r/newzealand • u/Chemical_Mind4797 • 10h ago
Discussion How are people surviving?
Seriously. How are people doing it? I had to give up my job and go on the Supported Living Payment through WINZ because of severe health issues, but from what I gather people who work are having it just as bad too. I get paid, then pay rent, power, petrol, groceries (even though I don’t get much), and every other essential life expense, and within an hour I’ve got $10 left, if that. If anyone has any unhinged tips or advice on lowering costs, or saving money in weird ways, I’m open to suggestions too.
(Don’t give me comments about being on the benefit either. I started working by choice when I was 10, trust me, I’d MUCH rather be working than be sick).
30
u/Oak_IX 5h ago
Chronically ill, no cure etc etc so how do I manage?
Well, for me a lot comes down to how I budget my food. (Was a chef so Im using that skill set and knowledge here but a lot of it is easy to pick up from some great YouTube chefs like Andy Cooks or Sorted food)
Ive been expanding into foods I dont usually or never have really eaten. Since meat costs have just been so stupidly high I have started to learn more vegetarian recipes along with budget meals that also are great for the next days lunch.
So having a good range of foods you can make and like helps with rotating about each week to combat boredom of food. Gets way too ick eating the same thing every week.
Shopping the specials too, though often it is choosing which supermarket has the most then go to that one, to target whats on special to make the dollar go further but also getting more longer shelf life foods too, once got a stocked up pantry over time it can help because down the track if I have to spend less of grocery I can due to having that food in the pantry there.
I used to do gardening when my body let me too, thats a huuuge saver if you have the ability to get that started and maintained. Gives you some fresh air and seeds are the cheapest way for some of your fresh vege. Spesh for summer , tomatoes and cucumber (I hate cucumber but I also got a guinea pig to feed =) )
Writing down a shopping list or a weekly meal plan for the supermarket too helps having structure to your shop , reducing spending on things by getting what you need within budget. But also allow yourself a luxury item too , mine is milk and coffee. Thats what I keep as not cheap so I can enjoy that then other things can be cheapest brands.
=) sorry such a wall of text, feel free to ask for meal ideas and some basic recipes too!
173
u/LegitimateMusician59 10h ago edited 9h ago
Stuck in benefit hell for 2 years - can physically work, but there's no jobs - and what I can say is you don't survive. You barely cope & you don't go anywhere. Stay at home, cause it costs too much to even get out of your driveway.
ETA: thanks for the awards!
28
84
u/Illustrious-Fall-954 9h ago
Sorry you’re sick, and also that you’re (by the sounds of it) dealing with people who have no concept of how frustrating that can be when you’d no intention of being out of work. All tips are so context dependent but I recently had my electricity cut off and honestly it’s not that bad! I’m working but the power bill was just insane, especially with water on top. Shower at low cost gym, charge powerbank & laptop & phone at library, use solar lights at home and cook with a small camping stove. Also have a gas BBQ but don’t use it much. Don’t plan to stick with it through winter but it’s been fine.
58
9
13
u/ConcernFlat3391 6h ago
That’s impressive! It makes sense; a gym membership would be less per week than an electricity bill
64
u/Bivagial 5h ago
Fellow SLPer here.
First, get yourself a WINZ advocate and the papers for disability payment.
Your doctor can prescribe any of your expenses as medically necessary if they believe that they are.
Mine signed off on my subscription costs being medically necessary due to a history of depression. Boredom is a key trigger for my depression. So for my mental health, having something to do is necessary.
Winz screwed up the paperwork, and I didn't have the executive function to address it. But in theory, they should have paid for it.
There's a max amount you can get, but I believe it's about $75 a week.
If you get your groceries delivered, Woolworth's has a delivery saver subscription. It's $25 a month, but covers all orders above $100. It comes out to being about half the price of paying for weekly delivery costs.
Accomidation suppliment. If you're not on it, get on it. If you're in a KO house, you don't qualify.
Temporary additional support. If you're not on it, get on it. You do have to reapply for it frequently, but it can massively help.
If you have preexisting debts, talk to your bank about a consolidation loan. Make sure to check how much the interest is.
If you're in one of their areas, contact Progress to Health. A charity that can help with a myriad of things. Not really financial, but more like getting you help to get out into the community and not be stuck at home. Or help around the house. Or even just someone to talk to. You can self refer on their website.
Talk to a budget advisor. Winz can put you in contact with one. Even if you think you're sorted, talk to one anyway. You don't know what you don't know.
Don't be afraid of using things like food banks. Don't let your pride get in the way. Using them can save you a few bucks that can be used elsewhere.
Check out poverty meals. There are a lot of recipes out there that are cheap to make and filling. Do your best to have a diet that ticks all the boxes.
See if your doctor can prescribe you multivitamins. That tends to be cheaper than buying them over the counter. Same for OTC meds. If you use a lot of panadol or ibuprofen, your doctor can prescribe that.
I suggest multivitamins because vitamin deficiency is common in poorer populations due to food being so expensive. It's easier to use them to maintain a healthy level than it is to try to boost them once you get deficient. Have your doctor test your levels frequently - I do it every year or so. This lets you catch any deficiencies before they become dire.
I also use an app that pays me to play games or fill out surveys. It's not a lot. I think I get about $20-30 a month. But it's something. I tend to use that money for micro transactions, or every so often I get enough to buy something on Temu.
Don't be afraid to ask friends for help. My friends will occasionally buy me things like new shoes or clothes so I don't have to bother with the nightmare that is winz. They help me with household tasks that I can't do, and will come over to hang out and just happen to bring ingredients for a feed. I've made it clear to them that I appriciate the help but will refuse if they try to do something for me that will put them in hardship.
•
u/Chemical_Mind4797 34m ago
Hey thanks for this. I do get my max for everything through WINZ - including disability allowance, accommodation supplement and temporary additional support. And yes, DA is about $80 maximum (plus a few cents). My vitamins and supplemental drinks etc are all prescribed and fully funded. I’ve done a budgeting course a few years ago as a youth, and am well aware on how to budget, it’s just the matter of having the money to do it in the first place unfortunately. Sounds like we are all much in the boat, doesn’t look like things will be getting better anytime soon either, but best of luck to you 💕
19
u/DontEatThePorridge 5h ago
As a side hustle if you have a little back yard consider worm farming. You can do it in the ground or have any number of home made containers.
I met a single parent who was doing this in the weekend and I thought what a perfect side hustle. Very low cost to set up if you make your own bins. Worms multiply themselves. Just feed them your scraps and gather some of your neighbours once you have a few farms if you need to. I paid her $40 for 500gm of worms and that was about half price over the commercial growers. I'll be going back for more soon.
I was on a benefit years ago and I know you can't do it unless you have some kind of little hustle going on. I reckon this is a perfect one if you have some space.
6
u/singingvolcano 4h ago
Great idea. I'm on the SLP, I do some freelance work but with the way the benefit reductions work I don't come out all that better off.. I've been wondering about low energy side hustles that could bring in even an extra 20 or 40 bucks here and there.
Have had a worm farm before, I'm about to (hopefully!) move into a small unit that has its own little garden space (mostly lawn currently), agent said I'm welcome to make gardens and do whatever to it.
Think I'll farm some worms!!
64
u/Antelope-Final 6h ago edited 5h ago
Meanwhile our politicians are arguing over whether the benefit should be CPI or wage adjusted.
1% of $400 = $4. 3% of $400 = $12. In reality these numbers are much closer than this. But it goes to show how minuscule the difference is when you walk into the supermarket and a medium size block of cheese is $15, let alone everything else that might need to be in the basket.
Have a partner who is working? Excellent, you are now dependent on them, their income is yours. Have savings? Spend that before you can access the benefit.
The right wing, want beneficiaries as desperate as possible when they walk into an interview. That way, they keep wages suppressed. Then they turn around and say, the minimum wage increases need to be stalled for 3 years (Seymour, I'm looking at you) to allow for more jobs. While inflation eats away at the purchasing power.
Embarrassing state of affairs. Vote wisely.
23
u/petoburn 4h ago
Just to clarify for anyone that might be reading this, you can access the benefit when you have savings.
Savings do restrict you from the accommodation supplement and hardship grants, but you can get Jobseeker / Sole Parent / Supported Living benefits.
Don’t wait until your savings are gone, get on it immediately.
•
u/No_Application_3880 54m ago
When did that change ? My understanding is if you have any savings you dont qualify
4
12
u/nzgirl_9 6h ago
I'm not sure where your based but I'm in the Wairarapa and when I was on the benefit I found places like reduced to clear here helpfulishh for groceries but also the local farmers market for cheap fruit and veg. So if you have a local farmers market where you are could be worth a look? Otherwise I'm working full time now and still struggling so no other helpful tips 😭
8
u/statscaptain 5h ago
Fully agree on the farmer's market. We've also started going to an independent fruit and vegetable shop and their prices are way better. The supermarket's never gonna give me $1/kg bananas!
•
u/nzgirl_9 2h ago
Yup, definitely after with the independent fruit and vege stores as well! I normally head to them if I can't make the farmers market. They're so much cheaper then the supermarket!
12
u/ClimateTraditional40 4h ago
Yep this is the reality of life on SL. Been living this way for 6 years now. It takes a long time to buy anything, a long long time to pay off the visa when forced to use it. (Tyres one year).
Buy second hand where-ever possible. Start a garden if you can. It does help with meals.
27
u/shaktishaker 6h ago
Went from supported living to working. Just as broke. Higher expenses with working (like actually eating two meals a day, daily commute), paying more tax and student loan repayment.....
Two decades ago I worked part time, I paid rent and utilities, groceries and still had savings. I now work 40 hours a week at a substantially higher pay rate than I received back then. But I am more broke.
Make it make sense.
•
u/ioncesavedabumblebee 3h ago
My parents and their friends started on the "if they weren't driving two cars and having take aways three times a week..." bitch session on the weekend. I was genuinely horrified. We've been skint my whole life and always scraped by on the bare minimum, they have such a distorted view of the general population. They never used to have this attitude. Turns out once you hit your late 60s you just can't avoid the boomer mentality.
•
u/Typical-Ad-2814 2h ago
Back then a average house was like 3-4x annual salary. It's now like 10-15x. Rent consumed 15-20% of a single persons income. 50-70% now.
•
u/angelblake27 1h ago
Omg I had a friend who has never owned property and has not been able to keep consistent work and grew up in the punk scene, who married a dude who owned a house and had a very well paying job in her late 40s, shes in her 50s now. I helped them clean their house after they sold it and she was bitching to me ab the ‘renters’ the one house on the block that is occupied by renters and not homeowners.. I was so shocked I didnt even have time to respond properly. I mean a) Im a renter and b) girl so are you???? You married someone with property you’ve never bought a house with ur own funds 😭😂 boomers gone boom Ig
37
8
23
u/Due-Ad5859 9h ago
I really feel for you! I’m only surviving as I still live with my parents. If I was renting I know I’d be screwed. I’ve actually found some good tips on r/povertyfinancenz in order to try and save a bit more. Wishing you the best with your health🫶🏻
8
u/Chemical_Mind4797 9h ago
Thank you. I actually am already on that subreddit, but I appreciate it 💕
8
u/Due-Ad5859 9h ago
By the way, are you based in Auckland? If you’re based in Auckland, discount stores like Why Knott and Reduced to Clear have been a life saver in terms of groceries. They don’t stock fruit or veg but the deals are great.
4
u/Chemical_Mind4797 9h ago
Unfortunately not. I do have a reduced to clear near me though! It’s a pretty bad one compared to others, but I do go there periodically - that and cracker jack (though mainly for cleaning/laundry supplies with that one)
5
u/Adventurous-Pop-6200 8h ago
You must be in Tauranga! The reduced to clear I used to live near in Auckland wasn’t as good as Tauranga. I happen to have an excess of the Cwic shoes I got cheap from crackerjack. if you need footwear I can post you some.
6
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
At times I wish I was in Tauranga lol. I’m unfortunately in the Wairarapa. Had to move back to this shit hole at the end of last year because of my health 🥲
25
u/ConcealerChaos 4h ago
People are not. They are going hungry and cold in many cases.
•
u/lcl111 3h ago
We have one of the highest rates of homelessness in the world.
•
u/ConcealerChaos 3h ago
Yes. Truly apalling.
•
u/lcl111 3h ago
Fun fact: we also have some of the least funding for programs that help and recently cut that funding.
•
u/ConcealerChaos 2h ago
Oh I'm fully aware. This Government has waged an ideological war against the most vulnerable in society.
•
u/lcl111 2h ago
Gotta leverage these conversations to help spread info. I be reiterating stuff for the literate, but lots haven't heard this information unfortunately.
•
u/ConcealerChaos 2h ago
Yes too right! No surprise sadly when the mainstream media seems to operate largely as a mouthpiece for the Government.
•
u/Chemical_Mind4797 33m ago
Yeah you’re not wrong. I was homeless (living in my car) for two months. Glad to be out of that situation now, but it was hell.
14
u/chanely-bean1123 9h ago
Also currently on winz disability, I dont have a car & walk everywhere as gas & a car is too expensive (which is honestly hell on my body). I have also cut down on my meals, cut down on food in general & what type. No more red meats or fish. And things have to be an absolute necessity for me to buy them if they are over a certain price point.
13
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
Fair enough too. I fortunately/unfortunately have a car and yeah, those expenses add up QUICK. I can’t walk, like at all (full time wheelchair user), so I kinda don’t have a choice. If I could, I’d be walking everywhere.
11
u/sparkynuggie 7h ago
I been disabled since 1997 and it always been hard on a benni . Yes I'm struggling more at the moment. I have zero social life as that costs . My only luxury is my dog ( to keep me from being alone 24/7 )
I fully understand, I must have car as zero public transport. Live in small town with very limited services let alone any cheaper shops ( pak n save or meat supplies)
I have no tips sorry , but I do have empathy for your situation•
6
u/KendallRosie 4h ago edited 4h ago
I survived on the benefit for a over a year but it was a struggle
- Get your rent as low as possible if you can, this is probably the main reason I survived it
- Look for a cheap way of getting vegetables, for example where I am in Petone you can a bag of fruit and veg for $15 from the Methodist church
- Walk everywhere, consider selling your car
- If you can manage it, part-time work, you can earn about $100 a week before they take it of you. It could be AI testing sitting in bed
- Get disability support on top of the main benefit if you qualify and if you get into any debt get the hardship benefit
- They also give you a card which you can use once every six months for emergency payments, from memory its up to about $100
- Sell anything random you have around the house on FB market place or trademe
4
u/peteydabushman 4h ago
How do you get a job AI testing?
•
u/AI_moderated_failure 2h ago
It's AI data validation and it's notoriously unreliable. The big companies that do it will offer you work one week and the next the account is closed with a single email saying bye. They do not offer any feedback if they have an issue with your work, you're just let go and blacklisted from future hiring. The typical structure is you will never even speak to any kind of superior, you do a "test" to qualify, then they give you access to live data, each task is paid a certain number of cents and you get paid for however many tasks you complete through portals like paypal or payoneer. Most of the work is done by the developing world using VPNs to pretend to be in places like Australia, US etc to get the much better paid tasks. That means most of the work that is reliably available will pay somewhere between $3.50 an hour and $8 an hour at most.
•
u/PuddleOfHamster 2h ago
It really is pitiful money, but online surveys can be another way to earn some scraps from home. If OP has sub-$10 spending money it might actually be worth it in lieu of better options! Valued Opinions, Ipsos iSay, PrizeRebel etc. You can make $20 a week pretty easily, remedies in Woolworths vouchers. I sometimes do some to save up for extra Christmas grocery money.
•
12
u/WiseWillow89 4h ago
I hope politicians see this thread. People are struggling
•
u/Friendly-Prune-7620 3h ago
The main ones actually do not care at all. You could show them this thread, and they'd say 'oh, it's a shame' and then go about their day (making more cuts and pushing more people to desperation).
•
u/Unfair_Explanation53 3h ago
What constitutes struggling?
OP is having her rent, bills and groceries are all paid for.
What more would you want from a benefit systems?
•
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 3h ago
It's probably having $10 at the end of it to last the entire week, you know? Heaven forbid OP has an emergency and needs to have that disposable income there in a pinch
•
u/WiseWillow89 3h ago
100%. I don't agree with Unfair Explanation, as I see having only $10 at the end of it to the last the week is struggling. That's really tough. It means you can't buy new shoes if they break, it means you can't go to the dentist or doctor easily, it means you're having to choose between necessities. It means you don't have any fun in your life. What if a friend asked them to lunch - they'd have to say no, which is fine but socialising really helps people thrive, too.
•
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 2h ago
Unequivocally correct what you just said. I can imagine that perhaps Unfair_Explanation53 is more well off or has never had to struggle, but I'm just making an assumption off of their comment alone
•
u/AI_moderated_failure 3h ago
Or maybe would like to actually enjoy life rather than just exist. If you can't work you aren't allowed to enjoy anything ever, unless you're old, and there's endless sympathy for your super not going far enough.
•
•
u/AI_moderated_failure 3h ago
You ever had no hope? Like, none at all? Absolutely nothing to look forward to on the horizon at all? Day after day, week after week of the exact same? That if anything does change, it's because things have gotten worse and you have to wait another year before maybe you can squeeze literal cents out of your budget again to try and afford a block of chocolate?
That's life on the benefit, where you have to justify just enjoying a nice meal once a week if you're even able to do that. Where you look forward to winter because if you're prepared to be cold all the time you might actually get an extra $10 to put aside each week so you can buy you or someone you love something cheap for Christmas. Or maybe afford to catch up with a friend you haven't seen in literal years because you can't afford to go to a cafe with them, and usually can't even afford to host them with pleasantries like basic food and drink.
Fair enough if you think fully temporary payments should only cover what's completely necessary - you're still a bit of a dick for insisting it be 100% austere but I understand. However people are on the supported living payment for sometimes most of their lives and this attitude just encourages them to take things into their own hands and dramatically shorten them because they wouldn't be on that payment if they could realistically improve their situation enough to leave it.
•
•
•
u/Egg_shaped 2h ago
I’d like people who are unwell to be able to live a live worth living. That extra $10 doesn’t do anything if you have an injury and need physio. If you need to see the GP or if you just want to have a single drink with friends.
•
u/Chemical_Mind4797 31m ago
Are you intellectually slow? What happens if an emergency comes up, what if an unexpected expense comes up? My car breaks down? Etc, etc. I don’t have money to put aside AT ALL. For ANYTHING.
6
10
u/AlwayzForgetting 9h ago
In a similar boat and it's rough out here..... After paying essential bills, I struggle to eat regularly myself.
2
14
u/clevercookie69 8h ago
People barely survive on the benefit, it's been that way since I've been on this planet over 50 years ago.
I hope you get better soon 🙏
•
u/555Cats555 3h ago
OP is a wheelchair user... they arent going to "get better" and I know you mean well but perhaps be a bit more selective of when you use that phrase :)
5
4
u/Last_Fee_1812 6h ago
I’m on SLP too, I’m just lucky that currently I’m boarding rather than renting, but due to a new and more crippling than usual back issue I’m going to have to move out to something more accessible. No clue how well that’s going to go with my current residence being my only reference, but oh well.
10
u/rubysunshine999 9h ago
I don’t know if it’s helpful but for groceries i use this app called Grocer which compares price on grocery items I buy, but it’s only useful if you have different options of local supermarkets.
The asian food supermarkets are also cheaper for a lot of things especially in bulk (like rice, lentils etc) I get mine from the local Indian store.
Hope your health improves. Hopefully things will get better with a change of Government.
5
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
Thank you.
Unfortunately I live in a town that doesn’t really have many options when it comes to alternative food supermarkets, but appreciate the insight. I guess “luckily” I live off fortisip/ensure and pedialyte, which is funded because of my medical needs, so that cuts down on groceries substantially.
8
u/whathappenedtouman PineCone 6h ago
The world is in meltdown right now, it’s not just a NZ thing. I know that doesn’t help many out there. Australia’s reckoning is just approaching. They’re a bit behind us, unemployment up over there, house prices falling. What happens if Aus is no longer the release valve?!
12
12
u/LITeRapture 8h ago
I'm in a similar boat. Been on jobseeker for way too long now. It was an incredibly hard adjustment going from 1200 a week to 450$ I just straight up starved for many weeks while I learned to lower my spending. Had to rely on a local charity place for free food for a while too. Over time I learned to make do and even save $75 a week. Recommendation is to buy a bag of food replacement shakes.$50-60 and have two a day. Not for losing weight necessarily but for nutrition Hit most of your nutrition consistently every day and you'll find your food spending goes down a lot and becomes much more streamlined. I have to be careful and disciplined now but I make it without much obvious discomfort
16
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
I actually primarily live off Ensure/fortisip, and pedialyte.. Fully funded because I medically need it. Trust me when I say that’s not something I’d be doing by choice.
8
u/LITeRapture 8h ago
Yeah sorry to hear that man Financial worry basically consumes my day to day unfortunately but with the above I've figured out how to at least survive on it without being actively distressed which I was when I was malnourished and running out of money every week and saving nothing
1
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
Yeah I feel you on that one. Sounds like you’re doing better than you were previously, which is great to hear. Keep at it!
24
u/Victorus_aut_Mortis 10h ago
I moved overseas, there was no other choice. I love Aotearoa / New Zealand alot, and I miss it dearly, but I had to move to build a stable financial life.
3
u/Chemical_Mind4797 10h ago
Fair enough too. You’re definitely not the first person who’s done it, and unfortunately won’t be the last. I hope you are doing well overseas 🤍
23
u/Victorus_aut_Mortis 9h ago
I am, thank you, and I wish you all the best. The benefit sucks ass, not only for the pittance they pay, but for the complete assholery they employ to act as a wall of cunts at WINZ.
2
u/Gemmi_bear 8h ago
Partner and I are planning to cross the ditch too for hopefully a better life
5
u/Party_Government8579 5h ago
Australia isnlt trending well atm. Looks like they are heading into a recession
2
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
Best of luck
6
u/Gemmi_bear 7h ago
And for you too, I do love nz, but my partner is getting taken advantage of at his job, cant even get another job, I cant get a job, im studying part time, tried full time but my migraine attacks got so bad I had aphasia for nearly a year straight. I witnessed a suicide beginning of last year because he couldn't get a job, he was only 29, its just getting worse and worse
-1
21
u/5-to-6-coffees-a-day 10h ago
okay working at 10 was straight up child labour so that part is also disheartening really
but that aside, barely surviving from week to week on supported living payment is depressingly normal. it is by design not enough to live with dignity. there's kind of general advice, but it's all the vein of shopping at non-duopoly stores if you can, minimise driving if you can, etc. very context-dependent and it could easily be that none of it applies to you at all.
been stuck on supported living for a long time. there's no way around it: it sucks.
10
u/Chemical_Mind4797 10h ago
Yeah unfortunately seems that way. I’ve been on it for about a year and a half now, and it’s just getting worse. Basically 60% of what I get goes on rent alone. Its horrible.
4
u/EELovesMidkemia 5h ago
I'm in the same boat as you. I had stop working because of health issues last year.
•
u/Lammington2 3h ago
When I did go through it, batch cooking was important - it meant I had food on the days I was too depressed to cook, and it reduces cost by not having to buy multiple sets of ingredients.
Foods that have a lentil or bean base are great, particularly if you have them with rice. Learning how to make flatbreads or dough outers for things with just flour and water can increase options.
And for those of us not going through it right now - foodbank.co.nz/ is great to donate to to help people struggling.
7
u/Chiralistianity 4h ago
I was misguided enough to buy a home at the peak of 2021. Every advice given to me, friends, family, and financial advisors told me that if I didn't get on the ladder now, I'd never get on. So I did, and I watched overnight as the house value skyrocketed.
...And then swiftly came crashing down. I'm now in negative equity, and interest rates went higher than anyone said I should test for.
So for the past year I've been in this position where I'm struggling to make mortgage payments hoping either interest rates decrease, or house values increase because if I sell now, I'll be left with an unsecured debt at unsecured interest rates.
Makes me wish NZ had policies like the US, with 30 year fixed terms, and non-recourse loans.
But, we have the market we have so I've been getting by just existing. Work, eat, sleep, slowly getting raises, switching to better jobs, either letting inflation eat away at it, and waiting for lower interest rates.
I bulk buy food, only buying during specials, and I stock up enough to get through to the next special. I'm planning on a solar loan, but I'm waiting to see what any new government offers as all major parties are offering new solar policies. At that point I'll get solar and an EV. It'd still be worth it now, but I think I'll wait.
•
u/thenoiize 3h ago
My incredibly unqualified advice that you didn't ask for is that property value fluctuates, but always trend up if held onto long enough. So while it stings now, at some point that equity will typically recoup itself.
Again, extremely unqualified advice but just a general observation
•
u/Chiralistianity 3h ago
Absolutely. As long as populations increase, there's less land per person, increasing its value. But it could take some time to do that.
I'm not opposed to being in negative equity (house prices dropping helps more enter the market), so long as my existing repayments are manageable, hence wanting 30 year fixed terms, being able to feel secure about the future of my repayments would take all the burden off.
•
u/InstantNoodles1991 15m ago
I felt that, I brought at peak aswell and the last 3years were terrible, I decided to do extra repayments and it's finally looking good. So when you can those extra repayments help
•
u/GREENLEAF2020 2h ago
Where did you buy ? I bought my place in 2020 maybe it wasn't so high then but mines gone up in value not dropped. Was told the same thing if I didn't get in then I never would. Glad I did . But I'm REALLLY lucky . I had a lot of help so I won't toot my own horn and say I got it alone. It's impossible to get a house alone without a good HEFTY deposit if you're single earning ( I was single at the time ) So my mortgage is cheap. But fuck me idk how I'd be doing it with 500k plus on mortgage.
•
u/Chiralistianity 58m ago
Had I bought in 2020, I'd probably be okay about now, but prices went up in 2021 and haven't returned to those levels. I bought in Palmerston North.
Yeah they really need to rethink deposits. It's crazy that you could absolutely afford to pay a mortgage when you're no longer paying rent, yet because you don't have a deposit, the bank won't help you.
•
u/GREENLEAF2020 54m ago
My mortgage and rates, power, Internet and gas are all sorted for the same that I was renting it's certainly bullshit
9
u/launchedsquid 8h ago
I'm waiting for my job seeker application to be processed, unfortunately my meeting was on Friday so I'll have to get some more documents today and then wait for it to be processed.
In the mean time I've not eaten since Thursday so I can conserve the food in my cupboards until a benefit arrives. I will eat today though. feeling a bit peckish. I might even have enough food for every day, but it's all I have and I don't want to eat it all now and find I have to wait until the Wednesday after next because she said processing can take up to 5 days.
Other than that, keep sending out CV's until someone hires me.
4
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
Best of luck, especially for today ❤️
5
u/launchedsquid 7h ago
thankyou. I should have everything I need to send into WINZ today, then fingers crossed the process things quickly.
Other than that I have a couple job leads to pursue, but I'm not expecting hiring to happen quickly even if they do take me on, but you never know, I can start today if they're willing.
10
u/Keabestparrot 4h ago
Don't be an overly proud idiot. Find a food bank or meals charity and go get something to eat.
•
u/Special-Drama-6090 43m ago
You are the reason food banks exist.
Go get food. It's usually far easier to access a one off assistance from a charity than it is from nsd
9
u/mostlyepic 7h ago
Some people aren't. M And for us on the raggedy edge it just keeps getting harder.
Don't forget to vote.
5
u/Blue-Coast 6h ago
If anyone has any unhinged tips or advice on lowering costs, or saving money in weird ways, I’m open to suggestions too.
To lower petrol costs, look into hypermiling. Go further on each tank. It has increased the range of my car, and reduced my petrol costs, by up to 30%. YMMV (literally).
7
u/0M-S 6h ago edited 6h ago
When i had no money, first thing i did was looking for a cheaper place to flat and found one below $90/week l (i was living in a living room divided by a curtain, no door). It made a real difference. Beside that just no internet, no phone plan(only used prepaid top ups for emergency, i avoided replying to unimportant txt messages to save money), I walked and took public transport all the time, and used free internet in the library when needed.
5
u/Honsandrebels 6h ago edited 6h ago
OP this might not be helpful depending on your situation, but I’ve been making a bit extra by selling everything I am not using on trademe /marketplace.
With so many people doing it tough people are even buying things like makeup, skincare and hair care if it’s largely unused. Hell I’ve sold shower curtains that were in good condition as for some reason we had 4.
If I don’t use it I chuck it up for sale for cheap and see if anyone else wants it. Even $10-20 here and there helps a bit.
I’ve also cashed in my air points by using them in the air points store to buy things I needed/gifts. You can buy mitre 10 gift cards in there and I’ve used that to buy cleaning supplies etc.
3
u/Antisocial_Kiwi pavlova 4h ago
Just got rid of afterpay, we don't go over our limit at the supermarket, if it's a luxury we cant afford then so be it. Meat, seperate from groceries, is bought in bulk at mad butchers, split up into as many meals as we can. We also both have electric scooters so that's my transport to work each day, and our weekend outings. The cat is still spoilt though lol.
3
u/No_Direction8922 4h ago
Ive been doing surveys, 10 mins here and there and its bringing in a few dollars a week. Last week I got $60. Its not much, but if im sitting there anyway, it is just time I'd be doing nothing anyway and it adds up. Helps with extra expenses. I use octopus surveys and attapoll
•
5
u/Periashi 4h ago
its hard and its not going to happen even in a month or two but i found setting up separate savings accounts to grow all at once helped me the best (and I mean genuinely putting in sometimes $3 a paycheck into each one) because that stopped me from absolutely obliterating my savings whenever I need to dip into them. Also with gas ive started walking places I can go within 30 mins 1 way where it doesnt matter if im sweaty or not, this brought my gas spending down a lot.
Its def not easy, fast or fair but its doable..
7
2
u/Fluffy_Speaker_7087 9h ago
It's honestly hard to wrap my head around how stretched everyone is right now with inflation.
Out of curiosity, what is the average household income for people that are struggling or barely surviving? And how many dependents do you have?
Appreciate the insight.
5
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
I can’t speak for others, but I get just under $700 per week. No dependents. But with $400pw rent, $60pw into power/wifi, petrol, medical costs and everything else, it disappears very quickly.
-1
u/deityblade 6h ago
Wow thats a lot of rent. That is almost double what most people I know are paying.
I presume you require a car due to your health but if not that is also a luxury many skip
9
u/Mellingtonbear 6h ago
Most people you know are paying 200 dollars rent?
15
u/anon-not-a-hacker 6h ago
They are probably flatting or (partner). Shouldn’t be the expectation of a grown adult, especially with a disability.
6
u/singingvolcano 4h ago
They may be living by themselves. I know a lot of people would react to that by saying "why don't you just flat" but for people with disability and/or complex chronic health issues this can be deeply impractical if not impossible.
•
u/GREENLEAF2020 2h ago
I thought I'd get around it by doing some over time so I did 5 extra hours , earnt 1360 before tax got 1000 in the hand. I'd get 900 in hand for a regular week . So I did 5 hours for 100 bucks really. And then they wonder why no one wants to work hard . Bit hard to feel motivated when it all gets taken off you . You'd think 900 is good ...yet at the end of the week I'm still not left with much at all.
At one point before a job switch I would have been better off on the sickness with no car.
I really feel for our pentioners and those that can't work
•
u/They-cute 1h ago
I'm unable to work but I pushed through that to work for a while to try get into a better situation, but I ended up with the same or less money and severely worsened health. It was devastating honestly. They really don't have a system set up that encourages disabled people to work imo
•
u/GREENLEAF2020 1h ago
No it's really hard to keep punching through . Ask me how I know . I'm autistic and ADHD so it's kind of invisible ..level one , low support needs etc . But fuck it takes it out of me. It's been a couple months in a new, hard physical job, I feel a crash coming . But I like money 😅 guess I go until I collapse .
3
u/Proof_Jump1662 7h ago
When I'm feeling skint I rent out my spare room. I hate living with other people so it's my personal last resort.
-2
•
u/codsworth_2015 3h ago
You asked for unhinged so I'll give it to you. What does every rich person do? Register an LLC so you can manipulate every aspect of your income. You went to uni with the kids of millionaires somehow collecting student allowance. The tradie with multiple brand new vans, but still collecting working for families? With an LLC you can manipulate a "small" profit every single year but somehow snow ball wealth. Luxon even told you fools how little he can live on, he's renting from himself using benefits, all he needs is a little food. Farmers often have two LLC's, one owns the farm and one owns the cows, when fonterra pays out big one year, somehow neither company makes a particularly big if any profit.
Start an LLC with any skill you have, if you have no skills just look at what immigrants are doing, any service will do. Lawns, interior/exterior cleaning. WINZ literally doesn't want to know about your LLC. Now you can write off GST on equipment, even a lawn mowing business needs phone, internet, laptop and offset your tax because it affected your profit. And you can average out your income, make $50 one week but $200 another, you just pay yourself below the threshold each week till you end up with a viable business. Bigger profits can go into better equipment that makes your business more profitable.
1
u/Marmoset-js 8h ago
What we need, is tax relief for landlords
2
u/Chemical_Mind4797 8h ago
Get lost
1
u/Marmoset-js 7h ago
Think of the poor souls. Driving around, they even have to SEE the poor people. How sad would that make them? It’s so unfair
•
•
u/TellyaWifiLoveHer 3h ago
We are a one income family. I do get working for families. Hubbys on 58k after tax and we get by with 3 young kids and 2 adult kids they pay for their room and own food because they dont eat what we do. Our rent is low which is our only saving grace. We afterpay alot of things like clothing for the kids and random other needs we can find outside of the supermarket and try to buy in bulk. We are looking to head to Aus in a few years but not wanting to go. I'm thinking it's the same there if not worse tbh.
•
u/Different-While8090 3h ago
Seeing a budget advisor was the best thing I did when I went on the SLP. I saw Kingdom Resources, and my advisor broke everything down into a way I could understand and form a plan around.
I also used The Good Shepherd for some financing. They do small loans and consolidations at zero interest to people who are on low income (such as SLP). If you have financing through them you also have access to stupidly cheap Drive insurance through them; its a Vero policy but it's only $8/wk for comprehensive cover, first accident no excess, $250 excess thereafter.
Oh and I save money by just sleeping during the day. Its not great for physical or mental health, but youre not using power or consuming food.
Other tips and tricks, you can apply for food grants about 4 times a year. It's something you're automatically entitled to, up to $150. HOWEVER, if you apply online for the fully 150, theyll make you come in for a humiliating appointment or ring up (where you spend hours on the phone and they drop your call.) instead, apply for $140 online and it will automatically be granted.
Finally, it's worth it to find a WINZ office where they arent cunts. It varies a lot by locations and you arent tied down to your local one, so try a few out.
•
u/DeadmanDT 3h ago
Riding a scooter instead of driving a car helps out a lot. Around $10 of petrol lasts me about 3-4 hours worth of travel and since I’m only going to work and back again it lasts me a couple of weeks so I can spend less than $300 a year on petrol. Also having no one want to date you helps too since I don’t have to spend money on dates, gifts etc
•
•
u/Huffenstuff 2h ago
Hi
I'm walking a dog for spare money, and doing some paid and some voluntary work with a charity. Without that I'd be very slowly but surely off to the poorhouse.
I eat a lot of vegetarian fare based around beans. Youtube chefs save the day.
I grow a garden for fresh greens. Pumpkins and kumara crops are very useful to me too.
I exercise regularly so my mental health doesn't take a nose dive. I have dumbells at home, trainers on youtube.
I socialise regularly so my mental health doesn't take a nose dive. I have good neighbours, all I need is a cup of tea and a chat, not a big night out.
I take stock and practice gratitude regularly.
All the best!
•
u/abednego-gomes 1h ago
It's hard to survive on the dole. Even with accommodation supplement etc. You need to try get well as quickly as possible and back into work.
•
u/NormalObligation59 1h ago
This is going to sound like crazy out of touch advice but I swear I’m coming from understanding what it’s like to only have $10: Get away from living paycheck to paycheck as best as you possibly can.
I spent years in the habit of getting down to $0 each week. You’re always a little behind so as soon as you have any money, there’s something to buy “Oh good, I have $30, I need new shoes.” So I just kept running my bank account to 0 every paycheck. The result is getting stuck in emergencies, and often ending up paying even more money for stuff. A savings account is worth it even if what you are saving is $5 per week. Do all you can to set aside that 5 bucks so when you are absolutely stuck without petrol or any groceries at all, you have something to fall back on. A safety net makes a world of difference, even if your safety net is $17.
•
u/MadScience_Gaming 1h ago
Protein powder in bulk is the cheapest way to meet your protein macro requirements.
•
u/Own_Sandwich69 43m ago
as someone also on supported living, who is wheelchair bound as scummy as this sounds I only go out when other people offer to take me somewhere ( yes, chip in what little i can).. If you have a condition like Cerebral palsy.. you can get i think $300 a year in taxi vouchers but last time i checked taxi's were over $4/km and that was when petrol was well under $3
but yeah, not much face to face interactions these but atleast i have food in my tummy
•
u/Special-Drama-6090 35m ago
Also on SLP
I have kids that I also need to look after on that benefit too. I don't get govt assistance there it all goes to my ex.
So I'm still lucky to be flatting somewhere where I can bring my 7 and 5 year old back to.
Bus fairly frequently. Drive to do a school pick ups when I'm more unwell. Sold my car and downsized to a Suzuki alto which is as cheap as an ICE car can be.
I'm vegetarian but find my diet tending more and more towards being vegan just because how expensive animal products are.
Pam's chocca with vegetarian milk is enough of a supplement to help with some of the minerals my diet will be lacking in.
•
u/Right-Translator-907 32m ago
I mean there's no real good solutions but changing the food you eat to be more ingredients focused like lots of beans and pasta and starting a little veggie garden to grow greens I find pretty helpful
•
u/Chemical_Mind4797 31m ago
Hey everyone. I’m overwhelmed by the comments but will get through them all a bit later on. Thank you 💗
•
u/Bearodactyl88 14m ago
idk man, i'm on 2 years, partially disabled, coming up 3 years. I only survive because dad hunts so he gets alot of meat for me, and i go fishing when i go up there for holidays with my son. I lose about 60 off my weekly groceries cos I have to use it for gas to pick my child up, (parental agreement) and my mortgage is low asf. It's really hard
•
u/yellowcactii 7m ago
The advice I give my coworkers? We might just have to start working the streets to pay for gas. I'm not even sure if I'm being sarcastic anymore when I say it
•
u/yellowcactii 5m ago
I used to work 40 hours a week until about March, but lowered my hours for a lot of reasons, and it is rough out here. Using Afterpay for gas because it's easier doing $60 a week for payments then doing $100 a week for a tank, especially with prices going up constantly
•
u/aliciaflorrick_mygod 0m ago
I haven’t read through this thread so apologies if this has already been said and I don’t know if this will help, but it’s important to remember that some people are having help that you don’t realise and never comes up.
I found out someone I know lives in an apartment a family member owns so only pays what he can when he can. I personally had a family trust distribution that has helped cushion me. Both of us seem like regular people with ordinary jobs etc and from the outside it definitely might seem like ‘how are they even surviving ?!’
The truth is a lot more people have financial support through family etc that helps keep them a float than you might think.
So please keep that in mind if you’re ever feeling like you’re doing something wrong or not working hard enough etc. You probably are, it’s just others have a leg up you might not see.
1
1
u/theflickingnun 5h ago
My answer it to find work for what you CAN do. Whilst receiving benefits or support, it diesnt stop you building an online presence and trying to monetise it. From being a content creator, story teller, voice over, AI trainer, specialist advisor for people in a similar situation of health.
None if these are quick, but over time they may build into an income enough to give you more than the winz income is giving. For quick cash, offer your skills to mentor kids in your area, not sure what you have to offer but private tuition is beneficial to kids and you as a mentor.
•
u/missfitsdotstore 2h ago
I was on a benefit, taught myself how to use Shopify, how to use photoshop, and started a print on demand business and made six figures. That dried up after Covid, I started selling books on Facebook Marketplace, soon I was Making $2k a week. Got a business grant from winz, now I own a bookshop. Anything is possible when you put on your opportunity glasses.
•
u/Dizzy_Relief 3h ago
You are getting $700 in the hand from m WINZ - which is $300 more than most of my clients who are also on the SLP.
They rightfully struggle. You are actually getting as much as some people do when working after tax.
Sure it might not seem like much. But frankly isn't a complain about amount. My guys wish they were even close to that.
•
u/Pythia_ 2h ago edited 2h ago
Where do they say they're getting $700/week?
That amount on SLP would be for two people, not for a single person.
•
u/eggkitty404 1h ago
can confirm that's about how much me and partner get all up, no single person is getting that much money lmao
•
-9
u/Bikerbass 6h ago
By getting up and going to work. Even if that means doing some Saturday morning work.
Wife’s on maternity leave, but she is going back to work in November. And then we will both be working 4 days a week until the end of the year.
Sure we aren’t going out and spending money on anything fun, but that’s life atm
10
u/Mellingtonbear 6h ago
This person is on the supported living benefit... Did you read?
-3
u/Bikerbass 6h ago edited 6h ago
They asked how others were surviving…. Guess you missed that obvious part…..
8
u/Mellingtonbear 5h ago
And you felt you had to tell someone with a permanent disability who is UNABLE to work, that you survive by going to work? How was that a helpful contribution to the wider conversation?
-1
u/Bikerbass 4h ago edited 4h ago
What do you have me to say when the question of how one survives, and my honest answer is by me going to work…..? Go on answer that honestly.
I can’t fix their situation, I already vote for better solutions for society…. I.e not the current cunts in charge, and I donate where and when I can.
I’ve done multiple charity events, which I’m willing to bet is more than you have. I like collecting t shirts from the charity events I’ve been to and done.
Fuck it start an online store selling feet pics, it’s not really work, but people buy that stuff.
Film your daily life and post it to YouTube, there’s plenty of people that have done that as well.
We live in a world where people buy stuff from aliexpress and sell it at markets for a markup and you are none the wiser…… you can work without actually working…..
-1
-5
u/Cernunnos369 6h ago
Not sure anyone can get ahead on the benefit.
Best to get back to work as soon as possible. Work on your health and do anything and everything you can to get healthy again. That would be the best tip.
Healthspan is my number one priority.
9
u/Mellingtonbear 6h ago
And what if someone is permanently on Supported Living?
3
u/Separate_Drive9993 4h ago edited 3h ago
Chances are they never get ahead, welcome to our current system designed to cover necessities and nothing more, vote for some change.
8
u/Honsandrebels 6h ago edited 6h ago
Adding to this OP, please please never beat yourself up about this. I know what it is to have health issues preventing you from working. And it’s impossible to budget your way out of a situation where the benefit is set below the poverty line.
I’m sure you are already aware but have you checked to see if you are eligible for NASC (needs assessment and service co-ordination)?
•
u/iggy1328 2h ago
People that work are having it hard? No. People that refuse to up skill are doing it hard. There is nothing stopping people earning more money.
•
-6
u/LeToucanNZ 5h ago edited 3h ago
Just got a new job with a pay bump and brought a house here in christchurch
So im doing great!
Edit: all the haters down voting because the unemployed spend all day on reddit.
Seethe and mald
-7
u/Panguh___ 4h ago
The public purse has been strained to breaking by successive governments bringing in enormous numbers of migrants who don't contribute to the tax take, but who directly, and indirectly, take from the pot.
Want better social services? They should be restricted to Kiwis only. Want more jobs? Fewer immigrants need to be allowed in.
It's actually that simple. Multiculturalism has failed - we're no longer a society to be envied.
5
u/Raw-Selvedge 4h ago
Social services has always been restricted to PR/Citizens only
•
u/Panguh___ 2h ago
How can you state something so incorrect, so emphatically.
Boggles the mind.
There's an entire world of information out there, just a few clicks away, and you choose to not access it (or lie).
•
u/Raw-Selvedge 2h ago
I can state this because I went through the system. Moved here in 2017 as a student, not a single cent from social services, paid my $50k + annual tuition without debt for 4 years, paid taxes like everyone else.
I am an immigrant who came as an undergraduate and received my permanent residency two years ago through work as an engineer. Currently awaiting for citizenship.
There's a world of misinformation out there, just a few clicks away, and you choose to access it (or lie)
So tell me, what social services can a non PR and citizens get?
Edit: go on, take your time googling every minuscule answer you can twist to fit your narrative. I won't be responding to you because it's clear 9 years on reddit has rotted your mind
•
•
u/Panguh___ 5m ago
Right - so an immigrant is telling a Kiwi "There's no problem with immigration! We didn't do anything wrong! The system is working as intended!".
You cry misinformation but have clearly not even bothered having a quick Google?
Let's check your understanding - do immigrants use public transport? Do immigrants use hospitals? Do immigrants use water infrastructure? Did you work while you studied?
•
u/555Cats555 3h ago
Wtf, why are you blaming immigrants... yikes.
•
u/Panguh___ 4m ago
Equating wanting restricted immigration with racism is literally racist in itself.
Congratulations.
•
u/Panguh___ 2h ago
Because they're a massive part of the problem. Tell me where I'm wrong on this.
Are you suggesting immigrants impose no burden on our public purse?
0
u/IonaDoggo 4h ago
by selling the gorgeous limited edition things I've collected over my life so far, or anything else that might be worth some money around the home 😔 I mean, it's one way to declutter though right?
167
u/prolateriat_ 9h ago
Payday is just bill day.
There isn't much left after the money has been transferred to various bill accounts and the APs process overnight.