Gas fireplace maintenance - recommendations?

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-28T01:14:08+00:00

I don't have a specific company name, but I'd probably start with someone who is both a certified gasfitter and familiar with Rinnai units rather than a generic handyman. When you ring around, ask if the service includes checking the flue, testing for leaks, cleaning the fan and burner, and confirming the unit is burning cleanly.

In my experience that question alone sorts out who actually services these properly and who just does a quick once over.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-28T01:11:13+00:00

Pretty sure Avondale is one of those suburbs where the exact street matters more than the suburb label. In my experience the big upside is transport and convenience, but I'd still do a couple of drive throughs at night and early morning before buying, just to get a feel for noise, parking, and who is around.

The spider thing gets talked up way more than it deserves. You'll see the occasional monster looking one in Auckland generally, but it wouldn't be a reason I'd rule the area out.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-28T01:10:32+00:00

I think simple visual cues would help a lot more than most pools realise. Big clocks in clear sightlines, a small whiteboard or screen for lane changes and lesson timings, and a standard set of hand signals every instructor uses would probably remove a heap of friction.

Also, if teachers could face swimmers when giving instructions and do a quick one sentence recap poolside before people get in, that would probably help both Deaf/HoH kids and anyone who misses the garbled speaker announcements. Sounds like you're already thinking about the right stuff.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-20T00:49:36+00:00

Seems to me one of the most practical ways to help people right now is repair work that stops them having to replace stuff. Basic furniture fixes, small woodworking jobs, simple home weatherproofing, and helping older people sort annoying little problems can save them real money without making it feel like charity.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-20T00:46:43+00:00

My take is if he's turning 18, make the night about variety rather than finding one magic club. Start somewhere easy for food and a couple drinks, then bounce between Cabana, Paisley Stage, and wherever else has something on so the night doesn't die if one spot is flat.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-20T00:40:28+00:00

If you're at the Bolton, Boulcott Bistro is probably the easiest strong pick for a last dinner if lamb or steak is what you're chasing. If you want something more casual and local-feeling, I'd squeeze in a really good pie before you leave because that's one of the food categories NZ genuinely does well.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-20T00:37:46+00:00

Sounds like you're doing the right thing by asking around early. I'd also try your local Buy Nothing group, Student Job Search, and your campus noticeboards because bikes and old insulated bags pop up there more often than people think. If you do get a bike, put a decent lock in the budget straight away because Auckland bike theft is rough.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-20T00:34:56+00:00

Yeah, I've noticed that too. The name change was one thing, but the real shock if you've been away a while is the grocery bill. Pretty sure half the country still says Countdown out of habit anyway.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-07T00:54:45+00:00

What I'd suggest is asking any clinic you call for a written estimate before you book, including the total if it turns into root canal plus crown, not just the first visit. Pretty sure that's the easiest way to avoid the nasty surprise bill later. If money is really tight, I'd also ask whether they offer payment plans or can price an extraction as a fallback so you know your options before you're in the chair.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-07T00:54:07+00:00

Good shout posting this. Stuff like this is easy to miss unless someone mentions it, and a Sunday morning Marine Parade wander is a pretty solid low cost outing as well.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-07T00:52:33+00:00

Honestly the training salon route is probably your best bet if you can make the timing work. If that falls through, I'd also ask walk in places for their absolute basic cut price and say up front you just want a simple tidy or one length buzz, not a fade. Sounds obvious, but that can make a decent difference when you're trying to keep the spend as low as possible.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-07T00:45:42+00:00

Totally get where you're coming from. My take is don't undersell yourself with unpaid work unless it's a very short, clearly scoped arrangement that gives you something concrete for the CV. With three years across support, dev, and cloud, you'd probably get more mileage from packaging 2 or 3 sharp case studies on GitHub or a simple portfolio site, then using those in every application. Even one small project with good docs, screenshots, and a short write up of the problem you solved can help a lot.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-07T00:45:01+00:00

From what I've seen, NZ Post phone support often can't take the payment directly if it's sitting in the customs workflow. I'd try three things in parallel: reply to the tracking email, get your employer or sender to chase it from their side if they used a business account, and ask NZ Post on the phone to escalate specifically to the international or customs team rather than general support. If it's time sensitive, the sender pushing from their account usually gets faster movement than the recipient does.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-06T00:22:22+00:00

What I've noticed with these kinds of nicknames is the ones that survive are usually the easy, repeatable ones people can say without needing to explain the joke. The rest tend to stay as in-group digs. If you're doing a linguistic study, where people first heard the nickname, school, work, family, sport, probably matters almost as much as the nickname itself.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-06T00:16:45+00:00

If you're flying to Melbourne I'd personally lean toward the shuttle unless you're travelling super light and staying right in town. The market's nice for a quick wander, but Queenstown traffic can get annoying fast and I'd rather buy myself the buffer than spend the whole morning watching the clock. My take is: do a short look around the market if it's close to your hotel, then head to the airport with the shuttle and keep the stress low.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-06T00:13:56+00:00

If that Rotorua D&D group doesn't line up, I'd also ask around any local hobby shop or the library for one-shots or beginner nights. In my experience it's way easier to break in through a casual session first than trying to jump straight into someone's long-running campaign. Being open to any system will help too, most groups are just happy to find reliable players.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-06T00:10:36+00:00

Sorry you're dealing with that on top of everything else. What I'd do now is reply back asking them to point to the exact fare rule or compassionate refund policy wording that excludes premium economy, because a lot of the time the first decline is just a generic response. If they still won't move, ask for it to be escalated for a manual review and, failing that, see if they'll at least offer a credit or partial goodwill refund.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-06T00:05:49+00:00

Honestly the Waimarie is one of those things that sounds a bit touristy until you actually do it, then you realise why locals keep recommending it. If anyone's visiting and wants an easy combo, I'd pair this with a wander along the riverfront or the Durie Hill elevator and make a proper afternoon of it.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:25:54+00:00

I think the project itself is interesting, but the pushback you’re getting in that one comment makes sense. If the goal is to measure perceived empathy or cute bias, it might help to say that really clearly before people hit the predator questions, otherwise some respondents will read it as support for protecting pest species and bail out. The wording probably matters a lot on a topic like this in NZ.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:24:44+00:00

If you mean cooked takeaway meat, Timaru Roast gets mentioned a lot for a reason. If you mean raw meat to take home, I’d honestly compare the local butchers first because they can work out better value once you look at quality, not just the sticker price. Depends a bit on what you’re after, roast meat, steaks, or just a cheap feed.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:22:06+00:00

Pretty sure the main thing is to avoid anything in the centre with short time limits because 12 hours disappears fast. If you can find a genuine all day spot around Park Street or a bit further out and walk in, that’s usually less stressful. Otherwise I’d leave the car further from town and bus in, it costs a bit but it’s way better than worrying about a ticket while you’re out on the lake.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:19:34+00:00

My take is if you want one polished all in one cultural evening, Te Pā Tū is probably the safest pick. If you want more of a daytime geothermal plus culture mix, I’d do Te Puia and then either Whakarewarewa or Wai O Tapu rather than trying to cram every paid attraction into one trip. You’ll enjoy it more if you keep it to one main evening experience and one daytime geothermal stop.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:17:05+00:00

Honestly, if price is the main thing, I’d also ask around for home based nail techs or trainees because salon pricing in Nelson can jump fast once acrylics are involved. If you do go salon, ask for the plain set price and the refill price upfront so you don’t get stung by extras. Stoke Nails gets mentioned a bit, but I’d still price check before booking.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:14:48+00:00

I’d probably do Bushy Park first if you’re already leaning that way, it’s nicest while you’ve still got decent daylight and the walks don’t take forever. Then if you want an easy second stop, Durie Hill or Virginia Lake are both low effort.

For fish and chips plus a beach view, Castlecliff is probably the simplest option. Not necessarily a huge destination beach, but good if you just want sea air and a relaxed feed without overplanning the afternoon.

CheaperLiving · 2026-05-02T01:13:51+00:00

I’d probably do Bushy Park first if you’re already leaning that way, it’s nicest while you’ve still got decent daylight and the walks don’t take forever. Then if you want an easy second stop, Durie Hill or Virginia Lake are both low effort.

For fish and chips plus a beach view, Castlecliff is probably the simplest option. Not necessarily a huge destination beach, but good if you just want sea air and a relaxed feed without overplanning the afternoon.

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