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Thread ID: 115740	2011-02-01 15:51:00	Going to new zealand(maybe), what should i do?	Question (15792)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1174384	2011-02-10 12:22:00	Wait a minute, for working adults, etc, how do they eat lunch? If it costs minimum $6 at a food court, doesnt that mean their lunch costs spiral quickly?	Question (15792)
1174385	2011-02-10 18:00:00	Some people make a lunch at home and take it to work with them. Costs less that way.	Snorkbox (15764)
1174386	2011-02-10 20:07:00	www.subway.co.nz mcdonalds.co.nz http://www.burgerking.co.nz/ http://www.burgerfuel.com/ :)	Trev (427)
1174387	2011-02-10 20:16:00	For the internet thing...how do i calculate the final cost then? For example, i probably wont need a standard phone line while im there, so my best option would be naked ADSL? Orcon for example lists a 25GB for $80/month naked ADSL plan...would that be the final $80/month, or are there some more "hidden" charges? If you want the $80 plan for 25GB, have to call them or check their website? But generally speaking if you are looking at all ISPs. Is connection free? Do you get given a free modem? Is there any yearly contract or can you leave when you want and are their any penalty? If you get N-ADSL you may not get a monthly discount. If you want more GBs what are the charges? You can stipulate it like if you hit 80GB there will be no more cost b/c you will be at dial-up speed. Frankly, approx between ADSL and N-ADSL there is a diff of $20/month. Standard ph line is $40, Naked ADSL cost about $20 more on the Internet bill for that priviledge .... Even if you went with N-ADSL, ph calls back to Singapore will incure data charges (most likely) so you will have less for Interneting. But I guess at that university flat you have, you can just use the main ph in the building? I assume the flat will have a ph there amongst you 4 or 6 house mates :confused: so I guess by going N-ADSL you might save $20 a month. For hidden charges you need to look at each ISP, like Xnet has a connection charge now, when I had them they didn't. They also have this $5 monthly discount (for some of them) if you put your toll dialling to your ISP (instead of Telecom directly) prob only if you have a standard ph line. Some ISPs also say you have to make a min of $X or $XX of toll calls to be eligible for a monthly discount, while some others say you no restriction, ie., you can just get the ISP to bill you instead of Telecom but you can make $0 toll calls and just use your own calling card (or in your case using the flat's ph). Some prices might be a contract for a year .. so if you are away you may still have to pay or they may delay it till you come back the following year if there is no activity. And of course you need to buy your own ADSL modem. Also, is anyone here familiar with the xnet ISP? I cant seem to find any pricing info on their site, other than "prices start at $1.28 per GB". I suggest you don't go there. Not v good at all by the mass. While the prices might be $1.28 a GB, there is also the ADSL plan charge? I guess about $40. So it's $40 then you include whatever GBs you use. They also have a connection charge when you join I think. They do N-ADSL as well but the same - they just jack the Internet price by about $20/month and call it N-ADSL. For mobile phone usage, i suppose my cheapest option for within NZ calls would be phone cards as well? If you wanna use the mobile phone look at 2 Degrees, they are the cheapest, just don't go to Singapore and roam with it (!). www.2degreesmobile.co.nz They also have contract prices too. But I assume they are not too impt for you cos the minutes and text are generally for NZ calling (not overseas).	Nomad (952)
1174388	2011-02-10 20:31:00	Wait a minute, for working adults, etc, how do they eat lunch? If it costs minimum $6 at a food court, doesnt that mean their lunch costs spiral quickly? Workmates from professional roles tend to do the following: Make a sandwich or a salad and bring to work. Or take some non-condensed soup and heat at work in the microwave and make a cup or tea/coffee that is freely available. A quality $5 packet or can. You have half of it. Have some nicely toasted bread, using the office provided toaster - but if you do the maths, this option might not the that cheap. Or they take leafovers from dinner and heat in microwave. Or they go to bakery and buy a sandwich or a pie. There are also places where you can get a rissotto, panini, roasted vegetables or whatever at a higher price of maybe $8-10. Those shops specialise in lunches. During the day they may go out and get a nice coffee for like $3.50. For dinner they cook at home and when they go out they just go out to a decent place and pay like $25 per person not incl drinks. Maybe from $16 if you want something simpler. http://www.lonestar.co.nz/ Foodcourts might be a more casual thing in the weekends (for lunch?)	Nomad (952)
1174389	2011-02-11 00:14:00	Use your mobile phone to call / text people in NZ. 2 Degrees is cheapest, they are on the similar network as Vodafone but Vodafone is more $$. Telecom is an option but the handsets tend to suit more the American market than the Singapore market. But not saying it won't work if you must.... For calling Singapore, just use those Asian calling cards, nothing can be cheaper, other than maybe putting money into a Skype account and call from that. But then you use up data as well. Isn't it like 2c or 4c a minute :confused: We call HKG and Canada and use those cards .... With your mobile phone: If you wanna call Singapore it cost 44c a minute and 9c for one text message. If you are calling Singapore landlanes it is 22c a minute provided you make a top up to your prepay account every month so it's active. If you gonna use the phone a lot to call NZ, you can consider their contract plans which might give you a better package but the international rates are the same. 44c to Singapore mobiles, 22c to Singapore landlines, 9c for text message.	Nomad (952)
1174390	2011-02-11 00:28:00	But then again 44c calling SG on the hand phone is not bad really ... when you consider local NZ calling on mobile phones cost about 44c as well. I think 2 Degrees special deal is if you make a top up in that month you get half price calling so 22c (to NZ or overseas landlines). Consider yourself lucky before a minute to SG used to be like $2.00. Even local NZ dialling was like 89c or something ... The plans you can have a look at ... but generally the cheaper ones are not that well off, they may give you some free text messages and if you use all your free mins if you use more you are billed at a reduced rate. If you want a better deal you do have to get a higher plan so you do get more included mins for your monthly price. All the international students pretty much just go with prepay. One was silly enough to roam in NZ with SingTel - yeah don't ask me why :D She was in NZ for like 2 or 3yrs like that so the parents got the bill.	Nomad (952)
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