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!
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43.5% Grocery bills
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33% Utilities
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1% Your treats (the ones that keep you human day to day, and are ESSENTIAL!)
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0.1% Education
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7.6% Healthcare
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1.3% Travel (public transport/petrol)
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7.9% Rent or mortgage
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1.5% Social costs: birthday gifts and occasions
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4.1% Other - share below!
What's your best cost-saving tip?
Just when we thought the cost of living couldn't climb any higher...it does. While things like fuel prices are out of our control, many of us are looking for small, practical ways to stretch our dollars a bit further. So let’s put our heads together!
Over the next little while, we’ll be sharing tips to help you save money — and we’d love to hear yours too. What’s working for you right now?
Here are a few ideas to get started:
🎉 Plan ahead for the year (birthdays, events, travel) to avoid surprise costs
🪙 Check out $2 shops for everyday items like stationery, baking paper, foil, and cling wrap - often much cheaper than the supermarket
🐖 Bring back the piggy bank and save your loose change
🔨 DIY where you can - like mowing the lawn instead of paying someone
💵 Set a daily budget before heading out and stick to it (cash can help!)
🧴 Stretch household products by diluting things like shampoo or dishwashing liquid
Got a tip that’s helping you save? Share it below, the tip might make a huge difference to someone else.
The Cost of Living: Meal Ideas 🍽️
Continuing our series on how to manage the rising cost of living, this week we’re diving into the kitchen. We want to know your "secret weapon" recipes.
Share below your go-to meals that are:
💰 Budget-friendly (won't break the bank)
🥞 Delicious and easy to whip up
🍜 Great for leftovers (dishes that stretch for several days)
Whether it’s a legendary 20-cent lentil soup or a clever way to dress up basic mince, please share your meal ideas in the comments below!
Product recalls across NZ
Quite a few products have been recalled recently and we want to make sure everything in your home is safe.
Check out the list below clicking on the blue text to learn more about why it was recalled.
Food Recalls:
⚠️Southern Sprouts Alfafa and Onion Sprouts (Possible risk of listeria)
⚠️Pams Onion Sprouts (Possible risk of listeria)
⚠️Raw C Coconut Water
⚠️Loco Love Chewy Caramel
⚠️Sun'Days Dubai Style Chocolate Mousse
⚠️Gilmours Original Corn Chips
⚠️Pak n Save Moorhouse in-store bread
⚠️Emborg Emmentaler Cheese (Possible risk of listeria)
⚠️Ghiotti Chorizo
⚠️Steinlager Ulta-Low Carb beer
Household item recalls:
⚠️Stainless Steel Drink Bottle - sold at Kmart
⚠️Captive Bolt Activators
⚠️Cloud Nine Hair Dryer
⚠️Toyworld Animal Bath Toys
⚠️Topdon Smart Programmable Battery Charger
⚠️Bicycles - Specialised Turbo Como SL
Check the New Zealand Transport Agency's handy vehicle recall list here.
I hope you weren't affected by these products. Stay safe, neighbours!
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