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[Big John Stud]

kdynamic wrote:

Big John Stud wrote: I am curious! A question for those who save $1,400 or more! How? I pretty much don't do anything now days but work, work out, eat and sleep. I don't save nearly that much a month. If you guys teach at a unversity please state so. If not please let us in on your secrete on how to save money in Japan! How do I do it? I don't try to save money. In fact, I travel a lot (in Japan and internationally), and go shopping and eat out when i feel like it. I have a sports car that takes hi-octane gas, use my cell phone as I like, have the fastest internet connection, etc etc. I don't limit myself much if there is something I want. But, first, I am not an English teacher. I don't get paid that much more than the average English teacher, but it makes a difference to get paid more, obviously. My apartment is also subsidized (not 100%, but more than 50% so that helps). I live in a small town where prices are low and there aren't many places to spend money thoughtlessly. I cook at home most nights, almost never pay for anything when I go out on the weekends (it's nice to be a girl sometimes), don't need to send money back for loan payments, and am just naturally the type of person that likes low-cost stuff, so while I don't deny myself, I don't splurge either. Honestly, I can't imagine someone in my situation NOT saving this much money. They'd have to buy lots of electronics, spend a lot on alcohol, etc etc. In fact, I do know people in a similar financial situation as me who spend their paychecks in full by buying luxury items and spending weekends in Tokyo or Osaka. That's just not me. Again, it all comes back to lifestyle choices.

You are 100% about lifestyle being the main reason why one can or can not save money. An old friend used to say, "It is not how much money you make that counts, but how much you can save!"
Thanks for your reply. I do make more slightly more than the average English teacher salary but I don't save that much monthly. My rent is no subsidiezed, and I often eat out because, I am too hungry to wait to get home and have to cook. Anyway a big thanks again!