Job Discussion Forums

[kanjizai]

Im looking for an idea of how much people spent their first month in Japan and what they bought. I think that I can get away with spending only 1,000 the first month and avoid the Nova loan. what do you think?

[Laura C]

People will tell you that you need to bring thousands of dollars. But you can get away with less if circumstances are favourable. I spent 400 UK pounds my first month -- I had to wait 2 months for payday and 800 pounds was all I could borrow before coming out.

Saying that, I was living in company accommodation and they didn't charge me for rent until my first paycheque came in. And I only bought a cellphone a couple of weeks ago (been here just over 3 months now). But I didn't starve, didn't live only on ramen, had beers on weekends and managed a couple of trips to Tokyo. I did buy myself an occasional treat too, like clothes or cosmetics.

If you're with Nova I assume you won't need key money or deposit for your apartment. So if you do have to pay rent upfront you could take a loan just to cover that. You'd then be in roughly the same position as I was (I'm assuming you're talking about U.S. dollars??), and I was fine.

Bottom line -- you won't have loads of fun on 1000 dollars, but you will be able to manage. People who say to bring 4-5000 are usually talking about complete set-up costs like key money, rent deposit, cellphone, eating out etc. I always think the start up costs of coming to Japan are exaggerated. All my colleagues came out with around the same amount you have and we were all OK.

Good luck,

L

[Glenski]

My first month was ages ago, so you'll pardon me if I don't recall.

On an average rent of 50,000 to 80,000 yen/month, and groceries of about 30,000 yen/month, plus phone (3500-8000), health insurance (2500 - 7500), utilities (15,000-20,000), you are looking at a rough figure of...
101,000 to 145,000 yen for one month.

Convert that to any foreign currency you like, depending on the exchange rate that day. I'm guessing that the original poster meant US$1000 (gee, I wish people would specify these things!). At the current exchange rate (which will be different tomorrow, by the way), these rough figures amount to US$944 to US$1355. And, these are just bare bones basic necessities, so if you want to figure long distance phone calls, film costs and developing, sightseeing, emergency medical care not covered under your insurance, books/magazines, video rentals, movies, museums, or nightlife (which will run you 30,000 to 50,000 per month on a very conservative estimate), etc., then you are way over that thousand bucks.

[azarashi sushi]

You should ask your employer exactly when your first pay will be. It's likely to be at least six weeks from when you start. Also ask them if you will be required to pay your first month's rent upfront. This will obviously make a big difference.

If you don't have to pay the rent upfront, and you're desperate, you can scrape by with quite little. You can get by without a mobile phone and you won't have to pay any utilities in your first month.

More is obviously better but you can do it on $1000 .

[Laura C]

[quote="Glenski"]if you want to figure long distance phone calls, film costs and developing, sightseeing, emergency medical care not covered under your insurance, books/magazines, video rentals, movies, museums, or nightlife (which will run you 30,000 to 50,000 per month on a very conservative estimate), etc., then you are way over that thousand bucks.[/quote]

That's my point. A lot of people come to Japan and don't do stuff like that until the first paycheque comes in. Surely it's a bit of a luxury to go clubibng, deveklop films etc before getitng paid? In those circumstances of course you are going to spend a lot more.

Btw, I got by on 16-20,000 per month for food easily.

L

[Glenski]

Laura,
That amounts to about 4000-5000 yen/week for food. I have been able to do that on occasion, too, but it takes a great deal of effort to find the sales, learn what sale days are, and choose good quality foods. As described earlier on the "cheapskates" thread, one way to save on food is to go at closing time when they mark down the meats, fish, and produce, but that is not always an option. You said you didn't always eat ramen; what did you do to live on that amount?

As for me, I froze away large meals that I would cook on weekends, pack my own lunch instead of buying a bento at Lawson, buy sale goods when I could, etc. Being a meat eater, that really takes a lot of money from my food budget.

[Laura C]

Hi Glenski,

I didn't usually buy stuff on sales days, just shopped at my local supermarket. Rice and noodles are always cheap, then I bought veggies from the cheap local shop and usually made stirfries with chicken (about 130 yen for a chicken fillet). I would spend about 3000 yen on the weekly grocery shop, and get things like chicken, squid, curry, cereal, butter, eggs, rice, udon, tea...enough to make a meal every evening when I got home and sandwiches or toast for breakfast and lunch. The other 2000 or so would be for bread and milk during the week and a few beers at weekends. Since I've been on full pay I've been living in luxury and having beef, decent coffee and all the goodies I like, but I really was OK on that 4-5000 a week. I only had 10,000 a week to live on for the first two months.

I agree that us carnivores find it more difficult. But I've been a student for years so am used to living on tuna...

L

[parrothead]

An added thing to consider is your geographic location in Japan. Where will you be living? Kyushu is inexpensive compared to other parts of Japan. $600 USD was all I needed in Eastern Kyushu to get by for 6 weeks, which was when my first paycheck arrived. Obviously, I didn't live like a king, but I didn't live like a pauper either. I ate ramen only because I wanted to, I went out for drinks a handful of times, and even took a few day trips to nearby towns. Bringing more funds would be wise, but Y60,000 goes a long way down here.

[kanjizai]

thanks everyone for the posts

[LA Galaxy]

When I first came to Japan in 1999 I had only 400 bucks. I brought along some food from the states, alcohol, and all the neccesities. Needless to say, the 400 bucks didnt last long. I probably spent 10,000 yes going out one night and using a taxi. My rent was automatically deducted. I used my credit card a few times. I was really broke. I would say to bring a 1,000 dollars besides the rent for the first month just to feel comfortable. I think 700 US dollars is doable. Why bring only 400-500 and take a chance. Of course once you start getting paid and know your way around, you can have a firm budget. I spent 50,000 yen for food and entertainment per month and I went out a few times a month and drank a lot as well. For the first month in Japan you will want to go on short trips, go out at night, and explore. With a tight budget it is nearly impossible.

[J.]

It's pretty usual to have to wait 6 weeks to get the first pay and but often there are a bunch of upfront charges that some of the schools try to make you pay, and if you are unfamiliar with Japan you may feel you have no choice. (They may be deferred until your first pay if you ask.) For example, my boss not only charged me for the first month's rent but made me pay the previous month's gas and water bills which I thought at the time were a deposit. Then of course you will be charged the next month's gas and water and electricity before you get your paycheck. If you are using the air-conditioning or heater these can be over 10, 000 yen. Also I had to finance a trip to Korea to get a visa ( I know, stupid) out of my pocket, pay airfare ( from eastern Canada) and settle up apartment bills back home, and buy clothes for the job. They also transferred me from one city to another after the training week and I had no English speaking support, or very little, for about 3 months and a heavy work schedule. I remember I was eating plain spaghetti and hot chocolate mix only for the last two weeks of that period and that was with an "advance" of about 10,000 yen that my office staff took pity on me and gave me, probably out of their own pockets. I wasn't a spendthrift by any means. My advice is to be prepared, as much as possible, and good luck. Oh yeah, my ex-boss surprised me with a reduced salary for the first month of "training" and I was so naive at the time I didn't know about the visa requirements. I would recommend you get all the visa requirements settled at home and don't come without the stamp in your passport even if they try to pressure you to do that. Mine was a bad situation all around and too much stress while trying to concentrate on teaching.