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Red1
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject: Flying to Osaka |
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I just received an email last night letting me know that I will be most likely being flying into Osaka on June 1. I know that the subject of money has pretty much been discussed to death here, but I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly. The company advises that I should bring about US $1,200.00 with me and I have the option of a salary advance in that amount also. I wasn't expecting to leave so quickly and there is no way that I can come up with that kind of cash. I do not have to get my own apartment. It seems to me that people believe that if you live frugally it is possible to start up with less than this. Is this a correct assumption or should I start selling off my stuff  Sorry to beat a dead horse with the $ topic, but any advice would be much appreciated  |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: Flying to Osaka |
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| Red1 wrote: |
| I just received an email last night letting me know that I will be most likely being flying into Osaka on June 1. I know that the subject of money has pretty much been discussed to death here, but I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly. The company advises that I should bring about US $1,200.00 with me and I have the option of a salary advance in that amount also. I wasn't expecting to leave so quickly and there is no way that I can come up with that kind of cash. I do not have to get my own apartment. It seems to me that people believe that if you live frugally it is possible to start up with less than this. Is this a correct assumption or should I start selling off my stuff Sorry to beat a dead horse with the $ topic, but any advice would be much appreciated |
1200 is extremely low. Most companies/schools suggest numbers 4 times this.
What is the name of this place in osaka?
If you dont have to pay ANYTHING for an apartment (rent, utilities, cleanign stuf, linens, etc) then 1200 might be a tight stretch. Rent can be from 500-1500 a month depending on where and size etc. Utilities for a single person in spring should be nominal. say 100-200 total if that. Summer and winter months its much higher.
Lets assume you would do a little bit of cooking but as well eb buying store bought prepackaged meals or eating out some. Assume you eat just two meals a day and that the overall(after factoring eating in and out) that you'd eat at 500 yen per meal or 1000 yen a day(this is a low estimate), then for 30 days thats 300 bucks right there. 450 If you eat 3 meals a day.
Assume that you are first required to pay for train fare and later are reimbursed when you get your first paycheck. This will also need to be budgeted. Can't tell you how much that will cost but a couple hundred bucks is norm per month for many of us.
Now if after you land its gonna be only 1 month until your first paycheck and you do not have the expenses mentioned, then yes 1200 could be manageable. If however it has to be stretched longer til your first one, then you might be in for some days of no eating. And hope you don't get sick either.
Im a little shocked they said such a small amount of money.
Again, post the name of this place as other readers might have more to comment on that. |
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Red1
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject: Saving $ |
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 Wow! I guess I had better think of something quick. Thanks for the words of wisdom. The $1,200 they tell you to bring is in addition to the $1,200 salary avance that we can get. I don't actually know where I will be yet and probably will not know for a few more weeks. All I have to go on right now it that I will arrive in Osaka...I know...that isn't very helpful is it?! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Saving $ |
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| Red1 wrote: |
| Wow! I guess I had better think of something quick. Thanks for the words of wisdom. The $1,200 they tell you to bring is in addition to the $1,200 salary avance that we can get. I don't actually know where I will be yet and probably will not know for a few more weeks. All I have to go on right now it that I will arrive in Osaka...I know...that isn't very helpful is it?! |
If you take the advance remember it is a loan, not a grant and they will want you to pay it back out of your salary. they will take it out of your first two months salary leaving you with even less to live on (if you are referring to NOVA)
I would not come with less than $1200 and that is rock bottom. You will be living on cup ramen and rice until you get paid. |
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katk
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 52
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I was told 1300 to bring but my deposit and everything is taken care of and that is all i am bringing with me as far as money goes to hold me over until my first paycheck, oh and i get a 200usd converted to yen when i get over there too |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Saving $ |
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| Red1 wrote: |
| Wow! I guess I had better think of something quick. Thanks for the words of wisdom. The $1,200 they tell you to bring is in addition to the $1,200 salary avance that we can get. I don't actually know where I will be yet and probably will not know for a few more weeks. All I have to go on right now it that I will arrive in Osaka...I know...that isn't very helpful is it?! |
You don't know the name of the company you're hired to work for yet???
*shakes his head in disbelief* |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| katk wrote: |
| I was told 1300 to bring but my deposit and everything is taken care of and that is all i am bringing with me as far as money goes to hold me over until my first paycheck, oh and i get a 200usd converted to yen when i get over there too |
I think its been discussed here and I know for sure on GP that you potentially with some companies will not see your first paycheck for two months.
Here is an example scenario:
You arrive on say the 15th of May.
You are required to do 1 weeks worth of training before you are offered a contract(not all companies give you a legit contract until you've finished the training).
Now, that places the contract signing on the 25th.
Unfortunately, the processing for new hires for their pay must be turned in by the 20th to be able to get payment in your bank account on the 28th of the month following (June).
So you missed getting a paycheck for May's work which would be the paid on the 28th of June. This means you would not see your first paycheck until the 28th of July.
Two and a half months after you arrived in country.
Every company I've worked for here has delayed your first pay at least 1 month. One case was a month and a half the other was over 2 months.
You bring only 1200 to 1300 and you're gonna be very uncomfortable. |
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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:17 am Post subject: |
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I would advise any person who does not have a lot of cash on hand to get a new credit card or line of credit before coming to Japan (get a family member to co-sign for one if you have to). While it is certainly possible to get by on less than $2000 for a month, that is not taking into account any unforseen eventualities that you might have. If you are on public medical there is a 1/3 co-pay here. If you have private medical, often you pay up front and are reimbursed later.
If your company has housing already set up for you, you might think that you won't need to buy anything, but I have had friends whose company housing left them wanting more (like bedding that didn't come covered in mildew, and something to sit on other than the floor). Such niceties can really cost you.
If you don't mind camping out for a month or two and you trust that you won't succumb to accident or health crisis, $1200 might do it. I would be very wary of taking salary advances (loans) from an employer. It sort of puts one in a position of indentured servitude until the advance is paid off. (Are EFL teachers the new share croppers of this century?)
Good luck. Borrow the money from family or a bank; once you start getting paid, you will be able to pay it back(unless you have taken a pay advance to get set up, in which case it will be a while until you can send any money home). |
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junajuna
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 12
Location: Toyohashi, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Take the 1200, and take the advance. It is a loan, but remember it's an interest free loan (if you're talking Nova) and that should be enough. Just don't spend all your cash at the izakaya the first week...  |
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Red1
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject: Thanks! |
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Thanks for your help everyone. I appreciate the advice. I guess I had better get to work on my fund raising. Indentured servitude doesn't especially appeal to me.
Bearcat--sorry I misunderstood you. The company is NOVA. I just don't know my branch or exact location yet. |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks! |
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| Red1 wrote: |
Thanks for your help everyone. I appreciate the advice. I guess I had better get to work on my fund raising. Indentured servitude doesn't especially appeal to me.
Bearcat--sorry I misunderstood you. The company is NOVA. I just don't know my branch or exact location yet. |
Nod Nod. I would try and see if they can pin down exactly when to expect your first paycheck and that can also help you to know how much you'll have to deal with.
Nova places require you to pay rent and utilities so you'll need to factor that into your expenses. (Some say you're over charged too for those places).
I'd say factor at the bare minimum 1500-2000 per month you have to wait for a paycheck. Again barest minimum per month.
If you plan to live here in Japan longer than 2 years, skip using/doing their travelers health insurance as well. Get on with the national Health Insurance here in the country. Don't wait to join it later either as every month you're in Japan but didnt join will require you to pay in arrears.
If you plan to stay less than 2 years then dont worry about it.
Also, when you get the money for dues, join the General Union. |
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Dominique
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 141
Location: Juso, Osaka
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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I'm surprised no one mentioned how expensive it is to use transportation.
You will unlikely be living next to your work place, so you will probably need to commute. The train, depending on where you live will cost. I think the cheapest fair is 150 yen.. one way...
I work for ECC and I go to a different school each day and it adds up. They told me to budget $300 alone on traveling expenses. |
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junajuna
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 12
Location: Toyohashi, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Nova Pays on the 15th of everymonth, so if you're heading over June 1, you'll get paid July 15. You will have to factor in transportation too, because you have to pay up front for the pass, and then they reimburse you in your paycheck. And that's just for work. You won't have to pay for the apt when you first get there. That comes out of paychecks............ |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| Dominique wrote: |
I'm surprised no one mentioned how expensive it is to use transportation.
You will unlikely be living next to your work place, so you will probably need to commute. The train, depending on where you live will cost. I think the cheapest fair is 150 yen.. one way...
I work for ECC and I go to a different school each day and it adds up. They told me to budget $300 alone on traveling expenses. |
Ahem...
| bearcat wrote: |
Assume that you are first required to pay for train fare and later are reimbursed when you get your first paycheck. This will also need to be budgeted. Can't tell you how much that will cost but a couple hundred bucks is norm per month for many of us. |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:00 am Post subject: |
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| junajuna wrote: |
| Nova Pays on the 15th of everymonth, so if you're heading over June 1, you'll get paid July 15. You will have to factor in transportation too, because you have to pay up front for the pass, and then they reimburse you in your paycheck. And that's just for work. You won't have to pay for the apt when you first get there. That comes out of paychecks............ |
Can you guarantee that? When are payroll accounts settled and processed and considered finalized ? |
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