The Unexpected Costs of Moving to New Zealand
Before you take the plunge and move to New Zealand from the UK, it is important to put together a budget so that you will know what expenses you can anticipate. When you have everything planned out in advance, there will not be any expenses that come out of nowhere and surprise you.
When you are making your budget, make sure that you include these sometimes-unexpected costs of moving to New Zealand:
Storage
If you have moved your items over to New Zealand but you are not able to move directly into your new house, it might be necessary to temporarily store your household goods for a while until you are able to move them into your new home. There are usually temporary storage facilities that will allow you to do this for days, weeks, or months – depending on how long you need.
Visa for New Zealand
Another cost that you should keep in mind is applying for your visa for New Zealand. There will be the fee for the application as well as other costs such as the criminal record check and the cost of sending the application by post. Calculate these costs and make sure that you include them in the cost of moving to New Zealand.
Insurance
If sometimes goes wrong on your voyage to New Zealand, it is a good idea to have a home insurance policy that covers your household goods during the move and when they arrive at your new home. You never know what will happen, but if the worst occurs you want to know that you will be protected.
Travel Insurance
Before you get settled in New Zealand and get set up with the appropriate healthcare with your situation, you will probably want to get some travel insurance that will protect you in the event that you injure yourself or become ill. There are many different types of travel insurance, so make sure that you take a close look at the different options and choose one that works best for your needs.
Shipping Your Car or Motorcycle to New Zealand
For many people, it can be a very practical option to ship their car or motorcycle to New Zealand rather than selling it and buying a new one when they arrive. Usually shipping vehicles and bikes can be done together with household goods in the same container, depending on space. Look into whether you can arrange a full service, which will include loading, documentation, preparation, shipping and customs clearance formalities.
Exchanging Money
When you transfer your money from pounds into New Zealand dollars, there will usually be a small percentage lost to currency exchange rates and banking fees. Make sure that you factor this amount when you are exchanging money so that you can include it into your budget and it doesn’t come as a surprise. Shop around and look at a few different foreign exchange companies so that you can choose an option that will transfer your money for the best possible rate.
Eating Out
When you first arrive in New Zealand and you are not able to move into your home yet, you will not have a kitchen where you can prepare meals easily and for cheap. That means that you will have to eat out in restaurants quite a few times until you get settled and will be able to make your own meals at home. These costs will add up, as eating out will be most expensive than buying groceries and cooking at home. In order to cut back, you can stick to the more affordable restaurants and order the simple dishes, or just buy bread and sandwiches supplies to make sandwiches in your hotel room.
These are just a few of the unexpected costs that it is important to consider when you are moving to New Zealand, so that you can anticipate them in your budget. If you are aware of these costs you will be able to prepare for them in advance, so you can accommodate them.
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