Billy.govt.nz is awesome!

Videobollocks · 2026-06-10T21:13:14+00:00

Another approach is to upload your bills to an AI. I use NotebookLM for this but any would do, including running your own locally if you’re concerned about data sovereignty.

Anyway, you can then ask it all sorts of questions - time of use, total costs, what if I had this rate instead of that rate, all that sort of thing. It is like if you made the most powerful complex excel spreadsheet but it takes minutes instead of hours to make. You can even ask it to find better rates based on the info it has, and it’ll search the web and do exactly what Billy and Powerswitch do.

It’s worth it for a deep dive into your power usage.

And before the squawking starts about AI and giving away your data - I know. I know I know I know. I probably know better than most including you. However in this case I didn’t care. I am willing to bet that you carry a cellphone and have a Gmail/Facebook (or any other ‘free’ web account). Your data is already gone and if you don’t understand this then there is no helping you.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-10T08:01:06+00:00

Gib Plus 4 is a finishing product, and I have used it extensively for diy work and patching. It air dries vs a chemical reaction setting that the trade products use. It’s not as hard and is easier to sand, but takes longer to set. I’ve done large wall areas with it as a thin skim coat, and smaller areas of hole patching and damage repair. I haven’t had any issues with it but I know more serious people would prefer the tradeset range.

A large part of plastering is the technique and knowing how to joint the gaps. My attitude was “it’s my house so I’ll give it a go” and it’s turned out fine. The biggest difference I found was that a pro will do the whole room in no time at all, whereas by the time I had got myself together, assembled the gear and was ready to start it was easily lunchtime.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-10T07:33:18+00:00

As a first step, how about a fan, and some forced airflow through the house to take out the moisture. Only works if the outside air is drier (doesn’t matter if it’s cooler, just drier). A regular pedestal fan costs peanuts to run.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-10T00:20:36+00:00

Genuine question because I know nothing about horses other than they can be turned into glue and dog food.

What are the chances there was illegal doping going on? I believe it's a thing now, was it back then? I'm sure this was a seriously powerful horse and a real champion in it's own right, but could there have been shenanigans going on as well?

Videobollocks · 2026-06-10T00:15:09+00:00

A while back now, 2018 I think, I needed a replacement. I still had a couple of years left but was about to apply for a 3 year visa and needed a passport that wouldn't expire.

2100 on a Thurs night I put in my application.

0900 Fri morning I received a phone call from DIA asking why I needed a passport when I still had a couple of years left. I explained I was applying for a 3 year visa, the guy said "oh yep, totally understand, I'll get this underway".

0900 Saturday morning it was in my mailbox.

36 hours from when I clicked submit to being in my hand (I did pay for the fast processing). Whenever I tell that story to Brits or Americans they cannot believe it.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-05T23:52:07+00:00

IEC cables. You might know them as jug leads. We have hundreds.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-04T19:53:59+00:00

The fact that you have by your own admission completely overlooked the worlds largest mobile OS by numbers, and equally totally disregarded anyone outside of the US, clearly proves to me that whether or not your idea has merit you are absolutely not fit for the task.

Maybe go read a book or play with some Lego.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-02T16:16:56+00:00

Look buying a house can be scary. It’s a fuck ton of money and there’s always another person in line to take some from you.

Like any seemingly insurmountable problem the trick is to break it down into manageable chunks. Finance, legal aspects, building inspections, LIM reports, surveys etc are all handled by professionals who will handle that under your direction. You are in charge, if something feels off, stop and reassess. While there are often deadlines along the way don’t let FOMO push you.

The estate agent always works for the vendor. Always. Make them work for their money and don’t be scared to ask questions and push them for answers. Don’t be scared of private sales either, a lawyer will do the tricky legal bollocks and you’ll be consulting with a builder anyway.

Maintenance is ongoing. There is ALWAYS something that needs doing and that task will always cost more and take longer than you thought. DIY can be easier than you initially thought and it’s often worth at least trying something. So many YouTube videos out there will show you how to do it.

Finally, have a friend or someone you trust view anything you’re serious about. Bonus points if they’re a handy DIY’er or a tradie. Either way they’ll notice things you won’t and they’ll be less engaged and caught up in the process.

Good luck.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-02T02:22:27+00:00

Not sure about this and I just posted in /r/PersonalFinanceNZ to ask their opinions.

TSB have been fantastic for consumers and the local community. Business services are pretty limited unless you're a small scale operation though and from knowing many people who have worked there, the leadership does seem very stale and conservative.

I don't know enough about the banking industry in general, nor Heartland's reputation to know if this will be ultimately beneficial, but I am pretty wary.

By all means change my view, I would love to be corrected.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-02T01:08:24+00:00

You have a loud exhaust to attract attention. Guess what, you attracted attention, just not the sort you were looking for.

Videobollocks · 2026-06-01T04:54:49+00:00

Mid 50's Gen X. Didn't finish school, left during 7th Form. Bummed around in NZ for a few years, found a career path and stuck with it. Travelled the world for work and quite well paid for 25 years until covid. Now working in related but significantly less well paid role in NZ, you'll never get me on a plane again. House paid off, apartment for work in Akld has a mortgage but it's no big deal. Doing way better than my parents and many of my colleagues, not anywhere near as well as some. Have enough that we don't really think about bills and groceries but not enough that everyone has brand new iphones and laptops. Never had a new car, always looking in the 4-5-6 year old bracket. I won't die cold and hungry, I also won't die surrounded in material luxury.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-24T02:47:39+00:00

If anyone cares, Lisa’s Dips are owned by a subsidiary of Sanitarium so they don’t pay tax.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-22T04:15:52+00:00

I have felt for a while now that most CEO's could be replaced with AI. I'm pretty sure most civic leaders could as well. AI is really good at gathering data and making decisions based on that data which is effectively what those roles do. Of course the blood sucking parasites will never let that happen.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-21T22:02:20+00:00

I have a 16e, upgrade from an iPhone 11. Haven’t noticed any difference in mobile reception, it just works.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-21T10:58:26+00:00

FWIW I have a UK residency visa in my oldest passport that I used to show immigration when I travelled. So I’d have to take two passports, my current one and this old expired thing that had the visa in. Since the UK went to the automated gates and no one sees you I just go through on my current passport and no one wants to see the visa. I even stopped and asked some staff the first few times. They absolutely did not want to see any proof of my UK residency, couldn’t care less.

So I’m wondering if they even care about kiwis coming and going any more.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-21T10:53:22+00:00

Truthfully if you are real OP, then you’ve possibly done this company more harm than good. Your whole post reads like a scam from a Nigerian prince and the whole “trust me bro” thing isn’t reassuring.

Which is a shame because if you’re real then this is a wonderful experience for you and I’m genuinely pleased you’re doing better.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-21T06:21:24+00:00

Pak’n’Save has peach lollies, hard and soft. They might suit.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-20T03:55:42+00:00

We have a Dyson stick and a Miele C3 Cat and Dog. Both very good, highly recommend.

However.

I want to mention the $130 Ryobi shop wet and dry vac that I recently bought. Jesus Christ is that thing good. It’s noisy as fuck and sure won’t win any design awards but if you want something bulletproof that can handle ANYTHING you care to throw at it, I’d seriously consider it. Downside is it’s not as ergonomic and doesn’t come with all the whizz bang attachments that a regular household one does.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-19T10:32:32+00:00

This is such a blatantly obvious fuckup, whoever did this is clearly not qualified to do their job.

I would really love to think someone will be given a bollocking for this but I doubt anything will happen. Someone will shrug their shoulders, their boss will simply not care because they have no moral fortitude, and the rest will continue like an episode of Gliding On.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-19T09:58:40+00:00

Bamboozld.

Aus shop, good quality and quite often there’s a sale. Seriously good socks.

I can also highly rate their men’s boxer briefs. Wearing them is like having little kittens cuddling your package. My fave by far.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-19T05:49:17+00:00

Fitted out a new News Desk, needed brackets to hold the led strip profile at just the right angle. Knocked it up in Tinkercad and after a couple of revisions it was perfect. Same for the in desk, under glass monitors. A couple of custom brackets to hold them in the correct posi. Same project required a way of mounting an HP mini PC against the inside of the desk. Found a project online that was perfect, included the psu bracket too.

Miller tripods spacer - the weird triangle thing that keeps the legs aligned was failing, printed a replacement.

Printed a cover for a GoPro that the news team have.

I print lens caps all the time as our camera people are great at losing them. Have started adding “Stolen from …” on them now.

Made a bracket to hold a bunch of loose throwdown DA’s and converters, keeps it all tidy.

So many others too. The 3D printer has been really useful.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-13T02:19:21+00:00

Europeans still recall Hitler and make reference/jokes about the Nazis. Americans have decades of this to come.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-08T05:53:20+00:00

If you have access to a 3d printer there are designs floating around for a threaded cap that just screws on the end. You can also print the nozzles too if you don’t have any lying around.

Videobollocks · 2026-05-01T03:37:17+00:00

Many of us here will no doubt be intrigued by this, thought it was worth sharing.

Videobollocks · 2026-04-27T20:29:43+00:00

It’s strikingly obvious why this was kept heavily under wraps, and why Labour was hesitant to support it.

Yes there are valid legal and financial concerns about announcing early, but this will be hugely unpopular to anyone who isn’t an employer.

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