Cowboy to Kiwi? Costs of living, Taxes, and city comparison questions. (sales, house)
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I dont know if I would agree that the grass is always greener on the other side. I thought I would be a better fit in the City and was always jealous of those who lived in the city..and I have to tell you...I was wrong. I am not a city type of person. Anyways, I think it just depends on who you are. Obviously New Zealand is not going to fit the needs of some of my ex gf's who had to have their perfect shampoo, make-up, etc...all of these luxuries and expectations...the US is def better for that. Who knows, you guys might be right and the US could be safer?
Despite the buffet of information (and the alleged lived experience), I sincerely hope that you continue to pursue your ambition of visiting NZ. Sometimes, the experience of losing family members, particularly at such a young age, is enough to inform and guide our decision about creating our own opportunities and the need to see and do more.
Who knows? You may find in NZ what it is you cannot find in Texas? or you may come to appreciate "home" alot more after visiting NZ?
You still have time on your side to have your questions answered by virtue of your own lived experience.
Plan your trip and get moving mate.......
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiyoo
I know that as a US citizen, I cannot go anywhere else in the world (civilized at least) and have more freedoms than I do right now (for the most part)...and I appreciate and understand that. But it was something I was born into and did not ask for. The point of me starting this thread though was to compare the Costs of Living and other stuff like that. I think I have come to the conclusion that New Zealand is obviously not as safe as I thought it was. Its not all pink clouds and snow capped mountains with chocolate rivers running down the middle. Anyways, I notice that the exchange rate lowers quite a bit to that of the US dollar every year around May/June...Have you guys ever thought about investing in currency?? Do a lot of people do that there?
Perhaps, this may have something to do with the decline in economic activity in May/June to prepare for the end of financial year.
The banking/financial system in NZ is relatively stable and dynamic
I know that as a US citizen, I cannot go anywhere else in the world (civilized at least) and have more freedoms than I do right now (for the most part)...and I appreciate and understand that. But it was something I was born into and did not ask for. The point of me starting this thread though was to compare the Costs of Living and other stuff like that. I think I have come to the conclusion that New Zealand is obviously not as safe as I thought it was. Its not all pink clouds and snow capped mountains with chocolate rivers running down the middle. Anyways, I notice that the exchange rate lowers quite a bit to that of the US dollar every year around May/June...Have you guys ever thought about investing in currency?? Do a lot of people do that there?
Yea the The Patriot Act is astonishing handing over of basic Western civil rights, you can be picked up by a government agency FBI/CIA and detained indefinitely for questioning without trial (just have to claim your some kind of terrorist). The US is the least free nation in the OECD, probably much closer to Communist China if anything. Kinda Astonished Americans haven't come out on the streets in there millions to repeal it, it would really bug me personally.
I dont believe the US is safer and NZ is no utopia. NZ is a small developed Western nation with much the same pros and cons of larger Western nations.
And yea currency trading of course happens here, its always a gamble like shares. With the US printing trillions atm trying to drive down the $US its hard to know where the dust will settle long term. The world is changing.
Last edited by Battleneter; 11-04-2010 at 03:55 PM..
I know this is off topic but after reading Battleneter want to say as an American I too am surprised there is no outcry over what the US has turned into. I think of flying now and think of all the Nazi movies I've ever seen.
"Paperz? vere are your paperz?"
I don't know who "they" are but "they" have gotten the American people so scared they'll give up all their rights..........
Yea the The Patriot Act is astonishing handing over of basic Western civil rights, you can be picked up by a government agency FBI/CIA and detained indefinitely for questioning without trial (just have to claim your some kind of terrorist). The US is the least free nation in the OECD, probably much closer to Communist China if anything.
You are sadly mistaken if you are comparing the US with China.
What do you have to back up this audacious statement?
I dont know if I would agree that the grass is always greener on the other side. I thought I would be a better fit in the City and was always jealous of those who lived in the city..and I have to tell you...I was wrong. I am not a city type of person. Anyways, I think it just depends on who you are. Obviously New Zealand is not going to fit the needs of some of my ex gf's who had to have their perfect shampoo, make-up, etc...all of these luxuries and expectations...the US is def better for that. Who knows, you guys might be right and the US could be safer.
I know that as a US citizen, I cannot go anywhere else in the world (civilized at least) and have more freedoms than I do right now (for the most part)...and I appreciate and understand that. But it was something I was born into and did not ask for. The point of me starting this thread though was to compare the Costs of Living and other stuff like that. I think I have come to the conclusion that New Zealand is obviously not as safe as I thought it was. Its not all pink clouds and snow capped mountains with chocolate rivers running down the middle. Anyways, I notice that the exchange rate lowers quite a bit to that of the US dollar every year around May/June...Have you guys ever thought about investing in currency?? Do a lot of people do that there?
I think as long as you have that realistic view of what it really is, then you'll do fine, but building it into something it isn't will lead to disappointment.
For the most part when I first went to Australia and NZ, it was about what I thought it would be and what it offered and I think that was down to knowing many aussies and kiwis personally by that time and also having done years of research and being realistic about the whole thing.
On the other hand I can name off the top of my head 3 American coworkers that were of the ecoliberalhikingbikingbirkenstocksocialjusticesmok esomedoobie crowd that thought NZ was this eco safe paradise of global peace and openness with fair play for all and rich wages and cheap living. No kidding. And no convincing otherwise made an effect.
None of the 3 finished their 1 year work visas in NZ and none applied for permanent residency as they had planned(USA and Bush suck man!!, so they said, but...)and none have any plans to return. They had their bubble burst that NZ wasn't always friendly, wasn't always safe, wasn't always clean or organic, wasn't cheap and certainly didn't have a plethora of good options of jobs that paid well. They had some fun with their old kiwi workmates from the USA, but none of them could make a go of it, nor did it meet their expectations. Reality bit hard and all three were back in the USA looking to get their old job back.
Best thing I would say is get the one year work visa, as it is cheap and allows you to explore the job market. If you can't get established in a year, you probably never will and you'll know if you can really make or if you even like it. BUNAC is what I recommend.
Best thing I would say is get the one year work visa, as it is cheap and allows you to explore the job market. If you can't get established in a year, you probably never will and you'll know if you can really make or if you even like it.
I think that's great advice for moving between any country, personal circumstances have a lot to do with how the experience will work out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by plwhit
I know this is off topic but after reading Battleneter want to say as an American I too am surprised there is no outcry over what the US has turned into. I think of flying now and think of all the Nazi movies I've ever seen.
"Paperz? vere are your paperz?"
I don't know who "they" are but "they" have gotten the American people so scared they'll give up all their rights..........
I think its very sad, and we know Propaganda is a very powerful tool. The US has done so many things it can be proud of but not this.
On the up side population control has been happening since the begging of time. Hitler was able to control the German population to invade foreign nations with a very efficient propaganda machine. The average German thought god was with them and they doing the right thing to help the people of Europe in the long run.
Its all happened before and its set to happen again, as it appears the Human race never learns anything from history. Lol but yea little off topic
You are sadly mistaken if you are comparing the US with China.
What do you have to back up this audacious statement?
Where would you like to start...I guess we could start with the internet...the United States now has the power to go in and if they deem that your website is not a "good" website they can delete your website off the internet...not just from the United States but we are talking...the entire world. This is exactly like China and Iran...
Have you seen where our health-care is going? Is getting closer and closer to Socialized Medicine...
The arguments go on and on...I mean I am not one to question the freedoms that I have because I know that it could be 10 billion times worse...but compared to the 80's, 90's I am feeling less and less safe everyday.
Where would you like to start...I guess we could start with the internet...the United States now has the power to go in and if they deem that your website is not a "good" website they can delete your website off the internet...not just from the United States but we are talking...the entire world. This is exactly like China and Iran...
Have you seen where our health-care is going? Is getting closer and closer to Socialized Medicine...
The arguments go on and on...I mean I am not one to question the freedoms that I have because I know that it could be 10 billion times worse...but compared to the 80's, 90's I am feeling less and less safe everyday.
You wanted to live in a country with socialised medicine yet you hate the fact the US is heading in that direction?
You are very naive indeed if you think the US is anywhere near China or Iran.
Feeling less safe everyday is a common issue in almost any country in the world and has been for years and years. Much of that has to do with so much information being available. We are bombarded with images and news items that skew our reality.
If you are still contemplating moving to NZ I suggest you have a look at the nzherald and see what violence is happening there. There is no utopia sorry.
Where would you like to start...I guess we could start with the internet...the United States now has the power to go in and if they deem that your website is not a "good" website they can delete your website off the internet...not just from the United States but we are talking...the entire world. This is exactly like China and Iran...
Have you seen where our health-care is going? Is getting closer and closer to Socialized Medicine...
The arguments go on and on...I mean I am not one to question the freedoms that I have because I know that it could be 10 billion times worse...but compared to the 80's, 90's I am feeling less and less safe everyday.
Well what do you think the health care is in New Zealand? It's about as socialized as you can get.
I think the USA has had it's flirt with Obamaism and seen that it just leads to economic destruction, debt, government control and malaise. Can it be rescued though? Yeah I would say so, a lot of people voted out many democrats and many are fighting back.
I spent some time with a good kiwi friend of mine recently that I have known for 10 years. He's as kiwi as kiwi goes, but he's gotten a bit tired of the welfare state and thinking in NZ as well as the tall poppy syndrome. He also thinks kiwis just lay down and take it, take what's handed to them and no one ever questions anything. Basically the country panders to the most obscure minorities rather than any common sense(resource consent law good example). He is kind of weighing up whether to apply for US residency.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I have to agree. Kiwi's might think they debate or question things, but not like you see in the USA. Mostly they just sit and take it, whether it's lame service in a restaurant or sitting in line to get a simple cancer test for 8 months or government passing a tax increase.
Well what do you think the health care is in New Zealand? It's about as socialized as you can get.
I think the USA has had it's flirt with Obamaism and seen that it just leads to economic destruction, debt, government control and malaise. Can it be rescued though? Yeah I would say so, a lot of people voted out many democrats and many are fighting back.
I spent some time with a good kiwi friend of mine recently that I have known for 10 years. He's as kiwi as kiwi goes, but he's gotten a bit tired of the welfare state and thinking in NZ as well as the tall poppy syndrome. He also thinks kiwis just lay down and take it, take what's handed to them and no one ever questions anything. Basically the country panders to the most obscure minorities rather than any common sense(resource consent law good example). He is kind of weighing up whether to apply for US residency.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I have to agree. Kiwi's might think they debate or question things, but not like you see in the USA. Mostly they just sit and take it, whether it's lame service in a restaurant or sitting in line to get a simple cancer test for 8 months or government passing a tax increase.
Lame service in a restaurant ? just one small area where we differ, it seems to us who have used restaurants in the USA that American expect waiters to be hovering awaiting any wish they may have.
Having to tell the waiter in Brooklyn the less I saw of him the larger the tip would be, was shall we say different.
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