How to save money in Japan?

[ninjin]

Hello gaijin and nihonjin friends,

Many people have the impression that Japan is a very expensive country. And they are right to think so. I myself have thought so, before coming to Japan. And I still do.

Over time, we all naturally find different ways, different places, different whatever that helps us make the most of our money here in Japan. For example, the "time service" discounts supermarkets have before they close every evening. Or how hitchhiking can get you places for free.

I'm sure you have many ideas. Why don't you share your ideas of how to save money, or how to maximize money while living in Japan.

This way we can learn from each other.


ninjin

[IkemenTommy]

Hey ninjin. Surprisingly, it is NOT impossible to save money in Japan. You just have to make certain sacrifices nonetheless. First of all, you are right. There was a recent article somewhere saying that Tokyo ranks 1st in the most expensive city, and Osaka the 3rd. (someone back me up with the link..)

Through the years, where the money drains the most is food and alcohol. Food can be very expensive if you go out a lot. Convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart are good places to get food cheap. I personally prefer 7-11 because they have better bento selections. Chances are, there is a Yoshinoya nearby your house and they decent food for its money.

Where it costs a lot is when you try to party in Shibooyah or Giroppon. Whenever I go out to those places with my buddies (rarely these days though), it might be a wise thing to pre-party at your pad or BYOB onto the trains. The fellow Japanese citizens will give you that oh-it's-another-F'in-gaijin look but screw them.

Other than that, if you don't give in and indulge yourself with all the electronics at Akihabara or go waste your money at Pachinkos, kyabakuras, and worse.. fuzokus, then you should be set.

[Guile]

Here are my secrets to being a cheap-ass in Japan.

1. Buy the half-price childrens ticket for the train and step over the scale in the turnstile. (I did this a bit when I learned it from a friend, but stopped recently)

2. Don't turn on your AC...besides AC is for pussies.

3. Yoshinoya! Ask any of my 300 students at school what my favorite restaurant is and they'll tell you.

4. You can nickel and dime yourself to death by buying stuff from vending machines. Even just 100 yen for a coffee a day adds up.

5. Instant ramen and cup noodles every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. I did that for almost a week and felt like death by the end of it. Still, it'll save you money!

6. Pay yourself first. Take 10% of whatever you earn and put it somewhere you'll never spend it.

7. I use Quicken and keep track of all my receipts and by the end of the month I can break down the percentages of what I've been spending.

8. Energy usage. If you don't need the light, turn if off etc etc. Pretty much common sense.




That's all I can think of for now.

[Charles]

My ideas:

1. Earn more.
2. Spend less.

[omae mona]

Buy in bulk! On some train lines, by pre-purchasing a stack of "kaisuuken" tickets that can be used only during restricted hours (like 10AM-4PM), you can save several yen per ticket (8 yen is not unheard of). Over a long period of time, this can add up to hundreds of yen! Put that savings into an interest-bearing bank account, and you'll be ready to retire rich before you know it.

Also, for you drivers out there, don't forget to invest in an ETC device for electronic toll payments. That tiny 40,000 investment results in a discount of 480 yen per 10,000 yen worth of tolls, if I remember correctly. After you've traversed the whole of Honshu about 50 times, you'll recoup your investment and be unable to wipe the grin off your face, having found the secret to affordable Happy Car Life in Japan.

[Mulboyne]

Look out for free food

[Greji]

Let the other guy buy at the pub?

I've never bothered to save any money so haven't a clue.

[Mulboyne]

Tabehodai (all you can eat) deals are great. A number of places offer them at lunch and dinner - it all depends where you are.

[karekora]

well, if you come form london, or any part of england, then even though tokyo is ranked as the most expensive country in the world, its one hell of a lot cheaper than london. Some things are more expensive, such as accomodation ( because im a gaijin.... ) and movie tickets, some things are about on par with uk (shinkansen and long distance travel), and some are just cheap! (food, local transport travelling (unless you live on a private train line, then it sucks)....

At first glance, tokyo is expensive. on second glance, you learn. on third glance, you are laughing at the savings!!

sorry, im no help....

supermarkets late at night do discounts on food that is still more than just OK. Also, dont eat out in central tokyo if possible - unless theres a Ootoya around - in there you can get filled for around 600-700yen. otherwise, try chinese places that do chahan and gyoza, usually quite cheap in fast food outlets. eat pasta lots too.

other advice?
dont spend.

[Charles]

Let the other guy buy at the pub?

A guy I know claimed he had traveled all over the world cheaply merely by learning one phrase in each local language, "my friend will pay."

[Greji]

A guy I know claimed he had traveled all over the world cheaply merely by learning one phrase in each local language, "my friend will pay."

Damn Charles, I didn't know we were acquainted! Your round isn't it?

[bobk]

Been lurking for a little while, first time poster, been to Japan numerous times for 2-3 weeks at a time on business over the past 7 years. Now will be moving there "permanently" in November from NJ in the USA with wife.

Slightly different twist on the question - assuming the cost of shipping overseas is not a concern, what consumable items or small household items are so much more expensive over there that it's worth buying a s*itload of them here in the US first? I know all too well that everything is more expensive, but if I have some extra room left over in the container, what should I fill it with (legal suggestions only please )

Also can electric lamps with two-prong plugs purchased in the US be used in Tokyo, presumably with different bulbs?

Thanks for any advice.

[Charles]

A guy I know claimed he had traveled all over the world cheaply merely by learning one phrase in each local language, "my friend will pay."

Damn Charles, I didn't know we were acquainted! Your round isn't it?

Not this round. My friend will pay.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

You can live of like 500 yen a day easily.

Buy like 2 packs of udon and big fish. Or like a bag of rice at the start of the month.

If you buy fish, if you get one intact with all the guts its like 3 times cheaper than a filited one. Warning dont get one with loats of sperm in it.

Go to the supermarkets a half an hour before they close, everything fresh is reduced, if you see a good offer like realy cheap sashimi buy loads of it because you can always fry it the next day.

Use the rest of your 500 yen for a can of beer.

[Greji]

I know all too well that everything is more expensive, but if I have some extra room left over in the container, what should I fill it with (legal suggestions only please ]

This is hard to answer without knowing if you have a place selected (or designated for you) to live yet.

Furniture and appliance will cause you a lot of expense. If your company or whatever, is furnishing a Western styled place obviously your furniture will suffice. But if it is Japanese styled and smaller, you can have space problems.

[quote/]Also can electric lamps with two-prong plugs purchased in the US be used in Tokyo, presumably with different bulbs?

Any electrical appliance will usually have to have two pronged plugs and in Tokyo, your AC will be 100 volt (actual around 90 volts) 50 cycle which will cause problems for a lot of Western appliances. Most motor driven appliances will work but run slow. TV reception can be a problem. Usually, TV's manufactured in the US have to be run through a tuner or in most cases, you can get by routing it through your DVD/video player, but the channels will appear all over the dial in different places and maybe you might not be able to get them all. It is usually better to get your TV here.

Again, the big question is where you will be living, if it is Western, bring all your furniture you can. The appliances you can add apppropriately from here.

Hope this helps!

[IkemenTommy]

[IkemenTommy]

[Mulboyne]

what consumable items or small household items are so much more expensive over there

Curtains. If you know your measurements beforehand, buy them outside Japan.

[IkemenTommy]

Sorry for post-whoring but Sentos can be a cheap way of self-cleansing in Japan.

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?p=101237#post101237

[dimwit]

Eat only instant ramen, entertain yourself by buying comic books from Book Off and spend all your time reading them.

Congraduations! you are now offically an Otaku.

[IkemenTommy]

[Big Booger]

Do most of your summer travelling within Japan by rail using the following:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html

Damn cheap for what you get.

[omae mona]

you can save several yen per ticket (8 yen is not unheard of).

That tiny 40,000 investment results in a discount of 480 yen per 10,000 yen worth of tolls...
After you've traversed the whole of Honshu about 50 times, you'll recoup your investment

On the contrary, I think driving in this country is a waste of money.

Your reply reminded me that I have a long way to go in mastering the art of conveying sarcasm on the Internet without using emoticons.

[bobk]

Thanks gboothe, mulboyne (and all) for the responses.

[IkemenTommy]

you can save several yen per ticket (8 yen is not unheard of).

That tiny 40,000 investment results in a discount of 480 yen per 10,000 yen worth of tolls...
After you've traversed the whole of Honshu about 50 times, you'll recoup your investment

On the contrary, I think driving in this country is a waste of money.

What I should have said was.. (Insert any verb) in this country is a waste of money. In other words, doing anyting is costly.