My partner and I came over with some small change, a couple of buttons and a fluffy polo mint in our pockets. We shipped 8 boxes (1 cubic metre altogether!) of mainly sentimental stuff...we didn't think the bigger stuff we had was worth shipping. (Plus my partner had a false memory of leaving loads of practical stuff behind in his mother's garage when he left NZ 10 years ago...turns out he'd actually left a whole load of sentimental stuff instead...can we see a pattern forming?) Anyway - we had a good support network already here for us when we arrived - friends to stay with rent-free for a while, for example, so that meant we didn't need to worry too much about instant outlays. When we did get our own place (rented) we furnished it pretty much from the Salvation Army charity shops, which in Auckland are fantastic - I'm sure they're great elsewhere too. We bought our fridge and washing machine second hand for $80 altogether...the washing machine lasted us about 6 months but the fridge is still going. If you have to do it cheaply, there are ways and means. trademe.co.nz is quite a good place for finding second hand stuff - though I reckon people get a bit carried away with themselves and end up paying more than they need to. The Trade and Exchange paper - which also has a website - is pretty good too. Oh, yes, and garage sales. Where would we be without buying up other people's rubbish for next to nothing???
If I could do it again, I think I probably would try to ship more of my practical stuff - kitchen ware especially. And more 4-point plug/extension leads. Houses here seem to have about 2 power points per room...but overall - no real regrets about leaving stuff behind and starting again!
Lil.
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