Average Monthly Expenditure Survey

[ateal]

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.

[kiwi]

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

[Dave & Sandra]

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

[Junnifer USA]

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

[Junnifer USA]

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!

[deebat]

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

[karltsmith]

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

[ateal]

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

[Dave & Sandra]

Hi Adrian

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

Sandra

[karltsmith]

Hi Ateal,

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