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EdwardJamesOlmos
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 12
Location: San Francisco
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 Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:29 am Post subject: Re: Can you Honestly Pay Your Debts Teaching in Japan? |
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| johncanada24 wrote: |
Can you honestly have enough money to pay your debts if your making 250,000 yen a year? |
Not a chance in hell! Sorry couldn't resist the urge to comment on a mildly amusing typo. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:06 am Post subject: |
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In the happy days when $1NZ equalled about 55 yen (1999- 2001) I paid off my $13,000 NZD student loan plus about $2000 I owed my parents in just over a year at Nova. I was on about 280,000 yen a month, plus I took most of the overtime I was offered. I lived fairly frugally but still managed about 3 overseas trips in that time, and wasn't really a hermit either- I went out locally instead of going into Tokyo.
Tougher now with the weaker yen and lower salaries- it would probably take almost 2 years to pay that off if I was doing it now, and I probably wouldn't manage the overseas trips either. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:32 am Post subject: Re: Can you Honestly Pay Your Debts Teaching in Japan? |
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| EdwardJamesOlmos wrote: |
| johncanada24 wrote: |
Can you honestly have enough money to pay your debts if your making 250,000 yen a year? |
Not a chance in hell! Sorry couldn't resist the urge to comment on a mildly amusing typo. |
What's even funnier is someone who "couldn't resist the urge to comment on a mildly amusing typo" and that someone doesn't even know what a typo is.
Here's an example of a typo.
Teh cat is big. |
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Big John Stud
Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 513
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:43 am Post subject: |
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So if the OP is really going to make only 250,000 yen a year, he or she better plan to sleep in a park!  |
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dove
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Posts: 271
Location: USA/Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Does Nova still offer overtime? When I worked there 10 years ago, you could work on your days off. Hell, the overtime lists would come in faster than we could post them; the assistant manager used to ask me to call the Nova gaijin house in Kawasaki to ask (beg) if anyone could come in.
For six months straight, I took adavantage of all that overtime. I worked on all my days off and I would even come in for extra morning shifts at my main school. It was hell, but I wanted to pay off all my student loans and credit card debt. I did, about $12,000 (US) worth. To be fair, I didn't live in Nova housing. I had an apartment in Tokyo which I shared with a roommate. I never ate out, but I also didn't live on take-out or ramen. I wouldn't have had the strength to work so much if I put that junk in my body. I ate miso soup, brown rice, natto, steamed vegetables.
Again, it was hell, but the rewards were worth it. Being debt-free is the greatest feeling in the world. You owe nobody a thing and that brings such a beautiful feeling of freedom that colors your entire outlook on life: all the negativity just rolls right off you.
Good luck. |
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johncanada24
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 119
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Can you Honestly Pay Your Debts Teaching in Japan? |
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| canuck wrote: |
| johncanada24 wrote: |
| Maybe I could work at Nova for a year and then transfer to another school for higher pay? |
How? You don't have a degree. Immigration won't grant you a visa. You missed the boat if you want to send loads of money home. With the strength of the yen vs. the Canadian dollar, many of us Canadians have taken a 30% pay cut in the last few years.
Yes, you can save some money. How? You're going to have to work extra. Starting out can be tough, but remember, you leave Japan with your last paycheque and you don't have to pay rent that month. In addition to your savings, that's a chunk of money to plunk on your debts.
You can come here, be a hermit and take a chunk out of your debts. If your goal is to pay it down, it's possible, but the whole $15k, I don't think so. You could come close. You could probably send 50,000 yen home a month after your 3rd month and every month after that.
Can you really expect more though? You offer much less than the majority of foreigners here. You have no experience, no training and are below the minimum requirements for a work visa. Enjoy the working holiday, earn some money and take a chunk out of your debt, but don't expect to pay the whole thing off. |
Wow.......I really feel i got ripped off going to college instead of continuing my university. A college degree is basically worth nothing in Japan.
I don't understand how I'm not able to transfer to another school ? If I already have a work holiday Visa can't they extend it?
I could tutor for extra cash too that might help.
Any more suggestions for eventually making more money to pay off my loans ? |
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johncanada24
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 119
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: :) |
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| Glenski wrote: |
john has a 2-year degree and is 24 years old. He can only get a working holiday visa, student visa, or cultural visa. WHV is good for only 12 months, so let's assume he goes with that. (BTW, NOVA hires people with such qualifications, but I think WHV holders at NOVA can only get PT work. Check into this, john.)
Also, I have heard rumors (red flag disclaimer here) that some people working for NOVA do not even have degrees or legal visas. How that happened is unknown to me, but perhaps they buffaloed immigration with their 2-year diplomas or had fake degrees. I don't know.
On a salary of 250,000 yen/month you will spend about half on basic necessities.
rent 70,000-80,000
utilities 20,000 (seasonal and depending on personal use; utilities are not paid for NOVA apartments)
phone 5000-8000 depending on cell phone or land line and various options
food 30,000-50,000
TOTAL so far = 125,000-158,000 (minus utilities if you work for NOVA)
The remainder from your paycheck (92,000 - 125,000) will go to everything else in life.
Health insurance = 2500 yen/month in your first year with national health insurance (10 times hire after that, but john can't stay that long)
Haircuts
postage and envelopes
souvenirs
cable/satellite TV
long distance calls (and local ones, too, if they go over the option limit)
medical treatment not covered by insurance (30% of your bill)
entertainment (sightseeing, movies, DVD rentals, going out, etc.)
How you play around with that 92,000 - 125,000 is up to you, but I would imagine that it's not hard to use 50,000 of it for a loan if one is that serious.
So, 50,000 x 12 = 600,000 yen in a year. At today's exchange rate, that means about CDN$5600. So, if you can stick around and have similar living conditions and salary, you should be able to pay it off in 3 years. |
So it is possible, you just have to be a grinch about your money. I do want to go on the occasioal outting as long as i can make my minimum payments it should be fine. i appreciate all your suggestions guys that gave me a bigger picture here.
PS: I will Definitely look into that part time situation, Can't afford to do that ! |
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seastarr
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I think a WHV is a one year deal in Japan. If the company chooses to sponsor you, they can do that, however, I think this is expensive for a lot of smaller schools, especially when they can hire people that already have full time visas, either through Nova or some other school. If you are looking for full-time work with expenses paid without a degree, then maybe Japan is not for you. Korea might be a better option. |
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johncanada24
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 119
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:04 pm Post subject: Amen |
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| dove wrote: |
Does Nova still offer overtime? When I worked there 10 years ago, you could work on your days off. Hell, the overtime lists would come in faster than we could post them; the assistant manager used to ask me to call the Nova gaijin house in Kawasaki to ask (beg) if anyone could come in.
For six months straight, I took adavantage of all that overtime. I worked on all my days off and I would even come in for extra morning shifts at my main school. It was hell, but I wanted to pay off all my student loans and credit card debt. I did, about $12,000 (US) worth. To be fair, I didn't live in Nova housing. I had an apartment in Tokyo which I shared with a roommate. I never ate out, but I also didn't live on take-out or ramen. I wouldn't have had the strength to work so much if I put that junk in my body. I ate miso soup, brown rice, natto, steamed vegetables.
Again, it was hell, but the rewards were worth it. Being debt-free is the greatest feeling in the world. You owe nobody a thing and that brings such a beautiful feeling of freedom that colors your entire outlook on life: all the negativity just rolls right off you.
Good luck. |
Thats the feeling I'm looking for !
Thanks you've inspired me  |
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johncanada24
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 119
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Can you Honestly Pay Your Debts Teaching in Japan? |
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| canuck wrote: |
| EdwardJamesOlmos wrote: |
| johncanada24 wrote: |
Can you honestly have enough money to pay your debts if your making 250,000 yen a year? |
Not a chance in hell! Sorry couldn't resist the urge to comment on a mildly amusing typo. |
What's even funnier is someone who "couldn't resist the urge to comment on a mildly amusing typo" and that someone doesn't even know what a typo is.
Here's an example of a typo.
Teh cat is big. |
250,000 yen a year hmmm ( finds an exscuse) Maybe the typo involved a missing zero perhaps that could be a possibility ?  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I don't understand how I'm not able to transfer to another school ? If I already have a work holiday Visa can't they extend it? |
john,
With a WHV, you need no one to sponsor you, and you can work PT or FT in practically any job (there are limitations, if you read the WHV web page). http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html
However, Canadians can get the WHV for only 2 consecutive 6-month stints, and then they are finished, never to get the WHV ever again in their lives. Period. Done deal.
| Quote: |
I could tutor for extra cash too that might help.
Any more suggestions for eventually making more money to pay off my loans ? |
People have given you many suggestions.
1. work overtime
2. take on several jobs (since you don't need a sponsor, you can work anywhere)
3. work privately (tax free)
I can't stress more the fact that a WHV lets you do more than just teaching jobs. As long as some employer feels you are qualified, you have a chance at a different type of job.
Realize that taxes on a WHV are 20%, not the usual 7-10% for work visa holders. |
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nawlinsgurl
Joined: 01 May 2004
Posts: 363
Location: Kanagawa and feeling Ok....
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
Also, I have heard rumors (red flag disclaimer here) that some people working for NOVA do not even have degrees or legal visas. How that happened is unknown to me, but perhaps they buffaloed immigration with their 2-year diplomas or had fake degrees. I don't know.
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It's true. I had three people working at my Nova school in Yokosuka who DIDN'T have university degrees. They were all American and living here on Resident Visas b/c they had married Japanese wives. I think the fact that Nova didn't have to sponsor them was how they got the job.. I dunno. Only one of them was taking classes at the same time, but the other two had no degree whatsoever.  |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Can you Honestly Pay Your Debts Teaching in Japan? |
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| luckbox wrote: |
debts.
The newbies who are better off paying off their various debts are JETs, who earn 310,000/month, and often have fully subsized rent, plus other benefits (including a paid return airfare). I was able to pay off all my outstanding debts while on JET, and I spent loads on travel and fun stuff too. But there's no way I could have done that under a NOVA salary. Not a chance. As long as you're clear on this and ok with it, you can enjoy your experience. |
No doubt someone else has already commented on this, but JET doesn't pay 310,000 a month. It pays a nominal 3.6 million per year, less pensions and health etc. Most JETs take home between 250,000 and 270 a month.
As far as Nova is concerned, I know two people there that have been there for five years now and have paid off their entire student loans, bought a house and two rental properties back in their home countries and have saved a respectable amount. It's entirely possible if you are disciplined and have clear goals and the time etc. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:01 am Post subject: |
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nawlinsgirl wrote:
| Quote: |
| I had three people working at my Nova school in Yokosuka who DIDN'T have university degrees. They were all American and living here on Resident Visas b/c they had married Japanese wives. |
Spouse visas are legal for work, just as Permanent Resident status is. Don't imply that these are illegal visas. You don't need a degree to marry a Japanese person, and the spouse visa (and PR) permit just about any type of FT work. |
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tokyo story
Joined: 07 Sep 2005
Posts: 40
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| Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:31 am Post subject: |
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| I know an Aussie guy who's worked for GEOS Kids for about 18 months and managed to save around 2 million yen. If you're tight with money you could work away at your debt. |
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