When I was growing up in NZ, I was wanting an Optimus Prime Transformer toy. I asked my dad who was wasn't a fan of fads surprisingly said, "Ok". I was so excited. A few minutes later he came back and gave me a block of wood and said, "Here you go, transform this".
Another benefit of those expensive school uniforms is that, once bought, every kid looks the same, so you avoid being labelled the 'poor kid' or 'unfashionable'. It's a great leveller.
That's not true ,kids are still labeled the poor kids but not having the most expensive phone, or not doing sports, holidays, cloths, my daughter is 24 and she won't wear the same outfit sometimes at work twice , she does mix and match, all age groups are different ,its cool to have champion clothing, nike shoes and bag
Our grocery stores don't supply plastic bags anymore, we use biodegradable or "use again" grocery bags made from recycled materials, NZ is not totally plastic free our goods "groceries" still get wrapped in plastic, so we recycle 👍🏼 well I hope so.
@@meg7088 Calm you titties and re-read what I actually wrote: NZ generates the most plastic of any country PER PERSON. That's different from TOTAL amount produced. Yes, the US produces more. They're got ~325 million people there, ffs. Wait, English isn't your second language, is it?
@@iatsd are there stats for plastic 'reuse per person'? Hoping that with the stat u provided can be offset by our recycling processes. I do gather that NZ recycles more than the US
As a kiwi - it's a struggle living here. The wages don't meet the cost of living expenses.. Food's expensive, petrol, housing so alot of family's do struggle & having to prioritise "Necessities over Fads" However, it's lovely having yol here experiencing our beautiful country ☺️
Very true. My family are privileged in that we're not struggling as much as some. Our family income has increased slightly over the last 5 - 10 years. Living costs have increased more than our income though and we're struggling now.
I've lived in California for a few years but got the heck back out. Whilst the retail experience is nice compared to NZ, US healthcare is an exercise in existential terror, especially if you're "between jobs" or working for an employer who's strongly cutting costs on your health insurance (see HSAs, etc). We got out 'cos we knew we were one medical event away from destitution.
@@stiffykitty1 NZ are awesome but I've watched youtube videos where people from other countries aren't as respectful. She is an extremely respectful person and that is reflected in her Chanel.
As a Kiwi who lived in the States some time ago heres what threw me the first few times a the supermarket. 1. Being asked if I wanted paper or plastic (they were talking about the shopping bag). 2. Ravioli in a can. yes actual pasta ravioli in a can like it was baked beans or something (and that chef boyardee stuff seemed to be really popular too). 3. Breakfast Cereals that were basically just sugar and nothing else (Lucky Charms and count Chocula etc). 4. Unusual Coffee. At petrol stations for example a barista doesnt make you real coffee, its flavoured coffee (hazlenut, vanilla etc) served out of thermos urns like its a picnic or something. Also on the coffee note they add little packets of what looks like processed artificial cream. (not milk). Oh also Americans don't seem to use electric Kettles at all. Oh and finally, Macaroni and cheese isn't just a meal option to them, more like one of the basic food groups. Hell I could go on for hours.
@@jaynepowell6864 The mass produced food for sure. It's all pumped full of chemicals and sugar. As for friendliness you've got to take them on a case by case basis. On first meeting you'll get this artificial, practiced veneer of friendliness. You don't get the real person. I found that the Americans with the least money were the most genuinely friendly because they understood the value of real human interaction much like kiwis do intrinsically.
@@jaynepowell6864Hi Jayne, I'm saying this because we have all fallen into the same trap. Someone pointed it out to me when I was young and I didn't realise how what I said came across. Your comment wasn't friendly towards America/American's while claiming us New Zealanders are more friendly than them. I hope that you take this the right way. Xx
In the US I get asked quite often about Xmas lights in NZ and when I say it’s not that big of a thing because it’s in the middle of summer and it’s not dark until 10 its generally followed by blank, confused looks
You should talk about the op shop buying here in New Zealand 🇳🇿. How people shop at discount stores like Uncle Bills, Reduced to Clear. Or opportunity shops like save mart, vinnies and Salvation Army family stores.
Great idea. It would be really interesting to hear about the differences. I think in the US if you donate to a charity store you get some sort of voucher for a tax rebate so it would be good to hear about that too.
I watch a channel on TH-cam that has a extra large family (15) there is a lot of birthdays, every time they buy two boxes of cake mix and a tub of frosting. In that time it took them to go to the shop, a NZ person can have a cake in the oven and the cake would be cooked in roasting dish, to feed that many people. We all learnt to bake etc at school, grandma, even TH-cam.
I think the non-materialistic culture in NZ has evolved due to the high cost and limited choice of most goods. Also the environment consciousness of Kiwis has had a big impact. Makes for a great place to live although I must admit I do miss the Xmas lights…
@@NZ_Culture If you don't/can't have it, saying you never wanted it is a coping mechanism. Nothing more. Sing it from the mountaintops -- doesn't change the facts.
I used my visa card 3 times in an hour and the bank rung me to see if it was stolen 😅 love their security. Also if you are traveling overseas tell your bank!
I’m an Aussie and I tell my bank if I am travelling overseas. They are used to me buying things overseas here & there… but a lot of overseas purchases for weeks or longer… best to let them know before you go. Let them know your travel dates & that there may be overseas purchases coming through.
Same thing happened to me ; I was online shopping, and they rung me to confirm the name of the businesses that I had made purchases through before they would unblock my account. It wasn't an inconvenience, and it would only ever happen if the activity was vastly different than your normal activity. Upon confirmation, they pressed a button, and my account was instantly active again.
I'm a kiwi. We grew up making everything ourselves because you couldn't buy much. We sewed our own clothes, grew our own food and preserved it. Baked every week and went fruit picking in the different seasons. We made Ginger Beer and yoghurt from a starter. We have more choice than we did 50 years ago and much has changed 😉 but having lived in the UK for 3 years I now see how restricted we still are though by lack of choice and the high cost of everything. I loved the Christmas lights in the UK. I have to say Christmas is better in winter having experienced it.
But that went out the door for us when we both parents had to work to buy our own house, now after having paid it off between 1975 & 2000, I'm so glad I have done it, I can't imagine what it would be for us to pay between $500-$800/week rent it would kill us and it would constitute one quarter of our super, we're on a $760/fortnight x2 (Apr 2023) superannuation and we definitely benefitted from being able to buy our house all those years ago, I can now spend a few dollars a month to benefit those who can barely survive esp if they're on a benefit.
Great video! I love your energy and personality. As an aussie watching this it was a real eye opener... not about NZ but about the US. Gotta say the US seems like a different planet. That's not a criticism, just genuine surprise at the level of mass consumerism and spending habits compared to this part of the world. For every item from 1 to 10 the NZ way of doing things sounded completely normal to me :-) High 5 Kiwi bro's!
True that, I holiday in Aus,winter time coz it's warm over there compared to here,and it's just like NZ just bigger,but with a different accent,mind you, Ausie's dress nicer, Kiwi's don't care what they wear, and your money, can't get over,your $1 coin is bigger than your $2 the checkout girl's look at me like, can't this guy count, until I apologise and tell them the difference,😂
So true. I’m a Kiwi but lived in Europe, the US and Canada and the mass consumerism in other countries is insane. I bought in to it for so long and then just woke up, went back to my kiwi ways and got rid of so much crap I’d accumulated that I assumed I needed because the US “system” brainwashes you in to spending and/or because things are dirt cheap! Food, groceries, clothing, makeup, knickknacks etc… but in NZ it’s much more conscious spending
I'm a kiwi living in the Cook Islands and I'm loving your delightful insights with our culture. I miss home when I watch your videos and I'm able to have a laugh at ourselves at the same time regarding our quirks and foibles. I'm also reminded from your perspective of the things I took for granted and appreciate the conveniences I no longer have available, from afar. You're fab!
When i first move to New Zealand I was so shocked with the limited selection of things they got here. But yeah coming from Malaysia that always have big supermarket that use to have all differents section and wide range of options like food, groceries, household item, clothing put together in 1 store. It definitely takes time to get used to it. So i agree that they prior quality over quantity. They even use alot of 2nd hand furniture. I never once buy new furniture here cause I couldn't even afford it 🥲 I love your video btw. It's so relatable. And I love new zealand, they teach me alot about sustainability which I was not really exposed to before.
Hi there!! New subscriber here 😄👌🏾 loving your content majorly!! Nau mai haere mai ki to matou nei whenua taurikura!! Welcome to our little slice of paradise!! We are happy to receive you and your family 😀😀😀😀😀😀
Love, love, your channel please keep it up. We are Australian and our son is now married and lives in Pacific North West. Before covid we visited him there. Your explanations give us context when visiting and speaking with his friends and in-laws. PS they are amazed that I regularly cook cakes from scratch ! We’ll done.
I love your channel! I'm 21 and I live in a town about 20-30 minutes west of New Orleans! I've lived all across the US (unstable childhood... lol), but I'm from Louisiana. I'm interested in one day emigrating OUT of the US. It's just too far gone in my view - it's best to escape now (or soon) while you still can. We're brainwashed from an early age to believe that we're this beacon of freedom and such, but the US lags far behind other developed nations in every way you can think of. I'm in the early stages of planning my escape haha, and part of that planning involves watching other Americans live their lives in foreign countries. You're my go-to American to represent New Zealand! :) Your videos have been informative and funny, and I love that you're sharing your story for others to see! :) I'm definitely not set on any one country yet as I'm only 21 and barely have a bachelor's degree finished. I'm also considering Canada and a couple European countries, so my options are open for now - as it should be for any 21 year old. You don't know what you want at 21 😂 Through yours and other TH-camrs' videos, I hope to gain some necessary insight into life outside of this country! Thanks for all the wonderful videos! :)
Hi Indigo, I’m a kiwi, not an American, but I would like to offer you a little advice if I can. For starters, travel, travel and travel some more. A large portion of New Zealanders travel at a reasonably young age, in their early 20’s, as a right of passage and regularly don’t return home (permanently) for a decade or more if at all. But whether they are gone the obligatory 2 years or for twenty, the one thing most Kiwis do, is embrace the culture they are in at the time. I think personally, it’s a large part of what makes us Kiwis. We are not afraid of other cultures, because of our general understanding, and it makes us a lot more tolerant as a whole. We see other people travelling on their holidays (vacations) and they really are just sight seeing. Do what we encourage our youngsters to do, and travel, go prepared for the worst and expect the unexpected, but enjoy every moment of it. There is a memory in every moment, good or bad. The appreciation comes when you can look back and laugh at the good and the bad. Get out there (when travel allows), and just do it. A moment lost is a moment not lived. Good luck with your adventures, keep getting yourself informed and you will do well I’m sure. Edit…take yourself out of your comfort zone a little, accept that things may not be the same as you are used to, and you will enjoy it even more. So much of your experience has to do with your mindset, and often, the lower your expectations are, the greater your experience will be when things surpass those expectations.
I am so glad this channel is helpful and I am very excited for your adventures! Yes get out there and travel and experience. I found more of myself when traveling and embracing a different way of life. I am here to help you with all your NZ questions!
This is the first time I’ve come across your channel. I appreciate the way you adjusted to living in New Zealand, how you made the culture so much more acceptable to American families (particularly Mums) and your approach to how a cultural adjustment can be a good thing. Love your work :)
I remember in Wellington in the 70s we generally just had Xmas tree with lights and a few decorations on it. But but one Xmas someone bought a can of fake snow you could spray on it to give it that snow effect almost looked like cobwebs ! Anyway one day we were just sitting around in the sitting room when we were kids and my bother sitting next to the Xmas tree reading suddenly for some reason the Xmas tree fell over on his head ! and the funny thing was when we stood the tree up again my brother looked like an old man with grey hair because of the fake snow sprayed on the tree ! 😄
You are spot on with this. I'm a kiwi who's been living back and forth between NZ and Australia. Both countries are super expensive to buy a home, furnishings, food etc, and always have been. I believe it's because our population is so low comparatively and we're a great distance from larger populated countries e.g. America or England.
I’ve been to the US a few times and love the clothes sales, I always come back with an extra suitcase. My friend has just come back from there and was complaining about the prices. She said she had her hair cut here and it was $34 (at a mall where you turn up and take your chances), she said in the US it would be $12. I then asked her what taxes and tips she added then converted the dollar and it turned out she paid $32 equivalent. It sounds cheaper but it’s not always when you add the extras.
@@cazkiwinz4300 one of those ones at the mall that you don’t have to make an appointment, Just Cuts is the one I go to. And I was just referring to cut not colour, I colour my own.
Hi from Auckland, enjoying your videos thanks. Our family enjoys cooking from scratch. During lockdown we mastered bread, pizza and pasta. We cook every night except Friday when we get takeaways. Dining out is for our special occasions though we do dine out a bit more often to support local businesses.
Your comments about school uniforms were very interesting. There are other benefits apart from convenience: less peer pressure over the latest fashion; a sense of belonging to the school cohort; and the main one (that no one ever mentions) the kids looking more equal in class from the teacher’s POV, and therefore less likelihood of favouritism. This lack of bias is one of the reasons for barristers’ black gowns and wigs in NZ.
yeah I hear ya mate and the reason for that ? we let people from other country's buy investment property here forcing values to shot up , yet we con't buy in their country's . Guess some of us screwed up somewhere along the line.
@@jamestaylor6041 same problem in the Netherlands unfortunately. Not just foreign investors ether, lots of people who buy houses instead of stocks or other investments or as an air bnb....
The high cost of goods and hospitality in NZ vs US may be due to the fact that our workers aren't relying on food stamps, very low wages. No hate- the wages are still poor here.
Indeed, the wage structure in the US, especially in the service industry is poor at best .. The whole USA "tipping structure" is based on Guilt, and is a very poor excuse for business owners - especially restaurants - to keep wages low
That is definitely a factor, but also need to keep in mind the fact alot of our stuff is imported. Adds alot of tax onto of the basic price. Plus scale, smaller economy means less buying power overseas means higher prices.
Yes with the baking and making things from scratch! That's all I've ever know and when I wanted to try make an American pumpkin pie every recipe I found online wanted me to go to the shop and buy pre-made ingredients that you couldn't here in nz, like pumpkin pie filling?? That's what I was trying to make lol. Id love a pumpkin pie recipe from you! And happy fourth of july Tara! :)
You can buy pumpkin pie filling from Martha’s Backyard in Auckland. They have a website and if you order over $35 worth of goods…free shipping. Recipes for pumpkin pie spice on line. I used to find the pumpkin filling at countdown in the international section. Hope that helps.
@Evan have you actually tried to make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin - it actually is more difficult than it looks. Canned pumpkin uses a different variety of pumpkin called a sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin (for obvious reasons 😀) that is not available fresh in NZ. It is denser than NZ pumpkin.
You can get pumpkin pie filling at the supermarket. Never tried it myself(my landlord is American and makes an amazing pie) but it is available at countdown
I expect that part of wht bulk buying isn't very common in New Zealand is because people operate on a weekly or else fortnightly cycle. You don't have as much money in your wallet to buy bulk, and you don't really need to because the next paycheck isn't far away. Whereas I feel that Americans operate on more of a monthly cycle, so it's more feasible to buy tons of stuff because you're buying for the whole month and it needs to last you.
Also the supermarkets don't have crazy deals. I don't recall the last time I bought something on buy one get one free, sometimes there's 2 for $10 type deals, but again, it's usually packaged convenience foods which aren't so much everyday foods here so no one is going to buy a months worth of cup soups or whatever.
I've just had TH-cam recommend this video. Welcome to New Zealand I hope that you love it here. I agree with you about it being expensive here especially food and property. I live in Auckland but I was born in Wellington and lived in Tauranga as a child for a few years. I watch quite alot of family channels based in the USA and I'm amazed at how cheap things are over there. I can imagine in terms of costs it was quite surprising. America seems to have more of a throw away culture compared to kiwis. We also accept people with open arms from any country and you become kiwis as well, in a good way. I'm fascinated to watch more of your videos because you have lived in both countries. I'm going to subscribe to your channel. Xx
Part of the reason housing in NZ and Australia is expensive is because SO many people are looking to move there, especially more so in covid times. It is cheaper in USA to eat out I would guess because wages of waiter staff are ridiculously low, so the owner can afford to charge less for meals seeing staff rely on tips to top up wage.
You hit the nail on the head. The average American is so poorly paid, so housing and the cost of living is relative to income. Their food is pretty inedible highly processed junk with no nutritional value as well. I struggled to find healthy food over there and when l did it was massively over priced.
@@libbysevicke-jones3160 I had the best salad in Harlem it was fresh and so healthy. The meat section was mind blowing so many choices I didn’t want it but it was very interesting.
#4 - Another probable cause for the tendencies of Americans to buy in bulk is access to product. Comparatively, most Americans do not live in close proximity to a grocery store, so it makes sense to buy a lot at once to reduce the number of trips you have to make.
You keep making me what to pack up and move to NZ. The fact that they actually bake is incredible. I’m the only person I know that actually bakes. In the US baking is almost frowned upon…unless you include quinoa and avocados. You talk about the marketing gimmicks in the US, our foods are a huge marketing thing. A great example of that was quite a while back Oprah said she didn’t eat red meat and she ended up getting in huge trouble with the beef farmers in Texas. Gotta love it.
Yeees! I always get anxious watching US pantry organization videos because of all the packaginggg. And the always eating on paper plates. The poor environmeeent
We know children often get bored with their toys so using the toy library is a great way for them to try out different toys. One can then decide what is worth buying to keep.
Yeah…we like cooking at home more than we go out for dinner…no problem there, it’s just about not being so bloody lazy and it’s better for the family unit.
I love to cook, i have probably 200 cook books. I also have to take every cooking short cut possible or order a takeaway delivery because we just don't have the energy to cook and take care of a toddler and newborn while recovering from a major surgery (emergency c-section). Sometimes outsourcing labour (cooking or cleaning) is the only way to keep it all together.
The water bottle makes sense. NZ tap water is generally consistently higher in quality and taste so refilling your own bottle and taking it with you just makes more financial sense.
This channel has the best comment threads! Nice mix of Kiwis and Americans. All ( well most) being very kind and helpful. I can actual sense their smiles.
Very insightful views and folks especially Americans will get a good sense of life in NZ. Some would say we are out dated but in other areas we are ahead and hot on sustainability issues. There's a lot of recycling of everything from materials to clothing and making use of what nature provides.
I'm a New Zealander and it's expensive as well as suffering income disparity, inflated property prices and degradation of environment. Happy to give you a balanced view.
sorry to burst your bubble, but we have crime and violence and gangs, same as most of the western world. but what we don't have is a handgun in the bedside table.
A Crockpot is very handy and useful. Pop your meat (pickled pork, chicken, lamb, etc;) with all the veges in with a bit of water and stock flavour first thing in the morning, then turn it on low. That will cook during the day. When you return home after work or from a day out, stir your pot perhaps pop in any other flavour you choose, and soon enough your meal would be ready to serve. A crockpot is great to use when you just need a break or have had a very long day and can not be bothered in the kitchen, or if you have a project in mind (arts & craft, or jigsaw puzzles) that you would love to work on. Just thought I would share that idea with you.
I never understand on here why people do meal prep and everything is in plastic bags instead of reusable containers. A container is so much more usable and just as easy to carry around. Like why would a sandwich or crackers need to be in a bag instead of a container? You throw the bag away at the end which is such a waste. I understand now that it's a big cultural difference. We separate out all of our recyclables at home and at work there are separate bins for rubbish and recycling. It's nowhere near as well thought out as it is in Europe though which I noticed when travelling. They had separate bins out in public for everything from glass to cardboard to food scraps and they were everywhere for people to use. It was amazing and made you feel good about what you were doing regardless of whether it was pushing the needle one way or the other in the grand scheme of things.
In Australia we have separate bins for vegetables and vegetation, recycling bin for plastics and cardboard etc, and the trash bin for everything else that doesn’t fit into the other two categories. I would really like a separate glass bin though, but apparently they do pull them out of the trash bin when sorting. I use plastic bags occasionally, but after using them I turn them inside out and rinse them so that I can use them again and again. Storage Containers are easy to use as well.
I lived in the US for six months as a child. I was amazed by the packet cake mixtures. Devils food cake and Angel food cake. So cool! I'd only ever seen cakes made from scratch back home. Starting to see more cake mix packs in NZ now but I think most people really do bake from scratch. When NZ went into COVID lockdown last year, flour was in high demand and often not on the shelves. Everyone was baking!
We used to use cheques a lot here around 20 years ago. I think the increased accessibility of EFPOS and debit cards are the main reason that cheques are now being phased out. That's because these new cards mean we can still use our own money to pay our bills in a quick and easy manner. It's also nice that we don't have the same credit system as the US where you need a credit card to buy a house etc.
I've recently started watching your channel!! As an expat Kiwi now living in Aussie I find your channel so amazing!! You are so good at this! Love your presentation had to ring the bell my new friend!!🔔😀👍💯
yay!! I love how NZ is portrayed in comparison, makes me feel happy. However I know we still have many more changes to make. I'm curious what water you now drink? Tap, or other? Totally agree with the clothes conversation! So great to hear this.
I've lived in Canada for the last thirty years, but when I was growing up in NZ, the reason we didn't have a lot of clothes was cost. Back in 1985 it was over $100 for a simple pair of Levis. As a teenager I had my school uniform, a t-shirt, and a pair of jeans my mother made. Shoes: I had my school uniform shoes. Other than underwear, that was it. We simply didn't have the money for more. Most people in the neighbourhood were in the same situation, and it sounds like that's still pretty much part of the culture.
What I love as well as the environmental considerations is the lack of signs everywhere like we have in Australia that are an eyesore, the way they mark roads to indicate what ugly signs do. And the keep calm notes everywhere.
Thanks for your sharing your change & insights. When we had our children we dropped the tv as well. Zero between M-Th Fri-Sun ok but mute the adds! If not it goes off! Children walk away from commercial tv. They also become discerning when you explain the narrative. Always books, outdoor activities & fun.
I just discovered your channel, and I really enjoyed the video. I’m also American, and I relocated to NZ with my Kiwi husband in 2017. I never baked in the US, except when I was a child, but now I bake almost weekly & really enjoy it. I’ve noticed that Kiwis downplay holidays & have fewer decorations, and I like the casual vibe here, but sometimes miss the festivities in the US. Also, I appreciate your take on clothing. I can relate to so much of what you talk about in this video! Thanks for all your insights!
Man I love your channel and your comments so precisely our experience since moving from Aust 14yrs ago, our visiting relatives usually baulk at the cost of things, but then realise our living habbits are not governed by typical level of Western consumerism and that the we relish the simple but meaningful things like home-baking, dinner at the beach, walks along a stream, which in turn make us more fulfilled and spend much less on our lifestyle. Keep up the good work, listening to your comments are like talking to an old friend, your comments are accurate and respectful at the same time :)
Just discovered your videos and a lot of what you talk about is very similar in Australia too. I really like your respectful manner of where you are living, and the difference in cultures. I lived in the USA for 8 years, and when I first moved there I asked my American husband to leave me at the Publix supermarket for several hours so I could look at all the packaged food. You could get anything in a packet, and if you wanted organic, Wholefoods was amazing!!!
As an Aussie who's been to NZ and USA I think NZ and Australia are very similar. I could never get over the amount of stuff you can buy ready made in the USA, just about everything is available in a box or other container.
Love this video. I’ve visited NZ but am Australian and have also lived in the US. Australia is more towards the NZ end of the scale than the US. My family of 5 went to a restaurant this week and we spent over $160 for a main meal and a one soft drink each (no starters or desserts)!!
Hi Tara, will you be having a Pumpkin pie recipe? As you say everything here is made from scratch… where as all of the pumpkin pie recipes I find tend to have the bought filling which can’t be bought here. I did find one once, but it wasn’t great, I think it was lacking in the spice department 😊.
Kiwi here. Learned to make the filling from scratch a couple years ago when I just really wanted to know what pumpkin pie tasted like! You need at least 2 cups of pureed pumpkin. You can either boil diced pumpkin then mash or roast pumpkin wedges which I prefer. Then follow the recipe as usual with store bought sweet pastry or make your own.
I grew up here in NZ on islands and lighthouses so my experience is totally different. On the subject of advertising, what I learnt was that, the more often something was advertised, the more desperate the vendor was to get rid of it. I still tend to live that way, in that, if there is a particular product I want and hear it being advertised somewhere as "the best deal/price/et al", I will automatically look for a different supplier.
Really enjoyed all your Videos... Thank You for being so respectful about our country and culture. You are so friendly about everything here. True Kiwi
School uniforms are a great idea, but it's time NZ went more generic in its high school uniforms. Some high school uniforms are ridiculously expensive, and arguably discourage some parents from sending their kids to some schools. It has been suggested that some schools deliberately make their uniforms expensive for that reason. On the plus side they are normally good quality and if you buy carefully you can often make the main expensive items last the whole 5 years.
Schools should just have iron on emblems for sale at the school and have plain bottoms. Then parents can buy a shirt the right colour at a cheaper price. It's ridiculous how much uniforms cost.
You should check with the school's uniform shop - a lot of them sell 2nd hand uniforms on consignment. My girls school took their uniforms - they're tough with quality, but its an option.
Couldn't agree more. I went to a uniformed school in NZ in the 70's and 80's and it was just two shirts, two pairs of shorts, socks and shoes. Now, it's a travesty, with $200 blazers. As someone pointed out below, how much better could that money be used rather than assuaging some idiot principals ideals about "smartness" and "respectability"...yes I have a bone to pick =P
Greetings! still really enjoying the videos. you seem like a great person! thanks again for the overview of Nz things which we normally take for granted and dont even think about! the most shocking thing about your videos was to find out that EFPOST and bank deposits are something not very common elsewhere. ive had my own EFPOST card and account since I was a kid and haven't seen cash notes in a very long time! hehe cheers!
I left NZ 25 year ago went to Australia and came back 6 year ago, things when I left were cheap and affordable including housing , I too was shocked at how the price of everything shot up and left the hourly rate , weekly wage way behind...
Especially the fully stocked fridges. In the Soviet Union, fridges were often full due to shortages and deficits. However, in the USA, where empty shops are not a common problem, one might wonder why people accumulate so much food in their homes.
I enjoy consumer shopping when visiting (or used to be able to) the USA. The quality and price of clothes especially in the USA, Walmart, Costco, outlet stores etc is very good value for money. Notably the quality is better, i.e. made in South America vs China. So totally agree when buying here in Aotearoa, it is better to buy quality rather than quantity which you can do as adults, but it does make it challenging for growing families
Awesome review about adjusting to buying habits from US and NZ..You have done well since being in NZ to adjust to buying what you really need than want...yea NZers adapt slowly to new trends or fads bt doesn't last long... thankful that you and your family love it since living in NZ.
@Ocean Blue...Yea she will , we're not as materialistic as the US, bt she can still buy online.. an our national game of RUGBY...we don't wear shoulderpads and helmets..just hardcore tackles bro.booyah !!
@Ocean Blue Nah ...sorry mate,US NFL players can't handle tackles like we do NZ , NFL players rely too much on the helmets to go head first , whereas we rugby guys just smash you up front coming towards you...no chance...you probably haven't played...too bad huh😁
Also American in Wellington here. We were lucky enough to buy a fixer-upper about 3 years ago, had to put 100k into it just to get it to be not cold and damp. It's awesome now, and the value has doubled, but we still need to do about another 50k of work to get it all done. It's a LOT more expensive to buy here because it's a minimum of 20% down payment.
Yeah the only time I was regularly buying water bottles, was when I was doing course work out in Porirua. And that was mainly, because I was walking by a supermarket each day I was on course. I swapped to glass when one of the deans gave a speech about budgeting. Where we could save money using the flitter water in the polytech cafe.
Aside from my bulk buying, I apparently appear to fit more to the kiwi 🥝 culture, than I do my born and raised American culture, if what you have described is correct. 🤣
Just discovered you - kia ora from Dunedin. I watch a lot of US channels, mainly family type things, and am amazed by the amount many seem to spend buying and re-buying items to decorate their home for the upcoming season. Why? You need more storage if you're going to decorate 4 times a year, then add in the incidentals like Valentines Day, Easter, Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving and Christmas, where even more comes out - why? I really don't see the point! Must be my English-Kiwi heritage! Glad you are enjoying life at a slower pace and with less stresses! x
Do you find that you do less impulse buying since living in NZ? Your video is very informative and your tips on where to focus purchases in NZ is great. The price of goods cost a lot more in NZ than in the US.
Our daughter have been in NZ for about 20 years and yes there is a lots of things that it be great if we can do them here specially using the credit cards for all transactions. We visit every year except for the last two , will be visiting for the next Christmas again .
It’s so funny how you say we in nz have less clothes than in the USA. I have one set of drawers and only a small amount in my wardrobe and I keep thinking that I have so much clothing.
When I was growing up in NZ we had a large family so we got hand me downs and mum made our clothes. Sunday was church then roast lunch, we had made lunches for school no packaged snacks and takeaways once a week. Mum always baked and we rarely ate at restaurants - love your content
11:22 unbelievable to say but nearly 20 years ago when I was a lot younger I took some American friends to a local brewery (Monteath Brewery in Greymouth) for the tour and tasting. at the tasting one of them commented that summer beer was the sort of thing he would drink at Christmas because of the flavours, I pointed out to himthat summer is our Christmas, then the name clicked for him. So if you want a spiced beer with a Christmas feel try Monteiths Summer.
For shopping, we have less in terms of quantity and variety because we are so far away from the rest of the world so freight/shipping is expensive. And this cost is passed on by the companies to the consumers so hence why goods are more expensive. Great observation points and sharing 👍👍👍
You are right about the TV. When my kids were babies our TV broke and I didn't get another one. I bought very few plastic toys and misc junk over the years. Best gift to give kids is your time, they really remember that. Only when they got to junior high school did they come home and ask why their friends were talking about things on TV while we didn't have one - did I finally get another. Luckily they still didn't watch it because the habit never developed. Even was beneficial to me as I wasted no time watching sports etc. Yes, I do spend too much time on TH-cam though!
I get quite anxious when I see the plastic in USA grocery hauls. I wonder if this might change in the US overtime and perhaps because NZ is much smaller we have just caught on quicker because of the cost involved in disposing and recylcing of plastic. Love this comparison between the US and NZ. Please do more!
Very interesting! With your production you have perfect balance and timing with your memes and screen data! Plus your energy is compelling. Love it!👍🏻 💕. ..... and hey, you're hair's looking gorgeous - suits your personality.
When I was growing up in NZ, I was wanting an Optimus Prime Transformer toy. I asked my dad who was wasn't a fan of fads surprisingly said, "Ok". I was so excited. A few minutes later he came back and gave me a block of wood and said, "Here you go, transform this".
😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍
😂😂😭😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣♥️
Omg I love your dad lol
Another benefit of those expensive school uniforms is that, once bought, every kid looks the same, so you avoid being labelled the 'poor kid' or 'unfashionable'. It's a great leveller.
Yes totally agree! Thanks for watching!
That's not true ,kids are still labeled the poor kids but not having the most expensive phone, or not doing sports, holidays, cloths, my daughter is 24 and she won't wear the same outfit sometimes at work twice , she does mix and match, all age groups are different ,its cool to have champion clothing, nike shoes and bag
@@odettebaker3118 they were talking about school children wearing uniforms not adults.
@@bellabana she went to highschool when younger so yes she was at highschool
Don't like it GO HOME you don't know what you are talking about.
"There's no plastic in NZ " gives me an existential crisis about how much plastic Americans must use! I feel like there's so much plastic here!
Our grocery stores don't supply plastic bags anymore, we use biodegradable or "use again" grocery bags made from recycled materials, NZ is not totally plastic free our goods "groceries" still get wrapped in plastic, so we recycle 👍🏼 well I hope so.
NZ generates more plastic waste per person each day than any country on the planet. 197 grams/person/ day.
@@iatsd No! China, US, Germany, Singapore, Japan are way up there in plastic and other bigger countries who contribute to Ocean pollution.
@@meg7088 Calm you titties and re-read what I actually wrote: NZ generates the most plastic of any country PER PERSON. That's different from TOTAL amount produced. Yes, the US produces more. They're got ~325 million people there, ffs.
Wait, English isn't your second language, is it?
@@iatsd are there stats for plastic 'reuse per person'? Hoping that with the stat u provided can be offset by our recycling processes. I do gather that NZ recycles more than the US
As a kiwi - it's a struggle living here. The wages don't meet the cost of living expenses.. Food's expensive, petrol, housing so alot of family's do struggle & having to prioritise "Necessities over Fads" However, it's lovely having yol here experiencing our beautiful country ☺️
Very true. My family are privileged in that we're not struggling as much as some. Our family income has increased slightly over the last 5 - 10 years. Living costs have increased more than our income though and we're struggling now.
thank heavens I don't live in NZ = sounds awful
The UK is soooooo much worse. As a kiwi living in London it’s damn near impossible to make ends meet. $4000NZD for a 1 bedroom flat is killing us
I've lived in California for a few years but got the heck back out. Whilst the retail experience is nice compared to NZ, US healthcare is an exercise in existential terror, especially if you're "between jobs" or working for an employer who's strongly cutting costs on your health insurance (see HSAs, etc).
We got out 'cos we knew we were one medical event away from destitution.
No clue where you're finding a house for $400,000 in NZ! I need to find this secret neighborhood of yours 😂😂
Maybe she means in US dollars?
I think she was meaning doer uppers, which you can get in my town for 300-400k
Out in the wop wops somewhere, one road,one shop type place.
Can buy a house for $400,000 here in Chch if you're not after anything too fancy.
@Ocean Blue wot?
You are always so respectful towards NZ, the people and the culture. I really like your videos.
Its cause we kiwis are fucking awesome
@@stiffykitty1 NZ are awesome but I've watched youtube videos where people from other countries aren't as respectful. She is an extremely respectful person and that is reflected in her Chanel.
@@rayrayrayrayray79 yr right. I watch the US, OMG!! Lots of very nasty people. She's respectful and fitting her and family into kiwi styles 😁👍
Half of her videos are not real
@@lachierobertson8578 how do u figure that?
As a Kiwi who lived in the States some time ago heres what threw me the first few times a the supermarket. 1. Being asked if I wanted paper or plastic (they were talking about the shopping bag). 2. Ravioli in a can. yes actual pasta ravioli in a can like it was baked beans or something (and that chef boyardee stuff seemed to be really popular too). 3. Breakfast Cereals that were basically just sugar and nothing else (Lucky Charms and count Chocula etc). 4. Unusual Coffee. At petrol stations for example a barista doesnt make you real coffee, its flavoured coffee (hazlenut, vanilla etc) served out of thermos urns like its a picnic or something. Also on the coffee note they add little packets of what looks like processed artificial cream. (not milk). Oh also Americans don't seem to use electric Kettles at all. Oh and finally, Macaroni and cheese isn't just a meal option to them, more like one of the basic food groups. Hell I could go on for hours.
American food is bloody AWFUL! Also they're not as friendly as us New Zealanders either!
@@jaynepowell6864 can't speak for your experience, but I've met plenty of friendly Americans
@@jaynepowell6864 The mass produced food for sure. It's all pumped full of chemicals and sugar. As for friendliness you've got to take them on a case by case basis. On first meeting you'll get this artificial, practiced veneer of friendliness. You don't get the real person. I found that the Americans with the least money were the most genuinely friendly because they understood the value of real human interaction much like kiwis do intrinsically.
The US uses 110Volt power so electric kettles are REALLY slow, that's why people just don't use them there.
@@jaynepowell6864Hi Jayne, I'm saying this because we have all fallen into the same trap. Someone pointed it out to me when I was young and I didn't realise how what I said came across. Your comment wasn't friendly towards America/American's while claiming us New Zealanders are more friendly than them. I hope that you take this the right way. Xx
In the US I get asked quite often about Xmas lights in NZ and when I say it’s not that big of a thing because it’s in the middle of summer and it’s not dark until 10 its generally followed by blank, confused looks
Pardon?
There really is no Cmas here in NZ! Lol
@@greekxstitcher5379 if you are going to comment the least you can do is be respectful.
Of course there is Christmas in NZ! Its a cultural thing. We celebrate differently, it's summer, outdoors, long warm evenings!
@@cherylmorris001 umm I live in NZ I know what and how we celebrate !
You should talk about the op shop buying here in New Zealand 🇳🇿. How people shop at discount stores like Uncle Bills, Reduced to Clear. Or opportunity shops like save mart, vinnies and Salvation Army family stores.
She mustn’t op shopping is the only way to go
Great idea. It would be really interesting to hear about the differences. I think in the US if you donate to a charity store you get some sort of voucher for a tax rebate so it would be good to hear about that too.
Op shopping is big in NZ, slightly less so in Australia. You can get some awesome stuff at op shops.
@@Luubelaar Australian op shops are quite expensive
The hospice and op shops are great here!😊
I watch a channel on TH-cam that has a extra large family (15) there is a lot of birthdays, every time they buy two boxes of cake mix and a tub of frosting. In that time it took them to go to the shop, a NZ person can have a cake in the oven and the cake would be cooked in roasting dish, to feed that many people. We all learnt to bake etc at school, grandma, even TH-cam.
So true! All though there are alot of people in the US that cook from scratch!
I think the non-materialistic culture in NZ has evolved due to the high cost and limited choice of most goods. Also the environment consciousness of Kiwis has had a big impact. Makes for a great place to live although I must admit I do miss the Xmas lights…
True! Thanks for watching
Things have to be bigger and better in the states
@Acura Quebec no thanks I don’t want COVID.
Put your lights up at Matariki.
Christmas lights look lovely in the rain.😺
@@NZ_Culture If you don't/can't have it, saying you never wanted it is a coping mechanism. Nothing more. Sing it from the mountaintops -- doesn't change the facts.
I used my visa card 3 times in an hour and the bank rung me to see if it was stolen 😅 love their security. Also if you are traveling overseas tell your bank!
I spent over my normal budget by alot once and my bank called me to make sure my card wasn't stolen :'D.
Wow thats crazy😂😂
I’m an Aussie and I tell my bank if I am travelling overseas. They are used to me buying things overseas here & there… but a lot of overseas purchases for weeks or longer… best to let them know before you go. Let them know your travel dates & that there may be overseas purchases coming through.
Same thing happened to me ; I was online shopping, and they rung me to confirm the name of the businesses that I had made purchases through before they would unblock my account. It wasn't an inconvenience, and it would only ever happen if the activity was vastly different than your normal activity. Upon confirmation, they pressed a button, and my account was instantly active again.
I'm a kiwi. We grew up making everything ourselves because you couldn't buy much. We sewed our own clothes, grew our own food and preserved it. Baked every week and went fruit picking in the different seasons. We made Ginger Beer and yoghurt from a starter. We have more choice than we did 50 years ago and much has changed 😉 but having lived in the UK for 3 years I now see how restricted we still are though by lack of choice and the high cost of everything. I loved the Christmas lights in the UK. I have to say Christmas is better in winter having experienced it.
But that went out the door for us when we both parents had to work to buy our own house, now after having paid it off between 1975 & 2000, I'm so glad I have done it, I can't imagine what it would be for us to pay between $500-$800/week rent it would kill us and it would constitute one quarter of our super, we're on a $760/fortnight x2 (Apr 2023) superannuation and we definitely benefitted from being able to buy our house all those years ago, I can now spend a few dollars a month to benefit those who can barely survive esp if they're on a benefit.
I'm a kiwi grew up same then left at 20 away 40 years
Nz has changed I'm try to stay old school
Great video! I love your energy and personality. As an aussie watching this it was a real eye opener... not about NZ but about the US. Gotta say the US seems like a different planet. That's not a criticism, just genuine surprise at the level of mass consumerism and spending habits compared to this part of the world. For every item from 1 to 10 the NZ way of doing things sounded completely normal to me :-) High 5 Kiwi bro's!
Do you not see much in the way of American tv programmes? Do you not have internet ? Movies?How can anyone be so unaware ?
True that, I holiday in Aus,winter time coz it's warm over there compared to here,and it's just like NZ just bigger,but with a different accent,mind you, Ausie's dress nicer, Kiwi's don't care what they wear, and your money, can't get over,your $1 coin is bigger than your $2 the checkout girl's look at me like, can't this guy count, until I apologise and tell them the difference,😂
Nice one neighbour!
🇳🇿🤝🇦🇺
So true. I’m a Kiwi but lived in Europe, the US and Canada and the mass consumerism in other countries is insane. I bought in to it for so long and then just woke up, went back to my kiwi ways and got rid of so much crap I’d accumulated that I assumed I needed because the US “system” brainwashes you in to spending and/or because things are dirt cheap! Food, groceries, clothing, makeup, knickknacks etc… but in NZ it’s much more conscious spending
I'm a kiwi living in the Cook Islands and I'm loving your delightful insights with our culture. I miss home when I watch your videos and I'm able to have a laugh at ourselves at the same time regarding our quirks and foibles. I'm also reminded from your perspective of the things I took for granted and appreciate the conveniences I no longer have available, from afar. You're fab!
Kia orana from Auckland nz lol))
When i first move to New Zealand I was so shocked with the limited selection of things they got here. But yeah coming from Malaysia that always have big supermarket that use to have all differents section and wide range of options like food, groceries, household item, clothing put together in 1 store. It definitely takes time to get used to it. So i agree that they prior quality over quantity. They even use alot of 2nd hand furniture. I never once buy new furniture here cause I couldn't even afford it 🥲
I love your video btw. It's so relatable. And I love new zealand, they teach me alot about sustainability which I was not really exposed to before.
Eqa, although, i am not from there. Please continue to share your your support for NZ.
It's an option-poor socialist hellscape at the edge of the world. They rally-round-their flagpole to try and make it sound appealing. It's not.
Hi there!! New subscriber here 😄👌🏾 loving your content majorly!! Nau mai haere mai ki to matou nei whenua taurikura!! Welcome to our little slice of paradise!! We are happy to receive you and your family 😀😀😀😀😀😀
Love, love, your channel please keep it up. We are Australian and our son is now married and lives in Pacific North West. Before covid we visited him there. Your explanations give us context when visiting and speaking with his friends and in-laws. PS they are amazed that I regularly cook cakes from scratch ! We’ll done.
Go NZ caring for the environment and the planet!!
I love your channel! I'm 21 and I live in a town about 20-30 minutes west of New Orleans! I've lived all across the US (unstable childhood... lol), but I'm from Louisiana. I'm interested in one day emigrating OUT of the US. It's just too far gone in my view - it's best to escape now (or soon) while you still can. We're brainwashed from an early age to believe that we're this beacon of freedom and such, but the US lags far behind other developed nations in every way you can think of. I'm in the early stages of planning my escape haha, and part of that planning involves watching other Americans live their lives in foreign countries. You're my go-to American to represent New Zealand! :) Your videos have been informative and funny, and I love that you're sharing your story for others to see! :)
I'm definitely not set on any one country yet as I'm only 21 and barely have a bachelor's degree finished. I'm also considering Canada and a couple European countries, so my options are open for now - as it should be for any 21 year old. You don't know what you want at 21 😂 Through yours and other TH-camrs' videos, I hope to gain some necessary insight into life outside of this country! Thanks for all the wonderful videos! :)
Hi Indigo, I’m a kiwi, not an American, but I would like to offer you a little advice if I can. For starters, travel, travel and travel some more. A large portion of New Zealanders travel at a reasonably young age, in their early 20’s, as a right of passage and regularly don’t return home (permanently) for a decade or more if at all. But whether they are gone the obligatory 2 years or for twenty, the one thing most Kiwis do, is embrace the culture they are in at the time. I think personally, it’s a large part of what makes us Kiwis. We are not afraid of other cultures, because of our general understanding, and it makes us a lot more tolerant as a whole. We see other people travelling on their holidays (vacations) and they really are just sight seeing. Do what we encourage our youngsters to do, and travel, go prepared for the worst and expect the unexpected, but enjoy every moment of it. There is a memory in every moment, good or bad. The appreciation comes when you can look back and laugh at the good and the bad. Get out there (when travel allows), and just do it. A moment lost is a moment not lived. Good luck with your adventures, keep getting yourself informed and you will do well I’m sure. Edit…take yourself out of your comfort zone a little, accept that things may not be the same as you are used to, and you will enjoy it even more. So much of your experience has to do with your mindset, and often, the lower your expectations are, the greater your experience will be when things surpass those expectations.
@@taniac1860 thank you!!! 😊
@@taniac1860 Well said.
Great advice Tania!
I am so glad this channel is helpful and I am very excited for your adventures! Yes get out there and travel and experience. I found more of myself when traveling and embracing a different way of life. I am here to help you with all your NZ questions!
Being on the far end of the global logistics chain since forever really helps promote sustainability.
This is the first time I’ve come across your channel. I appreciate the way you adjusted to living in New Zealand, how you made the culture so much more acceptable to American families (particularly Mums) and your approach to how a cultural adjustment can be a good thing. Love your work :)
Thank you so much!
it's also cool to buy second hand clothes and there are quite a few shops that specialize in used fashion. Not to mention the charity shops...
I remember in Wellington in the 70s we generally just had Xmas tree with lights and a few decorations on it. But but one Xmas someone bought a can of fake snow you could spray on it to give it that snow effect almost looked like cobwebs ! Anyway one day we were just sitting around in the sitting room when we were kids and my bother sitting next to the Xmas tree reading suddenly for some reason the Xmas tree fell over on his head ! and the funny thing was when we stood the tree up again my brother looked like an old man with grey hair because of the fake snow sprayed on the tree ! 😄
You are spot on with this. I'm a kiwi who's been living back and forth between NZ and Australia. Both countries are super expensive to buy a home, furnishings, food etc, and always have been. I believe it's because our population is so low comparatively and we're a great distance from larger populated countries e.g. America or England.
I’ve been to the US a few times and love the clothes sales, I always come back with an extra suitcase. My friend has just come back from there and was complaining about the prices. She said she had her hair cut here and it was $34 (at a mall where you turn up and take your chances), she said in the US it would be $12. I then asked her what taxes and tips she added then converted the dollar and it turned out she paid $32 equivalent. It sounds cheaper but it’s not always when you add the extras.
I do the same when I go to the UK
Where can you get a haircut for $32? I haven’t paid under $50-$70 in over 20 years and I have short hair! Blonde highlights are always over $120!
@@cazkiwinz4300 one of those ones at the mall that you don’t have to make an appointment, Just Cuts is the one I go to. And I was just referring to cut not colour, I colour my own.
@CazKiwi NZ it small towns haha. I live in a small town in NZ. And costs me $35.
Ans it's a proper salon. A bigger city I previously lived cost me $80. So depends on the town
Our holidays are more about getting together with family and friends, than presents and fancy decorations. Its what most are taught as values.
Hi from Auckland, enjoying your videos thanks. Our family enjoys cooking from scratch. During lockdown we mastered bread, pizza and pasta. We cook every night except Friday when we get takeaways. Dining out is for our special occasions though we do dine out a bit more often to support local businesses.
Your comments about school uniforms were very interesting. There are other benefits apart from convenience: less peer pressure over the latest fashion; a sense of belonging to the school cohort; and the main one (that no one ever mentions) the kids looking more equal in class from the teacher’s POV, and therefore less likelihood of favouritism. This lack of bias is one of the reasons for barristers’ black gowns and wigs in NZ.
I actually could afford a house in the late 90s in New Zealand when I was in my 20s but can't now and I'm 50!
Well maybe you should have bought one instead of just thinking about it for 30 years !!!
@@nedread6700 I owned 3 with my former partner
@@nedread6700 maybe you should be less judgemental since you don't know why she's now looking for a new house
yeah I hear ya mate and the reason for that ? we let people from other country's buy investment property here forcing values to shot up , yet we con't buy in their country's . Guess some of us screwed up somewhere along the line.
@@jamestaylor6041 same problem in the Netherlands unfortunately. Not just foreign investors ether, lots of people who buy houses instead of stocks or other investments or as an air bnb....
The high cost of goods and hospitality in NZ vs US may be due to the fact that our workers aren't relying on food stamps, very low wages. No hate- the wages are still poor here.
Indeed, the wage structure in the US, especially in the service industry is poor at best ..
The whole USA "tipping structure" is based on Guilt, and is a very poor excuse for business owners - especially restaurants - to keep wages low
That is definitely a factor, but also need to keep in mind the fact alot of our stuff is imported. Adds alot of tax onto of the basic price. Plus scale, smaller economy means less buying power overseas means higher prices.
Also we have some of the highest GST tax in the world
Yes with the baking and making things from scratch! That's all I've ever know and when I wanted to try make an American pumpkin pie every recipe I found online wanted me to go to the shop and buy pre-made ingredients that you couldn't here in nz, like pumpkin pie filling?? That's what I was trying to make lol. Id love a pumpkin pie recipe from you! And happy fourth of july Tara! :)
You can buy pumpkin pie filling from Martha’s Backyard in Auckland. They have a website and if you order over $35 worth of goods…free shipping. Recipes for pumpkin pie spice on line. I used to find the pumpkin filling at countdown in the international section. Hope that helps.
Canned pumpkin pie filling is just pumpkin purée and sugar. Easy enough to make yourself. 😀
@@evan4905 yes indeed it is 😉
@Evan have you actually tried to make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin - it actually is more difficult than it looks. Canned pumpkin uses a different variety of pumpkin called a sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin (for obvious reasons 😀) that is not available fresh in NZ. It is denser than NZ pumpkin.
You can get pumpkin pie filling at the supermarket. Never tried it myself(my landlord is American and makes an amazing pie) but it is available at countdown
I expect that part of wht bulk buying isn't very common in New Zealand is because people operate on a weekly or else fortnightly cycle. You don't have as much money in your wallet to buy bulk, and you don't really need to because the next paycheck isn't far away. Whereas I feel that Americans operate on more of a monthly cycle, so it's more feasible to buy tons of stuff because you're buying for the whole month and it needs to last you.
Also the supermarkets don't have crazy deals. I don't recall the last time I bought something on buy one get one free, sometimes there's 2 for $10 type deals, but again, it's usually packaged convenience foods which aren't so much everyday foods here so no one is going to buy a months worth of cup soups or whatever.
I've just had TH-cam recommend this video. Welcome to New Zealand I hope that you love it here. I agree with you about it being expensive here especially food and property. I live in Auckland but I was born in Wellington and lived in Tauranga as a child for a few years. I watch quite alot of family channels based in the USA and I'm amazed at how cheap things are over there. I can imagine in terms of costs it was quite surprising. America seems to have more of a throw away culture compared to kiwis. We also accept people with open arms from any country and you become kiwis as well, in a good way. I'm fascinated to watch more of your videos because you have lived in both countries. I'm going to subscribe to your channel. Xx
Awesome - thanks for subscribing and watching.
That single strand of hair was low key stressing me out.
I know sorry
@@Kiwiamericans lol. You're totally forgiven!
😂😂😂😂
Now you've mentioned it.... It's stressing me out too now
@@biancat7761 🤣
Part of the reason housing in NZ and Australia is expensive is because SO many people are looking to move there, especially more so in covid times. It is cheaper in USA to eat out I would guess because wages of waiter staff are ridiculously low, so the owner can afford to charge less for meals seeing staff rely on tips to top up wage.
You hit the nail on the head. The average American is so poorly paid, so housing and the cost of living is relative to income. Their food is pretty inedible highly processed junk with no nutritional value as well. I struggled to find healthy food over there and when l did it was massively over priced.
@@libbysevicke-jones3160 I had the best salad in Harlem it was fresh and so healthy. The meat section was mind blowing so many choices I didn’t want it but it was very interesting.
Those wages there are changing fast from what im seeing.
It was bad with housing before covid, but that’s definitely added to the homelessness here
@@libbysevicke-jones3160 that doesn't work here though, the wages are low but the houses and cost of living are expensive
#4 - Another probable cause for the tendencies of Americans to buy in bulk is access to product. Comparatively, most Americans do not live in close proximity to a grocery store, so it makes sense to buy a lot at once to reduce the number of trips you have to make.
This is my first time watching this! She's wonderful! Thank you for positive attitude to your new life here in New Zealand! 😁👍
Welcome to my channel... so glad you enjoyed it!
You keep making me what to pack up and move to NZ. The fact that they actually bake is incredible. I’m the only person I know that actually bakes. In the US baking is almost frowned upon…unless you include quinoa and avocados. You talk about the marketing gimmicks in the US, our foods are a huge marketing thing. A great example of that was quite a while back Oprah said she didn’t eat red meat and she ended up getting in huge trouble with the beef farmers in Texas. Gotta love it.
Yes keep baking! The US is so focused on trends and fads!
I'm from Philippines. Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions. It will help me to save money and avoid things not to buy
Yeees! I always get anxious watching US pantry organization videos because of all the packaginggg. And the always eating on paper plates. The poor environmeeent
We know children often get bored with their toys so using the toy library is a great way for them to try out different toys. One can then decide what is worth buying to keep.
I know right! When I found the toy library here I was amazed at it and such a great idea!!!
Yeah…we like cooking at home more than we go out for dinner…no problem there, it’s just about not being so bloody lazy and it’s better for the family unit.
Funny yes
Get off your ass and cook a feed , you might surprise yourself and like it lol
So funny how prepared food, cut food, takeaway is considered lazy here.
Well I like cooking my own food
I love to cook, i have probably 200 cook books. I also have to take every cooking short cut possible or order a takeaway delivery because we just don't have the energy to cook and take care of a toddler and newborn while recovering from a major surgery (emergency c-section). Sometimes outsourcing labour (cooking or cleaning) is the only way to keep it all together.
@Michelle Bennet same aye hahha
This channel is gold. I'm glad you're here and enjoy our wonderful country. Two thumbs up ;)
Awe thanks!
The water bottle makes sense. NZ tap water is generally consistently higher in quality and taste so refilling your own bottle and taking it with you just makes more financial sense.
Yea its a bit of a waste of money to buy water here, when it's free haha
This channel has the best comment threads! Nice mix of Kiwis and Americans. All ( well most) being very kind and helpful. I can actual sense their smiles.
Great video Tara 👍🏽I like hearing the differences and how you explain it all, thank you 😊 your channel is awesome👍🏽👍🏽
Very insightful views and folks especially Americans will get a good sense of life in NZ. Some would say we are out dated but in other areas we are ahead and hot on sustainability issues. There's a lot of recycling of everything from materials to clothing and making use of what nature provides.
God I want to move there soooo bad. It's my dream. Wonder if I will ever be able too. Gorgeous country, lovely people. Simpler and peaceful society
Some advice. Either do it or don't. Make a D. Do some research but simply, decide to go or not. You will lose a lot of time wishing and hoping.
Me too let’s go together. Lol
@@Badmansband I agree! I am 55 and it's soon or never.
I'm a New Zealander and it's expensive as well as suffering income disparity, inflated property prices and degradation of environment. Happy to give you a balanced view.
sorry to burst your bubble, but we have crime and violence and gangs, same as most of the western world. but what we don't have is a handgun in the bedside table.
NZ Native here. Your content is awesome. Super informative and well thought out.
The buying cheques thing is blowing my mind. Even when cheques were big here in NZ we didnt have to buy them the banks gave them for free.
But every time you wrote a cheque it actually cost you a couple of dollars. You just didn’t realise it.
You still had to pay the 5cent stamp duty
A Crockpot is very handy and useful. Pop your meat (pickled pork, chicken, lamb, etc;) with all the veges in with a bit of water and stock flavour first thing in the morning, then turn it on low. That will cook during the day. When you return home after work or from a day out, stir your pot perhaps pop in any other flavour you choose, and soon enough your meal would be ready to serve. A crockpot is great to use when you just need a break or have had a very long day and can not be bothered in the kitchen, or if you have a project in mind (arts & craft, or jigsaw puzzles) that you would love to work on. Just thought I would share that idea with you.
I never understand on here why people do meal prep and everything is in plastic bags instead of reusable containers. A container is so much more usable and just as easy to carry around. Like why would a sandwich or crackers need to be in a bag instead of a container? You throw the bag away at the end which is such a waste. I understand now that it's a big cultural difference.
We separate out all of our recyclables at home and at work there are separate bins for rubbish and recycling. It's nowhere near as well thought out as it is in Europe though which I noticed when travelling. They had separate bins out in public for everything from glass to cardboard to food scraps and they were everywhere for people to use. It was amazing and made you feel good about what you were doing regardless of whether it was pushing the needle one way or the other in the grand scheme of things.
Yes I've heard that about Scandinavia. Incredible recycling culture. Wish NZ would follow suit.
In Australia we have separate bins for vegetables and vegetation, recycling bin for plastics and cardboard etc, and the trash bin for everything else that doesn’t fit into the other two categories. I would really like a separate glass bin though, but apparently they do pull them out of the trash bin when sorting. I use plastic bags occasionally, but after using them I turn them inside out and rinse them so that I can use them again and again. Storage Containers are easy to use as well.
I lived in the US for six months as a child. I was amazed by the packet cake mixtures. Devils food cake and Angel food cake. So cool! I'd only ever seen cakes made from scratch back home. Starting to see more cake mix packs in NZ now but I think most people really do bake from scratch. When NZ went into COVID lockdown last year, flour was in high demand and often not on the shelves. Everyone was baking!
ha ha that is so true! I stocked up on flour first thing as I love to bake when I have the time. Thanks for watching.
We used to use cheques a lot here around 20 years ago. I think the increased accessibility of EFPOS and debit cards are the main reason that cheques are now being phased out. That's because these new cards mean we can still use our own money to pay our bills in a quick and easy manner. It's also nice that we don't have the same credit system as the US where you need a credit card to buy a house etc.
I've recently started watching your channel!! As an expat Kiwi now living in Aussie I find your channel so amazing!! You are so good at this! Love your presentation had to ring the bell my new friend!!🔔😀👍💯
yay!! I love how NZ is portrayed in comparison, makes me feel happy. However I know we still have many more changes to make. I'm curious what water you now drink? Tap, or other?
Totally agree with the clothes conversation! So great to hear this.
Tap water here in Wellington, it’s nicer than bottled water
@@starlightbarking9495 Stinks of chlorine in Auck.
Awesome video friend. Hope you had a great July 4th 🙋♀️❤💯🎂
I've lived in Canada for the last thirty years, but when I was growing up in NZ, the reason we didn't have a lot of clothes was cost. Back in 1985 it was over $100 for a simple pair of Levis. As a teenager I had my school uniform, a t-shirt, and a pair of jeans my mother made. Shoes: I had my school uniform shoes. Other than underwear, that was it. We simply didn't have the money for more. Most people in the neighbourhood were in the same situation, and it sounds like that's still pretty much part of the culture.
What I love as well as the environmental considerations is the lack of signs everywhere like we have in Australia that are an eyesore, the way they mark roads to indicate what ugly signs do. And the keep calm notes everywhere.
Watching Judge Judy, I was shocked to hear about people paying with Cheques, haven't seen those in NZ since the 90s lol
Thanks for your sharing your change & insights.
When we had our children we dropped the tv as well. Zero between M-Th Fri-Sun ok but mute the adds! If not it goes off! Children walk away from commercial tv. They also become discerning when you explain the narrative. Always books, outdoor activities & fun.
Quality not quantity 😊
I just discovered your channel, and I really enjoyed the video. I’m also American, and I relocated to NZ with my Kiwi husband in 2017. I never baked in the US, except when I was a child, but now I bake almost weekly & really enjoy it. I’ve noticed that Kiwis downplay holidays & have fewer decorations, and I like the casual vibe here, but sometimes miss the festivities in the US. Also, I appreciate your take on clothing. I can relate to so much of what you talk about in this video! Thanks for all your insights!
Your husband is going to appreciate the extra cash during festivities in NZ 👍
Man I love your channel and your comments so precisely our experience since moving from Aust 14yrs ago, our visiting relatives usually baulk at the cost of things, but then realise our living habbits are not governed by typical level of Western consumerism and that the we relish the simple but meaningful things like home-baking, dinner at the beach, walks along a stream, which in turn make us more fulfilled and spend much less on our lifestyle. Keep up the good work, listening to your comments are like talking to an old friend, your comments are accurate and respectful at the same time :)
Thanks so much for sharing.. your comments are well said! Thanks for watching
Just discovered your videos and a lot of what you talk about is very similar in Australia too. I really like your respectful manner of where you are living, and the difference in cultures. I lived in the USA for 8 years, and when I first moved there I asked my American husband to leave me at the Publix supermarket for several hours so I could look at all the packaged food. You could get anything in a packet, and if you wanted organic, Wholefoods was amazing!!!
As an Aussie who's been to NZ and USA I think NZ and Australia are very similar. I could never get over the amount of stuff you can buy ready made in the USA, just about everything is available in a box or other container.
Sounds good....I wish......
Love this video. I’ve visited NZ but am Australian and have also lived in the US. Australia is more towards the NZ end of the scale than the US.
My family of 5 went to a restaurant this week and we spent over $160 for a main meal and a one soft drink each (no starters or desserts)!!
Hi Tara, will you be having a Pumpkin pie recipe? As you say everything here is made from scratch… where as all of the pumpkin pie recipes I find tend to have the bought filling which can’t be bought here. I did find one once, but it wasn’t great, I think it was lacking in the spice department 😊.
Second this question..recently moved to NZ from Hawai’i, with my wife who is from the Hawke’s Bay Area. Could do with a nice pumpkin pie. 😋
Kiwi here. Learned to make the filling from scratch a couple years ago when I just really wanted to know what pumpkin pie tasted like! You need at least 2 cups of pureed pumpkin. You can either boil diced pumpkin then mash or roast pumpkin wedges which I prefer. Then follow the recipe as usual with store bought sweet pastry or make your own.
Check out Martha’s Backyard in Mt Wellington in Auckland for USA products including pumpkin for pie in cans
I grew up here in NZ on islands and lighthouses so my experience is totally different.
On the subject of advertising, what I learnt was that, the more often something was advertised, the more desperate the vendor was to get rid of it.
I still tend to live that way, in that, if there is a particular product I want and hear it being advertised somewhere as "the best deal/price/et al", I will automatically look for a different supplier.
Wow, I thought I was the only one that looked at it that way - advertising something means it is not as good and has to be pushed!
Always so interesting to hear a real life experience such as yours 🙂
Really enjoyed all your Videos...
Thank You for being so respectful about our country and culture. You are so friendly about everything here. True Kiwi
School uniforms are a great idea, but it's time NZ went more generic in its high school uniforms. Some high school uniforms are ridiculously expensive, and arguably discourage some parents from sending their kids to some schools. It has been suggested that some schools deliberately make their uniforms expensive for that reason. On the plus side they are normally good quality and if you buy carefully you can often make the main expensive items last the whole 5 years.
The pricing is indeed ridiculous! I could buy so much with that money 🙄
Schools should just have iron on emblems for sale at the school and have plain bottoms. Then parents can buy a shirt the right colour at a cheaper price. It's ridiculous how much uniforms cost.
You should check with the school's uniform shop - a lot of them sell 2nd hand uniforms on consignment. My girls school took their uniforms - they're tough with quality, but its an option.
Couldn't agree more. I went to a uniformed school in NZ in the 70's and 80's and it was just two shirts, two pairs of shorts, socks and shoes. Now, it's a travesty, with $200 blazers. As someone pointed out below, how much better could that money be used rather than assuaging some idiot principals ideals about "smartness" and "respectability"...yes I have a bone to pick =P
Whose kid doesn't grow in 5years! Y're dreamin.
Greetings! still really enjoying the videos. you seem like a great person! thanks again for the overview of Nz things which we normally take for granted and dont even think about! the most shocking thing about your videos was to find out that EFPOST and bank deposits are something not very common elsewhere. ive had my own EFPOST card and account since I was a kid and haven't seen cash notes in a very long time! hehe cheers!
I left NZ 25 year ago went to Australia and came back 6 year ago, things when I left were cheap and affordable including housing , I too was shocked at how the price of everything shot up and left the hourly rate , weekly wage way behind...
As a Kiwi, this explains a lot about American culture, thank you.
Especially the fully stocked fridges.
In the Soviet Union, fridges were often full due to shortages and deficits.
However, in the USA, where empty shops are not a common problem, one might wonder why people accumulate so much food in their homes.
I enjoy consumer shopping when visiting (or used to be able to) the USA. The quality and price of clothes especially in the USA, Walmart, Costco, outlet stores etc is very good value for money. Notably the quality is better, i.e. made in South America vs China. So totally agree when buying here in Aotearoa, it is better to buy quality rather than quantity which you can do as adults, but it does make it challenging for growing families
Awesome review about adjusting to buying habits from US and NZ..You have done well since being in NZ to adjust to buying what you really need than want...yea NZers adapt slowly to new trends or fads bt doesn't last long... thankful that you and your family love it since living in NZ.
@Ocean Blue...Yea she will , we're not as materialistic as the US, bt she can still buy online.. an our national game of RUGBY...we don't wear shoulderpads and helmets..just hardcore tackles bro.booyah !!
@Ocean Blue Nah ...sorry mate,US NFL players can't handle tackles like we do NZ , NFL players rely too much on the helmets to go head first , whereas we rugby guys just smash you up front coming towards you...no chance...you probably haven't played...too bad huh😁
Also American in Wellington here. We were lucky enough to buy a fixer-upper about 3 years ago, had to put 100k into it just to get it to be not cold and damp. It's awesome now, and the value has doubled, but we still need to do about another 50k of work to get it all done. It's a LOT more expensive to buy here because it's a minimum of 20% down payment.
I really like your personality and your informative videos.
Yeah the only time I was regularly buying water bottles, was when I was doing course work out in Porirua. And that was mainly, because I was walking by a supermarket each day I was on course. I swapped to glass when one of the deans gave a speech about budgeting. Where we could save money using the flitter water in the polytech cafe.
I cannot get over how expensive clothes are in nz as a plus size person with 11.5 feet!!! I miss america soooo much.
oh hun, we New Zealanders cant get over it either 😩
That's why jandals are for the big feeted people lol I'm and islander and know this struggle all too well.
Lol, I was like, you’re 11.5 feet? Geez, you’re TALL!
@@cazkiwinz4300 hahahahaa!!! No my feet, in teenage life they was super stinky
It's interesting to hear your perspective as someone who grew up here!
Aside from my bulk buying, I apparently appear to fit more to the kiwi 🥝 culture, than I do my born and raised American culture, if what you have described is correct. 🤣
Just discovered you - kia ora from Dunedin.
I watch a lot of US channels, mainly family type things, and am amazed by the amount many seem to spend buying and re-buying items to decorate their home for the upcoming season. Why? You need more storage if you're going to decorate 4 times a year, then add in the incidentals like Valentines Day, Easter, Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving and Christmas, where even more comes out - why? I really don't see the point! Must be my English-Kiwi heritage! Glad you are enjoying life at a slower pace and with less stresses! x
As American , I buy holiday items no more than 10 the first time and re-use them every year, no need to buy more every year.
Do you find that you do less impulse buying since living in NZ? Your video is very informative and your tips on where to focus purchases in NZ is great.
The price of goods cost a lot more in NZ than in the US.
Our daughter have been in NZ for about 20 years and yes there is a lots of things that it be great if we can do them here specially using the credit cards for all transactions. We visit every year except for the last two , will be visiting for the next Christmas again .
Awesome - where does your daughter live?
It’s so funny how you say we in nz have less clothes than in the USA. I have one set of drawers and only a small amount in my wardrobe and I keep thinking that I have so much clothing.
When I was growing up in NZ we had a large family so we got hand me downs and mum made our clothes. Sunday was church then roast lunch, we had made lunches for school no packaged snacks and takeaways once a week. Mum always baked and we rarely ate at restaurants - love your content
11:22 unbelievable to say but nearly 20 years ago when I was a lot younger I took some American friends to a local brewery (Monteath Brewery in Greymouth) for the tour and tasting. at the tasting one of them commented that summer beer was the sort of thing he would drink at Christmas because of the flavours, I pointed out to himthat summer is our Christmas, then the name clicked for him. So if you want a spiced beer with a Christmas feel try Monteiths Summer.
Yum my fav beer
One thing we do in nz is hang our washing out , we dont put in the dryer yes if its bad weather
For shopping, we have less in terms of quantity and variety because we are so far away from the rest of the world so freight/shipping is expensive. And this cost is passed on by the companies to the consumers so hence why goods are more expensive. Great observation points and sharing 👍👍👍
It certainly puts a curb on the spending, which is good. I just wait for the sales, haha
What about products made or grown here? We pay more for them even though they aren't being shipped around the world
@@suzannekirkwood6392 yo that's what i
Was thinking, Things made in nz are more expensive than food imported.
You are right about the TV. When my kids were babies our TV broke and I didn't get another one. I bought very few plastic toys and misc junk over the years. Best gift to give kids is your time, they really remember that. Only when they got to junior high school did they come home and ask why their friends were talking about things on TV while we didn't have one - did I finally get another. Luckily they still didn't watch it because the habit never developed. Even was beneficial to me as I wasted no time watching sports etc. Yes, I do spend too much time on TH-cam though!
I get quite anxious when I see the plastic in USA grocery hauls. I wonder if this might change in the US overtime and perhaps because NZ is much smaller we have just caught on quicker because of the cost involved in disposing and recylcing of plastic. Love this comparison between the US and NZ. Please do more!
Alex - yes as a general rule Americans are not good with the plastic and have a long way to go. Thanks for watching!
The packaged foods part is very true. I remember buying a packet of Ham, Cheese and Crackers in Hawaii which I found so odd but in a good way.
Love these videos!
Oh yayyyyyy on the ebook!
Very interesting! With your production you have perfect balance and timing with your memes and screen data! Plus your energy is compelling. Love it!👍🏻 💕. ..... and hey, you're hair's looking gorgeous - suits your personality.
This is a year old. Plastic bags are still in some grocery stores and I prefer them over the recyclable ones.
As a Brit, when you said “water jug to boil water” I laughed hard. It’s almost blinding to us when see guys from the USA making tea in the microw*ve.
Their 110VAC power supply is just no good for boiling water or even toasting bread efficiently.
Good point!!
@Liam Caffrey....I spilled my coffee when she said that....only a mere few seconds after filling it with "boiled water to from watered jug"...😆😆😆
why did you censor microwave