US Trip: Shopping List
One of the constant complaints about New Zealand is the lack of choice, and part of being an expat is missing items from home. While just about everything is obtainable here, there are a few things that have proven elusive or ridiculously expensive to import. For this first trip back to the US since moving to New Zealand, I came up with a very odd assortment of things on my shopping list.
Salsa - Yes, there’s salsa in New Zealand, but there’s nothing compared to the selection in Texas. I don’t even want fancy salsa. Central Market’s will do!
Risotto - This is a staple in our pantry, and I have yet to find anything as wonderful as Cucina Viva’s risotto in New Zealand. It comes in four flavors, and I love them all.
Scan Pan QTC - There are tons of Scan Pans (and other cookware options) in New Zealand, but not the QTC type I like so much. My old pans are wearing out, so I’ll get some new ones in the States.
Anthropologie - This is one store that has no Kiwi equivalent and has inconsistent enough sizing that I won’t order online - despite it being a part of the Airpoints mall. I was really looking forward to spending an hour or two here.
Éminence Rosehip Whip Moisturizer - I love this stuff, but I haven’t found Éminence anywhere in New Zealand, and even Amazon is out of it half the time. Fortunately, there are plenty of day spas back in Texas that carry it.
New Sheets - Fun fact: beds are not the same size everywhere. This makes finding California King sheets for a US bed an impossible task in New Zealand. Brooklinen used to offer free international shipping, but not anymore. I planned on looking for a ubiquitous Bed, Bath & Beyond* 20% off coupon to get a new set of sheets while in Texas.
Kids’ Clothing - There isn’t much choice in New Zealand for affordable, quality kids’ clothing. Clothing options are either cheap and poorly made or designer and over the top (IMHO) for everyday wear. Travelling after Christmas means hitting up all of the end-of-season and end-of-year sales for the next season’s wardrobe for the kids. Specifically, I wanted to hit up Tea Collection, GAP Kids, and Hanna Andersson. Side note: a big change for me has been cutting back on buying kids’ clothes in New Zealand. We just don’t need much since kids wear uniforms to school.
Ribbon - This is a silly one, but all of the ribbon I’ve found in New Zealand is ridiculously expensive. I used to go to Michael’s and stock up on relatively inexpensive (79¢ per roll) ribbon. This is one of the items that seems strange to bring back from the US, but it has become oddly important to me.
Grey Velvet Hangers - For some unknown reason, grey velvet hangers are very hit or miss in New Zealand. The Storage Box, Briscoes, and Kmart only have black ones. The Warehouse is the only place I’ve found them, but only on occasion, and I can’t specify which color hanger I want if I order online. It is truly bizarre. Fortunately, Amazon stocks them and I can bring them back without having to pay the ridiculous shipping costs for this admittedly bulky purchase. (Seriously - NZ$69 for shipping!)
Totally Unnecessary Luxury Purchases - The 15% GST in New Zealand bumps up the price of everything, so I saved my totally unnecessary luxury purchases - aka my Christmas present - for our trip back to the States. If you’ve read my Customs & Duties post, you’ll understand why it doesn’t make sense to order something pricey and unavailable in New Zealand online.
If you’ve moved, what are the items on your shopping list? If you haven’t moved yet, what items are you stocking up on because they remind you of home? It’s fascinating how everyone’s preferences and favorites are different.
* There is another chain of stores called Bed Bath & Beyond in New Zealand. They are NOT the same brand.
