Poll: What are the living costs that are having the biggest (and perhaps surprising) impact on your wallet?
Butter, power bills, and those sneaky surcharges on your card ... it feels like everything’s creeping up in price lately. We’ve seen the headlines, but we want to hear it from you.
Overall, Most Kiwis say they’re ‘not prospering’. But, according to Retirement Commission data, some members of our community (women, Māori, and Pacific people) are experiencing worsening financial positions at elevated rates.
Stats NZ tells us that food prices have jumped 4.6% since this time last year, with meat and dairy doing most of the damage. This jump is hitting us all, but groceries are just one part of the picture.
When basic costs keep climbing, the old cost-saving tricks — like bulk-buying or stockpiling on sale — don’t always work. Who can afford to spend more upfront when every dollar already has a job?
We want to know: What costs have caught you off guard the most? What are the expenses that feel impossible to juggle right now?
Share your thoughts below!
-
43.5% Grocery bills
-
33% Utilities
-
1% Your treats (the ones that keep you human day to day, and are ESSENTIAL!)
-
0.1% Education
-
7.6% Healthcare
-
1.3% Travel (public transport/petrol)
-
7.9% Rent or mortgage
-
1.5% Social costs: birthday gifts and occasions
-
4.1% Other - share below!
Got more greens than you know what to do with? 🥦🌱🥕
Whether it’s a courgette takeover or a feijoa frenzy, don’t let those garden gems go to waste!
Our suggestion to you: Did you know you can grate and freeze excess courgettes to use in chocolate cake later? It sounds a bit dodgy, but it makes the cake incredibly moist ... and hey, it counts as a serving of veg, right? 🍫
What’s your go-to move for a bumper harvest? Drop your best "glut" recipes or preservation hacks in the comments below! 👇
Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?
Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?
-
76.3% Inside!
-
23.7% On top!
Illuminate Market 2026 is this Saturday 28th March!
With every Illuminate Market, we’re proving that diversity of mind is a strength! 💪
Recreate NZ's annual Illuminate Market is taking place this Saturday 28th March at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall & Reserve.
At Illuminate Market you can:
✨ Meet and purchase products from a wide range of disability-led microenterprises
✨ Experience performing arts and creative workshops from the disability community
✨Learn more about Moxie, Recreate NZ's work experience and training programme for young people with disabilities
✨Hear from and meet world-ranked T54 wheelchair racer and disability advocate, Jaden Movold (Guest Speaker & MC)
✨Participate in fun activities for the whole family
✨Enjoy delicious food from our vendors (vegetarian, vegan and GF options available)
✨Connect with friends, whānau, neighbours, colleagues and the wider community
Illuminate Market 2026
🗓️Sat 28th March, 4pm – 8pm
📍Mt Albert War Memorial Hall & Reserve
Free entry, all welcome!
Loading…
