Money & Migration: Income, Survival & Finding Stability Ep1

By Brett Corlett | Soft Landing

Introduction

Moving to New Zealand is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make emotionally, practically, and financially.

In this first episode of our 7-part Immigration Finances Series, I sit down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack a question every immigrant asks:

👉 “Will we actually survive financially in New Zealand?”

Whether you’re planning your move, already onshore, or navigating your first couple of years, this episode gives you clear, practical, lived-experience guidance to help you understand income, expenses, and the reality of starting over in NZ.

Why This Series Matters

If you’ve followed my family’s journey, you’ll know I’ve been very open about:

the emotional load
the loneliness
the financial pressure
and the challenges of settling in NZ

Money is one of the biggest stressors for immigrants and often the biggest unknown.

That’s exactly why Ivandee and I created this series:
To guide you through the financial lifecycle of an immigrant, using my real family situation as the example.

Episode 1 starts exactly where every migrant begins:

📌 Your income, your cost of living, and whether the numbers actually work.

What You’ll Learn in Episode 1

1. Real Income Breakdown for New Migrants

In this episode, we break down:

My first salary in NZ
What your actual take-home pay looks like
How PAYE tax really works
Why many new migrants cannot join KiwiSaver immediately
What income levels realistically support a family

Tools Mentioned

PAYE Calculator: https://www.paye.net.nz/calculator/
Fast Connect (utilities setup): https://www.fastconnect.co.nz/

2. The REAL Cost of Living in New Zealand (Family of Four)

We unpack the major expenses most migrants underestimate:

Weekly / Monthly Costs

Groceries
Power & WiFi
Rent (weekly, not monthly!)
Petrol / transport
School donations
ECE / daycare
Insurance
Clothing & essentials
The true cost of buying a car

This episode uses my own real situation as a case study:

Arriving with one income
Surviving the tight first year
When my spouse was able to work
How that changed our budget
How we prepared for buying a home later on

3. Budget Scenarios — One Income vs Two Incomes

Ivandee breaks down:

What a realistic first-year budget looks like
How quickly things change once both partners work
Typical surplus ranges
What financial habits help the most
Early steps toward home ownership

The goal?
To give you accuracy, confidence, and peace of mind.

The Purpose of the Full 7-Episode Series

By the end of all 7 episodes, you’ll understand your entire financial journey as a migrant:

1️⃣ Income & Budgeting
2️⃣ Insurance
3️⃣ Last will and testament
4️⃣ Investments
5️⃣ Kiwisaver
6️⃣ Mortgages
7️⃣ Retirement Planning

Everything is explained simply, honestly, and using real-life examples.

🎧 Watch the full conversation on YouTube:

Get Personalised Support

If you want guidance or direct introductions to trusted partners (immigration advisers, financial specialists, legal, or wellbeing and support):

👉 Share your details here
https://forms.gle/DhzeGRL4cLF1egs68

I’ll personally connect you to the right person based on where you are in your journey.

📢 Stay Connected

I’d love your help.
The Inner Circle App is coming soon — a free space for migrants to connect, learn, and belong in New Zealand. We’d love your input! Help us shape it so it truly supports your needs.

https://forms.gle/FuTEd7cMwv7jzSK56

Follow my Soft Landing podcast and subscribe to my YouTube channel @softlandingnz for real stories, walkthroughs, and practical tips for newcomers to New Zealand.
📍 All links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz

Soft Landing NZ

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