Job Discussion Forums

Leon30 · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 60 Location: South Korea

Hi.

Very basic question, only short answer needed.

Will leave Korea in August.

Thinking of taking an ekaiwa position in Kansai.

I currently am able to easily save around $1,200 a motnh here.

I know I WONT be able to do that in Japan without frugal living and tons of privates.

But if I get an ekeiwa job in Kansai that pays an average ekeiwa salary with furnished apt, I think I could save around 700 dollars (US) a month if I eat only 5,000 Yen meals (or cheaper such as donburi, ramyeon / udon sets etc) or cook at home and only go out at weekends with no taxis or HEAVY drinking. Trips would be to local places.

I recently visited Osaka and apart from subway / taxis and UPSCALE restaurants I found most things (supermarkets, local Japanese restaurants) to be on a par with Korea.

So what of my plan to live and work in Kansai at an Ekeiwa with furnished apt and save about 70,000 Yen a month starting in MONTH TWO (assuming expenses and delays with salary for month one.)...?

Realistic responses welcomed.

Cheers to all those who reply.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

c-way · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 226 Location: Kyoto, Japan

And if you do your homework regarding apartments and take on private lessons, you could do better.

Leon30 · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 60 Location: South Korea

So I'm being realistic...? Honestly..?

Cool.

Cheers.

Cool

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

Yes you can save that. Especially if you opt to not live in a big city.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

you definitely could...we save all of my salary and we are two people. His salary pays for our housing, food, bills, and trips...so if you had one person and didnt go on trips, you definitely could.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

He probably meant 500 yen meals... Can't say I've ever spent 5,000 yen on a meal, don't plan too either.

rampo · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 97

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I thought maybe he meant 5,000 a month....lol....I cant imagine ever spending that much on a meal for one person...
by the way, if you meant 500, you could even go cheaper than that. Ramen is insanely cheap and if you cook you can save more even though groceries are expensive. We just buy less meat and more cheap vegetables like those huge carrots, eggplant, and potatoes (we also eat alot of bananas) we also eat A LOT of rice to get full. I have one hot plate so I cook the vegetables with one of the really yummy salad dressings that japan seems to have alot of and then put a tiny bit of fish or meat in, we then eat that with rice, total cost for meal for two people: $3. Now that is cheap!
(oh, also shop after 7 because prices on meats and such go down..it is really cool, we rack up at night on the meat and fish)

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

Never spent 5k on a meal?? I take it your office doesn't do enkai?

Anyway yes Osaka is a big city, which is why I brought it up.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Zzonkmiles · Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 309

Booze and dining out are two of the easiest ways to burn through your cash. If you are fairly frugal with this, you should be able to clear 70,000 easily on a 250,000 yen salary. Those 600 yen Coronas and Heinekens add up quickly.

Leon30 · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 60 Location: South Korea

Ha ha sorry, yeah I was thinking in Won at the time, but yes I MEANT to say 500 Yen meals...!

Wow, can you imagine eating 5,000 yean meals every day. that would be 10,000 - 15,000 Yen a day!

Salary wouldn't even cover food..!!!

So yeah, I meant, living in Osaka, furnished apt provided by employer, 500 yen meals or home cooking, going out for drinks perhaps once in the week (2 or 3 drinks with a friend and some food) and once at weekends but only having about 4 or five beers max and only local trips... would want a cell phone I guess, would rent dvd's or buy them at the rate of 2 or 3 a week.... um, same lyfetyle I'm living now actually... can't think of much else... perhaps I'd want to go and visit Tokyo once during the year.... and of course the occaisional splurge once every month or two which means a good drink up, all night clubbing etc... like I said, only once a month or once every two months...

But basically I'd want to save about 700,000 Yen over the course of the year I guess...

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

If ur getting the 250k a month AND the apartment then you should have no problem at all. 500yen beers are common these days, happy hours even less. I swear Japan is getting cheaper and cheaper. Or at least the exchange rate makes it seem so. My friends inEngland pay more for most things than I do.