Job Discussion Forums

[kanjizai]

I am coming to Japan in August and I am wondering how much money typically breing when the come over with Nova. Also, what are the start up costs like? I remember some one at the interview saying $1,000, but Im not sure i that is enough. I was thinking some where along the line of $ 5,000, but that may be too muc. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

By the way I do not know where I am going, but I guessing the most Tokoyo to be on the safe side.

Thanks in advanced

[Glenski]

I've only heard of 1 or 2 people that have come here with NOVA and that paltry amount of money in hand. Bring US$3000-4000.

Do a search for start up costs. This topic comes up a lot here.

If you choose to rent your own apartment, you will usually be facing 2-5 months' equivalent in rent just to move in, and it will have nothing in it. No furniture, no appliance of ANY kind, no light fixtures, etc. More money to spend there. Food will run 30,000 yen/month bare minimum. Transportation (if not paid by the company) will run 15,000-20,000 yen/month. Utilities (included in NOVA's rent payments) will cost 15,000 yen/month, depending on seasons/location/lifestyle. Want insurance? It'll cost you, too, anywhere from 2500 yen/month for national health insurance to 7500/month for NOVA's JMA plan. Phone installation could be 70,000 yen (roughly half that if you can find an exiting expat willling to sell his line at a discount), or 10,000 yen for a cell phone. Following either of those setups, you will probably pay 4500 to 8000 yen/month for regular service +/- Internet access.

[JimDunlop2]

Bring as much as you can. If you can afford to bring $5000, then do so. You won't be sorry. It's an expensive country and count on surviving up to 7-8 weeks before you see your first paycheque from any given company...

Most companies pay 1 month in arrears (i.e. they pay you for work you already DID, as not to be stuck with a teacher leaving mid-month). You will start your job (usually) the first of the month, and payday is usually the last week of the month. Ergo, say you started work on Sept 1, you would receive your first paycheque around October 25th or so. Hence, it can be rather daunting in the beginning.

I hate to say it, but there's no such thing as bringing TOO MUCH money to Japan... Start up costs are relative though. Big companies like Nova will generally provide you with the bare basics (i.e. apartment with minimal furnishings and appliances)... But you still gotta eat, and there will be many, many small expenses which will rapidly add up...

Good luck on your upcoming trip in August. I wish you all the best here in Japan!

[Zzonkmiles]

I have a NOVA coworker friend who came to Japan with only $700USD. I asked him why he came with such little cash and he said he took the NOVA advance to help him out. He has been here for about four months now, and is still not able to receive a full paycheck because he is still repaying the 120,000 yen "advance."

Several other coworkers talk about how they have no money or are eating onigiri and instant ramen several times a week because they have no cash. I don't know if it's because they didn't bring enough money to Japan to start with or if they're not using their money wisely. It's just something to think about.

I don't know if you're coming to Japan with NOVA or not (I don't remember, or maybe you didn't mention it). But if you do, DON'T take the advance if you can at all help it. That would put a serious cramp on your lifestyle for your first few critical months here, and could even cramp it so much to the point that you wonder if you even made the right decision to come here at all.

I personally brought 480,000 yen with me when I came to Japan (about $4000USD). It sounds like a lot of money, but I actually burned through that money pretty darn fast and was literally down to less than 3000 yen (in my wallet AND in my bank account) four months later because of so many expenses--some of which were hidden, some of which were self-incurred (such as moving out of my NOVA apartment and paying a deposit and furnishing my own new one).

Bottom line from me is that $4000 USD is sufficient. More is obviously better. Less is riskier and requires you to be a bit more conservative with your lifestyle at first. At the absolute minimum, I'd say $2000, although in light of my past experience, I don't think I personally could have survived here on such little money.

[curveegrrl]

I went over to work with Nova in 2001. I brought $1200 CAD with me. I had an empty credit card and I took the Nova advance.

The $1200 was enoguh for my the first month. The advance covered my second month (more than). By the third month I was getting paid for the first full month (thanks being paid in arrears), and even though I was getting deducted for the advance, it was still plenty. By the time I finally received a "full" month's pay, I had saved $1500 CAD.

So it is possible to do. I wasn't going crazy in those first few months. I couldn't have taken any big holidays or bought any major purchases. I lived in a Nova apartment (I was blessed with great rommates), and only went drinking a couple nights a week. It certainly wasn't a difficult life and I never felt like I was really deprived of anything.

But of course, your mileage may vary.

[shmooj]

We came over with very little to an apartment furnished and set up by the school. THey gave us a minimal advance and we spent six months scrimping and saving.

Within a year we had paid off 4000 pounds of credit card debt.

It can be done but then, we weren't in Tokyo.

[kanjizai]

Thank you for the information. I will bring $5,000. I will be very conservative. I will eat at home and will pass on the advance. I can wait for a phone and any other "luxury". I just need food, lodging, transportation, phone calls home once a week and dry cleaning. My goal is to be saving freom the first paycheck.

Any other information will be greatly appreciated.

[BenJ]

I'd suggest not being overly optimistic about saving potential until you've been here a while and can make a realistic budget - will save you the disappointment when you don't meet your goals. Don't be led astray by those saying they can save $x a year - probably they aren't talking about their first year in Japan but subsequent years when they are already set up.

Shmooj's savings seem quite realistic to me, and note he said "we" - 2 people working and saving presumably.

[Gordon]

I've always brought more money than I really needed when I travel or work overseas. Japan has a lot of hidden start-up costs that is different for every person. It depends on the school or city you live. Don't rely on the school to give an advance if you can.
Once you're here, you will slowly (I stress slowly) build up some private students. Your savings will be determined by your privates, but it takes a year or two to get them.

[merc007]

I bought over $3000US, it was plenty, and just perfect actually. You do get your pay about 5 weeks after you land. e.g. you have 1 week of training, then one month at your school, then you get paid. Some people get paid after 6 weeks. But definitely bring at least $1000US.

My money I brought from home lasted me for 1 month and a half. My first paycheck was really really small after they deducted Rent, and I paid my bills etc. But the 2nd one was plenty.

After the 2nd month I still have $500 US left over that I brought with me.

In the first month I did buy a cellphone(keitai), but I bought one that was on $0 and at 4000Yen/month. My first bill came after 6 weeks of having the keitai. I also bought a bicycle.

My apartment was furnished, so I didn't need to buy microwaves/stoves etc so that was cool.

Eating was no problems. The first month you're here you want to try a lot of foods but that wasn't too expensive. I'm still trying food out in my 2nd month I also grocery shopped, that way I could make my own dinners after work, and also make my breakfast. It saves money.

[Kano]

so how long does it take them to process a COE application, once the files are received?

[shmooj]

[parrothead]

I began my Nova career with $300 USD in my wallet and later made an additional $300 withdrawl from my US bank account. That $600 USD was plenty sufficient for me to survive on for roughly 6 weeks - when my first paycheck finally arrived. I am not suggesting this be the preferable way to begin your new life overseas, just that it's very possible to make do with far less than what many others suggest. This being said, I live in western Kyushu where things are a bit less expensive, and I live a rather simple lifestyle. Despite this, I went out to eat/drink a dozen or so times, and even had enough for a couple of mini-trips.

The amount you need depends upon a.) where you live and b.) your lifestyle, and c.) whether or not your employer takes care of your housing (as Nova does).

[JibberJabber]

I would agree with the rest. Bring as much as you can. I only brought 1700 US am surviving but I haven:t been able to do much or buy all the stuff you "need".

Luckily my company set up a lot of things for me like phone line and key money and all that, but not things that would be really nice to have like air conditioner or washing machine (I have located inexpensive and fairly new units). The second month might be a little hard since they take out about 2 months rent for first and last months rent.

You wont be sorry if you bring too much money, it:s impossible to do that here I think!

I live in a small town in Aichi-ken so it isn:t too bad.

[kanjizai]

Thanks for all of the information, but is there anyone who was able to come over with Nova having money and was actually able to keep it in the bank?