Savings Tips for Family Moving from NZ to Australia

LMrsGlasgow on 17/09/2023 - 12:32
Last edited 11/12/2023 - 09:07 by 1 other user

My Husband, 4 boys and myself are moving to Melbourne from Auckland.
Hit me with you best deals, loyalty cards, phone, power anything worth signing up to or looking out for.

Or even recommendations for removalists, sending vehicles overseas. Cheers

I see a lot of cash rewards posts here, assuming to jump on that? Thanks everyone

I’m keen on the ALDI family plan for phones.

Suggestions for power companies, what loyalty cards/programs to sign up for, apps/trick for petrol savings.

Or anything else that’s a great savings tip.

Thanks in advance.

General Discussion

Comments

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:19

      Thanks, have been getting the daily deals for a while. Got the Weber last week when on sale 👍🏻

  • dcep on 17/09/2023 - 12:50

    sending vehicles overseas.

    collector's hobby car ?

    • 2jzzzz on 17/09/2023 - 13:01
      +3

      Bring a japanese import over

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:08
      +1

      We currently own a Toyota Alphard that was imported into NZ from Japan so thought we would bring it to Oz.

    • dcep on 17/09/2023 - 12:53
      +1

      Any limit on carry-on weight and size ?

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:09

      Thanks for this our flights are already booked

  • Tricon on 17/09/2023 - 13:00
    +3

    […]anything[…]looking out for

    Hook turns

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:10

      Haha yes. I’m from Melbourne originally so no worries for me. But it’s been a long time.

  • mbck on 17/09/2023 - 13:38

    Search function still works, I can confirm

  • onetwothreefour on 17/09/2023 - 13:43
    +1

    Choice bro

  • iforgotmysocks on 17/09/2023 - 13:53
    +1

    Don’t forget to bring your jandals

  • Nitrollparty on 17/09/2023 - 14:29
    -7

    if you're voting no, come on in, if not stay in NZ

    • Protractor on 17/09/2023 - 16:27

      If you weren't born he we will swap you out

    • Nitrollparty on 17/09/2023 - 17:07
      +1

      guessing the yes voters are giving the negs…typical

  • EightImmortals on 17/09/2023 - 15:47
    -5

    Melbourne?

    Good luck!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCjbntg_1Hk

    Battleground Melbourne tells the story of the Fall of the World's Most Liveable City, through the eyes of those who risked everything to save it.
    And Victoria Police went on an 18 month rampage of repression, unlawful arrests, and widespread intimidation in order to silence us.
    How did we grow from just 70 people in April 2020, to hundreds of thousands in the biggest political events in Australian history in November 2021?

    Anyway, that's kinda in the past now, but it could happen again any time.

    • Muzeeb on 17/09/2023 - 15:54

      April 2020 was a pretty unique month globally.

      • EightImmortals on 17/09/2023 - 15:55
        -1

        Indeed it was. (wink wink) :)

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 17/09/2023 - 16:18
      -2

      Bit over these cooking shows. Overdone, some have been cooking too long.

      • EightImmortals on 17/09/2023 - 16:20

        " winner of best documentary at the Berlin Indie Film Festival March 2022 "

        • Protractor on 17/09/2023 - 16:23

          Those who risked everything. Meh. Real Diggers are rolling in their graves at that entitled twaddle

          (leave our Aussie flags alone)

          The judges debated on which category. Psyhocology doco,comedy,sci fi fiction and settled on mockumentary. Good work

          • EightImmortals on 17/09/2023 - 16:27

            @Protractor: Yes the diggers were rolling in their graves, after what we saw here they would have been better off staying home with their families.

            https://berlinindiefilmfestival.com/winners-2021/winners-202…

            "The Fort - Douglas Cubin - Best Feature Film
            Battleground Melbourne - Topher Field - Best Documentary"

            Get back to me after you've watched it and let me know what isn't true or accurate.

            • Protractor on 17/09/2023 - 16:30
              -1

              @EightImmortals: Not interested. Watching entitled sooks who would risk old,sick and vulnerable ppl so they can rub their neediness in other ppls faces makes me sad for growing and irreparable mental health problem the cooker plague has produced.

              • EightImmortals on 17/09/2023 - 16:32

                @Protractor: lols, of course you're not interested, wouldn't want to break the spell…..

                Not to worry, plenty of others are, I hope the doco is a good reminder for them or if they missed the events when they happened, what really went on. Disgraceful.

                • Protractor on 17/09/2023 - 16:32
                  -2

                  @EightImmortals: I can see it broke you.

                  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 17/09/2023 - 17:55
                    -2

                    @Protractor: Possibly overdosed on red pills.

                    • EightImmortals on 18/09/2023 - 07:25
                      -2

                      @DashCam AKA Rolts: It was an amazing disease, you could not get it at bunnings,coles or woolies but you could get it at corner stores, cafes and pubs. You could catch it standing up but not sitting down. You could not get it at a blm protest but you could at pro freedom rallies plus you couldn't get it at state of origin footy matches but you could at music festivals, very selective.

                      "Science"

  • Protractor on 17/09/2023 - 16:21

    It must be a bloody good job to swap NZ for Straya

  • WreckTangle on 17/09/2023 - 18:05
    +1

    Lets be honest here. Auckland is way nicer than Melbourne. Trust me, i’ve lived in both. Do yourself a favour and choose Sydney or Perth. Both are beautiful cities with pleasant climates, great access to stunning nature and with decent public transport. I can hear the Victorians whinge from here but the only people that prefer cold & bleak Melbourne are delusional and are willing to settle for a mediocre existence.

    • Benoffie on 17/09/2023 - 18:11
      +1

      Yeah whatever you do, dont come to Adelaide - the place is a dump… 🤫

      • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:15
        +3

        Wineries are amazing there.

        • Benoffie on 18/09/2023 - 12:33
          +3

          Shhhh no they're not… 😉

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:13

      Thanks. I’ve lived in Perth for 8 years, Auckland for 7. I’m from Melbourne and heading home. Perth is amazing and loved it but I’m heading back to family.

    • 2esc on 18/09/2023 - 08:48

      Ive never been to Perth but theres no way in hell i would live in Sydney.

  • st1ng on 17/09/2023 - 19:15
    +1

    For mobile, go Coles Mobile. Less than $10 per month will give you unlimited calls/txt to 15 countries (including Aotearoa) and 10 GB per month (when paid annually).

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 05:14

      Sounds like a great deal but we need unlimited data. If you know another great deal which includes that?

      • geekcohen on 18/09/2023 - 08:36
        +1

        Unlimited data for mobile? Good luck.

        Better to get home internet (which you can get “unlimited” on) and then phone data plans.

        • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 17:34

          Yeah need it for our business. We currently have it here in NZ it just slows down when we hit a certain download amount which we have only done once.

          • geekcohen on 19/09/2023 - 10:45

            @MrsGlasgow: Yeah, well it is the same in AU for certain telcos. I think Vodafone does it.

            Get unlimited NBN for home/business location and then use mobile data out and about. Surely you aren't streaming or anything whilst out.

      • iLAN Jawa on 18/09/2023 - 10:15

        Have been with Felix for a few years; would definitely recommend:

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/793501

  • kiitos on 18/09/2023 - 09:05
    +2

    How are you finding Australian prices vs new Zealand prices for what you've been looking for?

    • MrsGlasgow on 18/09/2023 - 17:40
      +1

      Child care is more expensive in Oz but that’s all I’ve noticed so far.

      • geekcohen on 19/09/2023 - 10:46

        Make sure you look into CCS if you aren't already aware.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/09/2023 - 15:39

    Good choice Melbourne, don't come to Tassie you'll hate it here, everyone here does & we're all planning on leaving asap cos it's so awful.

    All those lovely mainlanders will cofirm what I say in the replies below…

  • MrsGlasgow on 10/12/2023 - 05:52
    Merged from Arriving in Oz…. Best Deals for Utility Bills, Petrol etc

    Family of 6 moving to Melbourne from NZ, so moving from cheapies to oz bargain 😛

    Hit me with your saving tips.

    I’m keen on the ALDI family plan for phones.

    Suggestions for power companies, what loyalty cards/programs to sign up for, apps/trick for petrol savings.

    Or anything else that’s a great savings tip.

    Thanks in advance.

    • BillyStm on 10/12/2023 - 06:50
      +1

      Best tip is to look in the OzB Forum under the various categories you mentioned - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/forum

    • Mechz on 10/12/2023 - 06:53
      +6

      finder.com.au for utilities etc.

      PetrolSpy for fuel if you can't be bothered with the whack-a-mole that is 7-11 fuel lock.

      whirlpool.net.au for advice on how to be a Tesla owner.

      Ozbargain forums for when you have a car accident but hope to buy insurance to cover it after the fact.

      • geekcohen on 10/12/2023 - 07:07

        PetrolSpy for fuel if you can't be bothered with the whack-a-mole that is 7-11 fuel lock.

        Sadly not helpful in Melbourne. There are very few accurate and reliable fuel apps for Melbourne as all require community input. There is no reporting system like other states.

        • iforgotmysocks on 10/12/2023 - 13:29
          +3

          I find PetrolSpy relatively helpful in Melbourne

          • geekcohen on 11/12/2023 - 06:21

            @iforgotmysocks: Maybe it is just me, I am in an outer Melbourne Regional Area and it's often inaccurate.

            If I do a trip to Melbourne and go, "maybe I will get fuel there", it is often more expensive or the price is wrong when I checked it a few hours earlier.

      • iforgotmysocks on 10/12/2023 - 13:28
        +2

        Don’t use finder, use the vic government website for utilities. And you should be eligible for $250 rebate once you get a bill.

        https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/

        • Mechz on 10/12/2023 - 16:28

          Mobile phone & NBN etc I would consider utilities also.

    • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2023 - 08:44
      +4

      We looked at the ALDI plans but I would check out the prepaid 12 month plans as well. At your anniversary date have a nice chat with support to see if you can get the new deals as a recharge or port out and come back in.

      I would check out Costco, particularly if you need to kit out the house. Petrol is usually cheaper there but the queues can be daunting. You can always hand back your membership for a refund.

      Hit the Op shops. There is some nice furniture that is cheap.

      The “four seasons in one day” is certainly Melbourne. Carry an umbrella; for the rain or a sunshade.

      Melbourne’s pubs often have specials mid week so it is worth checking out what is happening in your area.

      Check out all the online Supermarket catalogues on Monday evening to get a preview as to what days are best to shop. Coles and Woollies have previous of the next week. You can also checkout ALDI and IGA.

      Give the DFOs a look.

      Sign up to Promotix to checkout cheap shows. Also OzBargain often has specials listed for events.

      The trams in the CBD are free.

      Welcome to Melbourne. Enjoy,

    • DustyAfternoon on 10/12/2023 - 08:44
      +2

      Aus has far more opportunities for churning than NZ, from credit cards to utility bills. If you’re staying with a service more than a year (at most!) then you’re losing.

      Unlike NZ, the credit card sign up rewards are actually worth something. You should be putting everything on card, and you should be getting a new card every time you hit the minimum spend to get the sign up reward.

      For utility companies, they seem to almost universally follow the pattern of “great deal to start out, then pay through the nose after that”. Sticking around isn’t loyalty; it’s laziness. Set a reminder on your phone and swap regularly.

      For saving money, Super here is tax advantaged, unlike Kiwisaver, so it makes sense to max out your voluntary contributions to it. For cash outside super, ING Bank offers the highest return on your savings.

    • WreckTangle on 10/12/2023 - 09:20

      Why would anyone choose Melbourne over Sydney, Brisbane or Perth?

      • Mechz on 10/12/2023 - 10:22
        -2

        It's the sports capital of Australia. Sydney rentals and mortgages are too expensive. Brisbane is a cow town where everything is closed by 8pm. Perth I've never been but it's cheaper to fly to Singapore so why bother live in another time zone.

        At least you didn't mention Adelaide for that 'bodies in a barrel' vibe.

        • afoveht on 10/12/2023 - 11:55

          where everything is closed by 8pm

          Except for colesworths and the pizza chains Sydney's like this too. Try finding a nice place to eat in town after a show - is not gonna happen. Melbourne is just better at doing things at night.

      • AustriaBargain on 10/12/2023 - 10:50

        Sydney is too expensive and has those spiders, Brisbane is in Queensland, and Perth is Perth.

        And Neighbours is in Melbourne, I bet a lot of foreigners see Melbourne as the ideal place to live just from seeing it on TV every day.

        • Aust on 10/12/2023 - 11:03

          To be fair, there are more poms in WA than Aussies particulary north of the river.

          • AustriaBargain on 10/12/2023 - 11:16

            @Aust: I read there's more Australian 20 year olds in London than there are in Sydney. Or something like that, been a while since I read that factoid…

            • Mechz on 10/12/2023 - 11:43

              @AustriaBargain: Maybe believable if you're just counting the 2000 post code vs the whole of London. Otherwise not so much.

              • AustriaBargain on 10/12/2023 - 12:00

                @Mechz: It would have been a decade or two I read it. So probably remembering it wrong and things may have changed since then. I'm sure it was something like more Australian men who are 20 living in London than Sydney or something like that. I asked ChatGPT but he just kept going on about the cost of living.

      • MrsGlasgow on 10/12/2023 - 13:01

        Family

      • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2023 - 13:26

        Because we don’t have cockroaches that wrestle your thong off you as you try to hit them. The insects, and arachnids, further up north are huge.

        People can’t even pick on Melbourne for the weather anymore. Other parts of Australia seem to be getting extreme swings happening. It has been several years since Melbourne got a sustained lot of 40 degree days. I think last year we got 1.

        • lgacb08 on 10/12/2023 - 17:16
          +1

          Well, last year Sydney got nearly a year of temperature below 30 and probably no 40 day for the whole year so there's nothing to cry home about.

          • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2023 - 17:42

            @lgacb08: 2022 - Sydney had a record amount of rain and the fourth highest recorded number of rainy days. The temperature in Sydney, yesterday, was 43C. Just saying that Melbourne isn’t the bugbear weather reputation it used to be.

      • Sammy2000 on 10/12/2023 - 15:39

        Melbourne is expensive

        • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2023 - 16:07

          Most of our capital cities are expensive.

    • Minimum chips on 10/12/2023 - 09:41
      +3

      Power: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/
      This is a government-run website which lists all the power plans available. Give it an address and your rough usage and it will tell you the cheapest prices. Dead easy, 100% accurate and current prices.

      Unfortunately there is nothing comparable for insurance. Personally we use Budget Direct and NRMA for the cars, Australian Seniors for Home&Contents, and an industry fund for Health.

      I can't speak to family plans, but I'm very happy with ALDI for mobile. Coverage is good, it uses Telstra's network which has good coverage. I buy superpacks for ~$250/yr, plenty of data.

      Groceries: You're going to have far more options than NZ - Coles, Woolies (Countdown), ALDI, IGA, Amazon, plus your local fruit shop/baker/butcher. Best way to take advantage of that is to never be brand loyal - shop the sales from the various supermarkets every week. There are apps that track all the stores at once, or websites like https://www.shppngtrlly.com.au/

      Coles has the best bread, everything else is interchangable.

      Gumtree used to be the go-to when setting up a house, but these days it seems like Facebook Marketplace has the most stuff. You'll find plenty of selection on there with the big population in Melbourne, though you might have to drive a bit. As in NZ you can rent a Ute from bunnings by the hour, even if you aren't taking stuff home from Bunnings.

      • afoveht on 10/12/2023 - 11:43

        Coles has the best bread, everything else is interchangable.

        Indeed.

        • follow on 10/12/2023 - 13:52

          does this include white bread?

      • follow on 10/12/2023 - 13:52

        does this include white bread?

    • Shoocat on 10/12/2023 - 11:23
      +1

      If you have one nearby, Costco is good for fuel. Especially 98 if your vehicle requires it.

    • foxmulder on 10/12/2023 - 15:09

      I recently switched energy to Energet Australia from AGL. It was through Compare Connect referred by Costco. I will get $75 cash card in few weeks. I filled in my details and look at prices then did nothing, next day someone called me They quote me $160 per month dropped from $220. Let's see what happen. Initially they automatically suggested Power Move but review is not that good thus they change it to Energy Australia. Gas quote was not as good as current one with AGL thus I didn't sign up.

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