$375k house - costs $900 a week

[CJ]

CJ - did you miss out on the English summer school option??

it is amazing the qualifications you can get in this country without being able to read, write or spell. I will try to remember to proof read in future.

ps. obviously i was state skool.

[Austrokiwi]

Take $40k out for private schools and wallop you're down to $1,200 which is ok but not fantastic especially with a big mortgage or 2, lease car, credit cards ....... I could see how you could be broke. Personally I'd be taking the kids out of school, it's better than losing the roof over your heads and then they have nothing to come home to.

They can always send them to Uni later - more debt.

Woah when did nZ school fees state to match Europes? My two cost me €20000 each a year!!!!

[mortgage broker]

Have you seen our costs for broadband? Or Cell phone calls.

[Heg]

With rates at $1400 ($27 per week) and insurance at say $600 ($12 per week) you are still only looking at $762.15 per week.

Am I missing something?

Your rates seem a little light. Ours are $2400k per year here on the North Shore and that's not including ARC

[Omad]

Your rates seem a little light. Ours are $2400k per year here on the North Shore and that's not including ARC

I was using the rates quoted in the article.

[mortgage broker]

Your rates seem a little light. Ours are $2400k per year here on the North Shore and that's not including ARC

Do you mean body corporate? Or do you mean you are paying $300 per month just to live over the shore with out taking into account the mortgage cost if any.

[Heg]

Do you mean body corporate? Or do you mean you are paying $300 per month just to live over the shore with out taking into account the mortgage cost if any.

Not body corp - just rates. North Shore City Council rates. PLUS we pay ARC about $500 per year. And guess what - we are in for an alomst 6% increase this year (that's an increase in rates NOT services provide by the council......)

[Glenis]

MB - your maths is out by a bit - that's $200 month.

In Rotorua our rates are $1,600 pa and we have a very modest house in a very average area. My elderly parents pay $3,600 !!