|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
droog
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 3
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject: Sending money back while working in Japan |
 |
|
| I am considering applying for a job with Aeon shortly, but I have some concerns, primarily my need to send some of the money back to the states from Japan to pay for some bills/take care of family. I would be hoping to send back between 800-1000 a month, more if it at all possible. If I lived frugally, how possible would this be? Thanks for any advice! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Depends on your definition of 'frugally' and if you live in a high rent or a low rent place. If you live in a low rent place and 'frugal' includes not going out drinking, nor cable television, nor lots of calls home, nor buying a lot of 'stuff' then yeah, you should be able to manage that, I think (assuming you work full-time for 250,000Y/month etc), especially the low end. You may be short some months (like every time you need to pay resident's tax or insurance if you're not paying monthly). It also depends on how much you eat and what you eat, of course. I don't just mean convenience stores and fast food versus cooking at home, I mean what you actually buy to cook at home.
Your first month or two you will probably be short because you may need to buy stuff to start up.
After a while you'd figure out a routine and probably be able to manage getting out at least a couple of times a month, or if you limit yourself to two beers / chu-hi, a couple of times a week. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
droog
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| GambateBingBangBOOM wrote: |
After a while you'd figure out a routine and probably be able to manage getting out at least a couple of times a month, or if you limit yourself to two beers / chu-hi, a couple of times a week. |
Well, Aeon seems to be paying 270,000 a month, with rent subsidized at 55000. I'm not that big of a social drinker, so I'll probably be able to deal with the couple of beers, a couple times a week plan.  I'm also looking to lose some weight, anyway, so I would probably be avoiding fast food and trying to eat frugally but healthy at home. I wouldn't need cable but I would definitely need broadband Internet, and probably a cell phone.
Eventually I'd be looking into teaching privates on the side, once I have some experience under my belt. But I could definitely see how the first couple of months might be tight.
Thank you again!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If rent is NOT subsidized, my rule of thumb is that you will spend about 125,000 per month on basic necessities.
Factor in your rent subsidy, and you can see what the difference is. Live carefully (see the "cheapskates" thread I started), and you should be able to send home US$800 per month.
Are you sure AEON is really hiring? When is the start date? Some people have reported that they aren't putting new people in branch offices for the next year. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
droog
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
If rent is NOT subsidized, my rule of thumb is that you will spend about 125,000 per month on basic necessities.
Factor in your rent subsidy, and you can see what the difference is. Live carefully (see the "cheapskates" thread I started), and you should be able to send home US$800 per month.
Are you sure AEON is really hiring? When is the start date? Some people have reported that they aren't putting new people in branch offices for the next year. |
Thanks for the info! As far as Aeon.. well, their site is showing that they are interviewing in New York in October. Whether that means they will assign anyone anytime soon is another matter, I guess. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Once you get settled and get your start up costs out of the way that amount should be very doable. It took me a few months to get sorted when I first came here...first six months were a wash, but after that I have had no trouble sending home $1000-1500 every month. Just don't go nuts. Don't eat out every night. Cook your own food. Be mindful and you'll be able to send home plenty. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| droog wrote: |
| I'm not that big of a social drinker, so I'll probably be able to deal with the couple of beers, a couple times a week plan. |
And if you have those couple of beers, a couple of times of week either at home or at a friend's rather than at a bar, then you could save yourself more than $30 per week.
Mobile phone and internet are basic necessities and need not cost an arm and a leg. Don't choose the iphone if you want to save money though 
Depending on where you live and where you eat out, you could actually find it cheaper than always buying and cooking yourself. The family run ramen shop on my road has a specials at the weekends so I get a great dinner for only 350 yen  Stay away from home delivery pizzas, sushi, etc!
Saving here doesn't require you to necessarily shut yourself off from society, but it will require you to keep a very careful eye on your spending. In your first few months, money may be tight and saving will not be likely, but once you are settled in: Make a budget, make sure you factor in a little spending money for non-essentials and luxuries then STICK TO IT! If you don't spend your luxury allowance or end up not eating through your food allowance, etc one month, put it aside to accumulate rather than adding it to your savings. That way if you get hit by an unexpected cost, such as replacing a lost mobile phone, hopefully you won't have to dip into your savings. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| parrothead wrote: |
| Once you get settled and get your start up costs out of the way that amount should be very doable. It took me a few months to get sorted when I first came here...first six months were a wash, but after that I have had no trouble sending home $1000-1500 every month. Just don't go nuts. Don't eat out every night. Cook your own food. Be mindful and you'll be able to send home plenty. |
$1500 is a bit steep. You should describe your circumstances so that it is clear to others how you do it. Salary first...
Is rent paid for...?
Big city or small town...?
Private lessons...? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
