Job Discussion Forums

[uticsperkins2004]

Hey Everyone! I am going back to Japan for the 2nd year and wondering if everyone who is interested could list a few of their personal best ways to cut down on expenses and save more money in Japan. In my first year, I went through money like water and I'm interested in any advice or tips some of you veterans might have. I really look forward to your ideas! Thanks!!

Steve
[/b]

[wintersweet]

There are already a lot of threads on this. They're not hard to find with the search function. For example:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=4201&highlight=cheapskate
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=8153&highlight=saving+money

etc.

[malcoml]

1) Drink only water
2) Eat only rice
3) Stop chasing those Japanese women/men whatever.

[markle]

2) Eat only rice


You're kidding right? Rice is often the most expensive part of a meal. No you're better off eating only 3 min noodles.

[lahermit]

If you don't like cooking, just get a rice cooker, make your own rice, and buy the "okazu" at the supermarket or at Hokka Ben(bento store). And get drunk at home before going out to bars and clubs.

[moot point]

Strange post.

Why don't you check out the tv program that challenges people to live on 10,000yen/month. Sorry, but I don't remember the title of the program nor the channel it is broadcasted.

Actually, there are all kinds of programs on Japanese tv right now illustrating how to live on the cheap. You need to be ambitious, but adopting some of their ideas should save you some coin.

[markle]

My wife loves those shows, and they mostly revolve around eating cheap at home ala 1001 recipes for tofu or how to decorate your home with stuff from a 100 yen shop.

We've found that a formula for saving money in Japan revolves around getting a decent apartment, nothing extravagant but not a glorified closet. With a decent kitchen and fridge you can eat at home. Have parties at home, you can blow 10,000 yen on a night out without even trying but with that kind of money you can buy enough booze and food for 10 people, just kick them out by midnight.

[Glenski]

The shows are a good idea in this expensive world and country where we live. I still have 2 objections to them at times.

1. Sometimes they actually show unrealistic situations. I remember one where the housewife went to some seaside or park and pulled up weeds to make a salad for no cost. Who is REALLY going to do that?

2. Often the housewives use ingredients that have been prepared in advance and stored frozen in usable quantities. Great idea and very practical. However, I have found that many Japanese including my own wife are totally against the notion of storing ANYTHING for more than a week in the freezer. Spaghetti sauces. Rice. Unused portions of meals. Whatever. To me, that attitude is silly, but I cannot convince my wife otherwise. To add an ironic touch, she and others will still leave miso soup or something else for several days at room temperature in the original pot where it was cooked, and think nothing of it. Sigh. Sorry to deviate from the OP.

[uticsperkins2004]

I notice that expenses are really high during the summer and winter months due to using airconditioning or heating. I know there are some obvious ways to cut down during these peak times, but does anyone know of any ways which might not be so obvious?

[Glenski]

If you live in an area where you have to use a kerosene heater in winter, find a place that sells coupons for the kerosene to be delivered, instead of paying for the full price yourself.

Keep hot water on the space heater if your apartment doesn't have a water heater for the kitchen (mine didn't).

Insulate your apartment. That means applying foam tape to the doors and windows, and put up the plastic coverings for windows, all to retain heat and block out cold. Many buildings are drafty.

Keep curtains open during the day when you are at work, especially if the windows face the sun at the end of the day. It'll heat up the apartment a bit before you get home and help you conserve heat.

Use bath water in your washing machine.

Keep the fridge stocked. It'll require less electricity that way.

[JimDunlop2]

[moot point]

Glenski,

From your way of cutting costs indicates that you're living in a colder climate. I'm on the other end of the spectrum and try to avoid putting the air-conditioner on.

When I was single I found going through a six-pack while catching a cooling ocean breeze in the evenings before crashing on my futon the best way to avoid turning on my A/C, but the beer was probably more expensive than the electricity when I think about it (but man it tastes so good in those hot summer months).

Another must are those straw blinds that you hang outside your windows. They really cut down on the sunshine and subsequent heat and act as a great cooling blanket. Other things I've see are people putting up aluminum blinds to reflect the sunshine away from them but I always like a bit of sun in the room to dry things out from the muggy summer.

[cevanne]

I'll tell you how I've been saving money. Whether it will work for you I don't know. DO eat at home. I bought a rice cooker and make about 3 cups of rice each time. You can use the leftovers for bento boxes the next day at work. If you buy a big bag of rice it's cheaper than buying a little one too. If you get tired of rice those soba noodles are great. They take about 1 minute to cook if you are the lazy type Buy Japanese food veggies/supplies and stay away from imported stuff cause it's expensive. And all grocery stores are not alike. Find the little local one in your neighborhood and I guarantee it will be cheaper than the Life suupaa right around the corner. DON'T go drinking every night. It sucks up your extra money like you wouldn't believe. DO buy some of those bamboo/tatami things to put over your outside windows in the summer. They keep the sun out. And only run your AC when you have to. We haven't used it once yet this year. We leave the windows (and front door) open to create a wind tunnel of sorts. We also wait until we have a full load of laundry. None of those tiny half-loads. And DON'T go crazy buying those cool little Japanese gadgets. I have to put a leash on my hubby with the gadgets. But we are saving money now and living quite comfortably. DO turn the lights out/AC off etc.. when you leave the house. We do listen to music all the time/watch TV/use the computer all the time and our electric bill is still only 2500 yen and our gas is about 3800. In general: don't party too much and eat at home. And don't go crazy on the utilities and you will soon be raking in the cash. Good luck!!

[uticsperkins2004]

the suggestions about how to cut down on electricity bills during the summer and winter are great ideas! last year in japan i ate out alot, because i am not sure of how to cook japanese food and alot of the time when i go into the grocery store i have no idea what half of the things are, especially all of the liquids and sauces. does anyone know of any good websites which feature easy to cook, quick japanese recipes? also, i know this may be a strange question, but does anyone know of any websites which show products found in japanese grocery stores which are explained in english?

[cevanne]

I don't know of a website for Japanese recipes, but think stirfry or deepfry. Everything here is pretty much cooked in a pan as they don't have ovens per se. I just tried some sauces until I found some I liked or I randomly asked people in the grocery store. Embarrassing at first, but resulted in good meals at the end. Pretty much any Japanese veggies can be steamed, or cut up into small pieces and stir-fried. Or, you can actually cook them with your rice at the same time in the rice cooker. Quick and easy! If you want some recipes of my more successful experiments you can pm me.