I can get on a benefit which I'm going to, but it's $150 a week. My rent is $114.

Altough with that amount of money you wouldn't be able to rent a toilet here, it's still too much...

Holy crap! That's roughly what I pay per month for my parking spot.

That's $114NZ though... which is still pretty cheap, yikes.

My rent is like just over $500 a week... but split between 4 people which rocks.

And yeah, hang in there Vanilla. I know the feeling... if you're still in Christchurch next July I'll come give you a big hug when I see you :)

I know. I did the conversion and that's like $85 US or something. I pay $75 just to park!

I know how much it sucks being a poor student and having to borrow to live... and if you're a student in NZ who doesn't qualify for allowance, that places you on the bottom rung of the ladder, even below the voluntary dole bludgers.

I'm in the same boat as I'm also applying for the benefit. I've secured a job but I'll be skint until I can start work in late Jan, especially as I have to pay rent over the summer. Two days ago I looked at my bank account and saw that I had 170 in funds and 220 owing on the c/c so I immediately caught a bus back home in the hope that I'd spend less here... spend less and eat better because I was sick to death of living on bloody jam sandwiches and feeling hungry all the time.

Anyway, you gotta keep on trucking - things can only get better from here :)

Utilities?

The landlord pays for water, so we just pay for gas and electricity. The bills are monthly though and they're not very much at all, so when you split it between four you don't really notice it at all. It's pretty sweet.

I'm guessing that's what you meant by utilities...

Thanks guys, I appreciate the support. I am dead keen to get a job asap. Had an interview this week however nothing to report back yet.

Although it might be expensive to live in America, what is the income differences? Here the average wage I believe is $50,000 pa.

I have been getting >14,000 pa. When you get $160 a week to pay for rent, power ($50 pp), internet (35 pp) and food ($100 pp), it certainly makes things difficult. Luckily through most of my studies I have had part time work. Just got to hang out a little bit longer!!

Move to Australia, you get paid more, loads more... when I was working at a cafe in Auckland I couldn't believe how little I got paid! So I feel your pain :( I'll let you sleep on my couch if you come here! :D

But seriously, hang in there. It'll all work out, I promise!