Job Discussion Forums

[kanjizai]

Has anyone had a positive experince with saving a fair amount of money($1,000 and up),per month, while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle? If so, how are/were you able to do this?

[Shonai Ben]

I didn't save a thousand a month but I did manage to save quite a bit of money over a one year period.I never used public transportation even if my school paid for it.I would always put in my expense report for the month as if I had used it.I always walked to class if possible.You can also save money by shopping wisely,which means buying stuff at the 100 yen shop and at closing time in the grocery stores when things are marked down half price.I only went out on Friday nights to party and bought beer when it was on sale.
I really don't think it is that difficult to save money if you really want to.I never deprived myself of anything that I wanted.Just spend your money wisely and think of ways to save it.
Cheers.

[Gordon]

Not quite that much, but then I am supporting a wife and child. Think about all your purchases first, don't eat western food and minimize the entertainment. It's easy for me, I just watch my daughter for entertainment. Look at the earlier thread about cheapskates. It has lots of tips on saving yen.

[canuck]

I saved just under four million yen in two years. If you're willing to look a little harder, be picky and choosy, and live in the city, it's possible. If you can't deal with only having one full day off a week, then your income level would top out. But if you work a little extra, it's possible to save more money. Most people aren't willing to work the little extra. If you priority is saving money, it can be done by saving more than $1000 a month.

That was one of the advantages of being single too. As Gordon stated, watch your purchases first, especially if you have other priorities or dependants.

And just because people work the little extra, it's still easy to find time to enjoy what all your friends are doing.

[Glenski]

kanjizai,

You've already gotten a few answers that should show just how variable lifestyles and saving money can be. Even more variable (or should that be general?) are the words you used to describe how to live here on savings over $1000/month (presumably US dollars?):

"comfortable lifestyle"

No offense intended. I just hope you realize how that feeling can differ among so many individuals. This is one reason I often try to pin people down on what they mean. Just a habit of mine to be precise.

I've seen posts by people here who feel "comfortable" is never (and I mean NEVER) going out, spending time with the neighbors instead of sightseeing, and pretty much doing very little after classes. On the other hand, another person once posted that he felt "comfortable" meant buying cases of imported wine (which he implied was a fairly normal expense), owning a car, and taking trips 2 or 3 times a year throughout Japan and other countries.

(By the way, I'm not asking you, Canuck, Gordon, or Shonai Ben to elaborate here. Just pointing out my approach in order to give & get as much accurate & complete info as possible whenever I post or respond to posts.)

[canuck]

Agree. Actually, if you want to hermit it for a while, you can save lots of money. Often, if you're working, you're not spending money. I have a friend that works for Nova, and he works 7 days a week often. He did so for 3 months straight. Five days and phones in for overtime. He also teaches Business English a few days a week. He has roommates in an undesirable part of town, but a big house where three people split 110,000 yen a month rent. He makes a lot of money and saves a lot of money. A lot of money.

If you're living expenses are cheap, and depending on what you do for entertainment, you can save loads of money. Or you can spend lots of money on fancier meals, go on trips, etc and not make it until your next paycheque.

To answer your question, just get an extra job teaching part-time a few hours a week and that should increase your savings or enable you to spend a little extra when shopping or going out.

[Vince]

A few tips for, as Jack Bogle of Vanguard put it, minding your pennies so your dollars will mind themselves:

1. Spend a bit up front on a good bicycle. That bicycle will save you a lot of train fare, and you'll spend more time exploring the back roads rather than killing time in the department stores. You'll also get a lot of exercise, so you'll be able to save the ~�7,000/month that a gym membership costs.

2. Get into the habit of filling a bottle of water and taking it with you in the summer. In the winter, carry a thermos of whatever hot drink you prefer. That �120-150 per drink from the convenience store or vending machine adds up.

3. If possible, take food to work. Not only will you save money, but you won't be stuck eating the same nasty McDonalds or boring bento.

4. If feasible, avoid office parties. Back in my eikaiwa days, the schools exceled at dragging everybody out to an expensive izakaya for a party that would cost �4,000 a head.

5. If you get too chummy with the Japanese around you, you'll find yourself getting invited to expensive weddings and funerals. Gift-giving is a significant component of Japanese relations, and it isn't the thought that counts. Best to keep that part of the culture at arm's length.

6. Check the libraries near your home and work for English books. I've seen a few libraries that could keep you immersed in good reading material for a long time. Used books are another good option. Some of the Book Off stores have English sections with very reasonable prices. If you're in the Tokyo area, Good Day Books is a good place to trade in books you've read. If you know someone who shares interests with you, do book swaps.

7. Buy appliances and electronics at places with a point system. Yodobashi Camera is a good example.

8. If you order stuff from places like Amazon or Lands End, see if your friends want to go in with you. It defrays some of the shipping, and you might even be able to split quantity discounts.

[rockwolf]