Monthly Costs

[Dawn]

Yes KH, we've noticed!

I really don't understand why things have to be soooo expensive. We've always eaten well, we've always eaten healthily I mean. We don't buy processed food, we cook. I used to think it was expensive to buy good food in the UK. Healthy good for you foods are always more expensive than the salt filled, sugar filled, colour filled, crap that a lot of people accept. If I tried to live on that stuff with my job I'd be on my knees in a fortnight! And come on, we all know that the diet kids are eating is THE main cause of health problems, behaviour problems etc. I cannot believe how many kids drink caffeine packed 'energy' drinks here!! Do their parents have any idea what that amount of caffeine can do to their kids bodies and brains and consequently their behaviour and well-being?

We imagined NZ would be more health conscious than the UK again because of this clean, green image it has. In my opinion it's certainly no further along the line. Crappy, heart attack waiting to happen take away food is cheap compared to cooking your own 'proper' meals. The fast food chains do good business here.

There's a strong, sports, active outdoor culture here but for some reason the mind set doesn't carry through into other aspects of lifestyle. I don't get it!

I want to buy fresh, healthy food at a decent price so that I can keep myself and my family well. Is that tooooooo much to ask? Everybody benefits in the long run.

Taffy when you run for parliament put this issue on your manifesto!!!!

[duane1x]

I tried to track this for one month. It's hard because we tend to do a big shopping once a week but then a lot of little pop-ins for $20 or $30 here and there. It all adds up. Anyway the total for the month, family of 4, was $1150.

We eat fairly simply, but there are the necessities, like wine, that add to the bill. And the outright luxuries, like a couple of scoops of smoked almonds the other day that rang in at $10. Tonight's dinner was chicken fajitas. We gotta have our Mexican food every few weeks. We made a great salsa from some fabulous yummy avocados and tomatoes. 10 tortillas set me back just under $6. I come from the land of cheap tortillas, so this is a shocker. All in all, I don't think the total food bill is any more expensive than what we were used to paying, which was a mix of cheap items at Fiesta and expensive stuff at Whole Foods.

Tried the boxed wine the other day to economize and maybe didn't pick a good one but it wasn't so hot. Anyone have a good boxed wine to recommend?

[duane1x]

Oh and speaking of running for Parliament I got a letter in the mail today from the elections people already latched onto me, I guess from the tenancy agreement or new utilities or telecom or something. Anyway I was surprised that I would get to vote after 12 months as a resident. I thought that was for citizens only. In fact if you've seen that letter you are strongly urged to enrol, as in you will be spanked if you don't. So after 12 mos Taff you'll have my vote.

[Taffy]

Cool, that's 2 supporters, just another 498 to go to start my political party!!

[johnty]

yes i have to agree ,food is expensive here.and it would seem for no good reason.dairy farmers are making huge profits and milk and butter ect prices are going through the roof.
we work on dairy farms ,and they are watering 24/7 when else where there are water restrictions. and alot of heards are milked twice a day.
it seems mad that nz lamb is cheaper in the uk than in nz.
we find it cheaper and much better quality to buy our veggies at a veggie shop,and likewise for meat at a butchers
(dont read this bit dawn) but the price of cakes and biscuits is a shocker
ally and the kids now make alot of that stuff now ,which is nice (in a little house on the prairy kind of way, while i bring in the wood)
for what its worth,the cost of living including electric and phone for us is more expensive.
but leisure activitys swimming fishing going to rugby matches and so on are alot cheaper

[Glenda]

I'll keep this simple ... we need $3,000 a month to survive here. That is me and four kids, house without mortgage. That includes utilities and council tax, and is surviving with very few luxuries, buying 'offers', no allowance for big expenses like car repairs, dentistry, holidays, etc. For renting, I would expect you would need another $1,500 to $2,000 a month on top of that, depending on house size and location.

[macfod]

Well, not wanting to be negative but prices will keep going up.
As we run a busy Vegatarian cafe I dont know much apart meat prices apart from us having to pick from poor quality chicken for ourselves at home...and I am told its going up again next week.

My veg prices are still going up and have you noticed very little in the way of specials in supermarkets.


So, Frontera are upsetting all dairy prices and veg prices are on the up still.
Even frozen fires and wedges are going up by up to 20% soon with flours simularly.
We make all our own food and all ingredients and seeds are showing increases still....

But, supermarkets are making fat amounts of profit from what I can see.

Coffe is now under attack with big money grabbing mobsters( I use the term lightly..ha ha) trying to muscle in and increase prices..


I have noticed so many customers now using credit cards to pay for snacks and fear they are using credit to support their incomes..but it has to be paid back sooner or later...
And its costing me money with banks charging me rediculous fees for accepting them...


Sorry, readers but I predict a tough year ahead and we have decided no to invest any more money over here at the moment..as it looks like our own food bills way above what we planned.
Dawn, I feel for you having to feed a big family...

Good news...well ....we are almost at our 12 months stage...counting down from April....

[macfod]

Ok Taffy, Our vote takes you nearer...

Alas, though the last think I want to see is a a load of ex pats running the country...hurrah I say lets leave NZ to the Kiwi's..they deserve it as us rats have other ideas what we want...

Kiwis's rule ok..........

[Taffy]

Ok Macfod, I'll have an all-kiwi cabinet (Pre election promises!)

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Ok Macfod, I'll have an all-kiwi cabinet (Pre election promises!)

Yes, and you know what you can do with those.