233 days ago

Poll: What are the living costs that are having the biggest (and perhaps surprising) impact on your wallet?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

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!

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What are the living costs that are having the biggest (and perhaps surprising) impact on your wallet?
  • 43.5% Grocery bills
    43.5% Complete
  • 33% Utilities
    33% Complete
  • 1% Your treats (the ones that keep you human day to day, and are ESSENTIAL!)
    1% Complete
  • 0.1% Education
    0.1% Complete
  • 7.6% Healthcare
    7.6% Complete
  • 1.3% Travel (public transport/petrol)
    1.3% Complete
  • 7.9% Rent or mortgage
    7.9% Complete
  • 1.5% Social costs: birthday gifts and occasions
    1.5% Complete
  • 4.1% Other - share below!
    4.1% Complete
2582 votes
More messages from your neighbours
29 minutes ago

The 23-carat pie that could be New Zealand’s most expensive

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

The Baker Tīrau has created what might be New Zealand's most luxurious, and expensive, take on a Kiwi classic steak and cheese pie and is auctioning it off for a good cause.

Made with wagyu beef, French red wine, the most expensive cheese he could get his hands on, and topped with 23-carat gold flakes, award-winning baker Shane Kearns is auctioning off his unique steak and cheese pie to raise funds for local volunteer fire-fighters.

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7 days ago

Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?

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Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?
  • 76.6% Inside!
    76.6% Complete
  • 23.4% On top!
    23.4% Complete
1176 votes
2 hours ago

Poll: How are fuel prices affecting you?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

We’re taking the bus or the train and trucking companies are getting slammed with price rises to simply stay on the road.

Welcome to the world of $3 a litre plus for fuel.

As the average price of 91 octane petrol across the country rose to $3.32/L at the start of the working week and politicians nervously eyed storage figures, Waikato households feeling the strain were offered little but hope.

How are fuel prices affecting you? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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How are fuel prices affecting you?
  • 0% A lot
    0% Complete
  • 0% A bit
    0% Complete
  • 0% I don't drive much
    0% Complete
0 votes