out - currently averaging $184 pm - maybe once a week
    Electricity $95 per month - but 2 months are estimated
    Telephone $87 per month - rental $50 (includes $40 internet connection) - calls $37. Don't use it for calls much. Mostly e-mail home and use IP Phone for calls to relatives on the internet.
    Rates $167 pm - rateable value $255k
    Bank charges $22 pm

    Also not included is the huge amounts spent on beer and cigarettes But as that is personal expenditure they can't really be figured in anyway.

    We would be quite comfortable if it weren't for the spending on the house.

    Hope this helps.

    Sandra

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    153

    Default More Questions about monthly budget

    Everyone who contributed, that is such useful information!

    I have anouther question:
    Do you think you expenses are higher or lower than they were in your home country? HOw does it compare?

    We are moving from the US and trying to anticipate: Here are the basics in our US budget - and we are very fruegel right now:

    US DOllars:
    Mortgage 500
    Health Insurance 880
    Electric 180
    Water 80
    Auto payment (2001 ford) 500
    2 cars house flood & property ins

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    153

    Default opps - hit wrong button

    all car property flood ins 495
    kid school
    we live in the worst area in us - so pay for private 600
    Tel 35
    Cable 49
    satalite 59
    cell 61

    We think that these are very high rates. Multiply by 1.3 to est NZ value.

    Total entertainment
    1 round of golf 35
    kid guitar lesson 20


    We are hoping to see NZ rates much more reasonable!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Portland, Oregon, USA
    Posts
    92

    Default

    Hi Junnifer -- Can't help you on the US-to-NZ expense conversion, but it sure is interesting to see how much a fellow American pays for various stuff. I sure hope utilities in NZ don't cost more than US$260 each month -- I only pay $30 total!

    Good luck,
    Dan

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Auckland, North Shore since March 2004
    Posts
    775

    Default

    My 2 cents worth!

    Monthly outfoings for a family of four...2 old parent types and 2 littlies!

    about NZ$3000 per calender month, livng on Aucklands North Shore.

    Food NZ$200/wk
    Mortgage NZ$310/wk
    Power NZ$40/wk
    Rates NZ$25/wk
    Water Rates nz$3/wk
    Phone NZ$25/wk
    Phone Cards NZ$10/wk
    Mobiles NZ$5/wk
    Sky NZ$12/wk
    Car Ins 2 cars, Ford Laser + Renault Scenic NZ$20/week
    Road Tax 2 cars NZ$8/wk
    Petrol 2 cars, NZ$50/wk
    Security system monitoring NZ10/wk

    Total Approx NZ$720/wk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Thanks very much for the information guys, as i said earlier I'm obsessed with budgeting and so this is very helpfull indeed.

    It seems that my personal budget figure of $2500 per month, exclusive of mortgage/rental may well be enough to support my wife and our little son. :P

    All i have to hope for now is a return to a favourable exchange rate, and a drop in mortgage interest rates. :hopeso

    Cheers to all and hope you have a very merry Xmas.

    Adrian

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Feilding originally Warrington
    Posts
    639

    Default

    Hi Adrian

    Whereabouts are you in HK? Dave and I used to live in Discovery Bay

    Sandra

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Auckland, North Shore since March 2004
    Posts
    775

    Default

    Hi Ateal,

    My company offices used to be in Hung Hom...know it?

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