Reducing Household Expenses
Managing a household can be expensive and this section outlines some helpful strategies and support that could be available for you.
Reducing Electricity Costs
Some tips to keep your house warm while saving money: Let the sunlight in. Block or plug any openings to the outside, especially in winter (if a door does not fit right in its housing, consider using a spare towel or blanket to block the gap while you wait for the landlord to fix the issue). Close the curtains in the evenings, after the sun goes down. Open doors and windows at least once a day if you can, for about 15 minutes to let the warmth in. This can help reduce the moisture level inside your home. You can also use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, and consider drying laundry outdoors. Shorter showers can noticeably reduce your power bill. About 30% of your electricity bill is used in heating the hot water tank.
Compare different electricity companies:
There is a website specifically devoted to comparing prices of different electricity companies: www.powerswitch.org.nz
If you have a Community Services Card, you may be able to use the Wellington Curtain Bank, which provides free curtains for your windows. For more information, call 0508 78 7824 (extension 705), or email curtainbank@sustaintrust.org.nz.
Reducing the Costs of Broadband Internet
Skinny Jump is a subsidised, low-cost broadband (WiFi) service designed to help connect families or individuals to the world through the internet. Internet access can be critical for functioning in many areas of life, but the cost of maintaining an internet connection can pose problems for people in some circumstances. If any of the following describes you, then you may qualify for subsidised internet access through Skinny Jump:
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Family with children.
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Job seeker.
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Senior (older adult).
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Affected by a disability.
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Refugee or migrant community member.
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Living in social housing.
This is not an exhaustive list of who may qualify. To find out for sure whether you are eligible for this service, you can chat to one of Skinny Jump's local representatives.
Please note that this service is limited to a data usage of up to 150GB per month. Activities such as online games and video streaming can make you use data very quickly, and this service is not appropriate for those types of activities. If applying for this service, you will want to find out if Skinny Jump has network coverage in the area where you live. To check if your address is included in the Jump connection area, visit: www.skinny.co.nz/jump/home/#availability
You can use the same link to find the closest place where you can apply for this service, and schedule an appointment to speak to a representative. They will help you register with the company and create an account, and will supply you with a modem (this should be free). The service works based by allowing you to purchase 30GB increments of data. Each 30GB costs $5 (no contracts or credit check will be required), and each account is limited to five increments per month (a total of 150GB of data). If you run out of data and have not exceeded the monthly cap, simply top up when you need to, in the same way that you might top up a mobile phone on a pay-as-you-go plan. Top-up vouchers can usually be purchased at any dairy, supermarket or petrol station in New Zealand.
Once the voucher has been purchased, you must log in to your account. A window will open, where you must click on the TOP-UP icon. Your Skinny Broadband number should be displayed automatically. If it is not displayed, you can type it manually (it is the number that is on the sticker of your modem). Next, click on the WITH A VOUCHER button, and write the 12-digit number that appears on your voucher. Then, press PROCEED. Finally, select $5 PLAN and RENEW. Once you have completed these steps, your modem should be ready to use for 30GB worth of data. Even if you have used all your data, you can still enter the website and renew your plan. If you need help at any stage, contact a Skinny Jump representative. If you are subscribed to the service and wish to cancel it, call 0800 475 4669.
