I invest but I’m not an investor
You should probably invest too I applied for a credit card in March 2022. The reason I did so then is because I was still employed, but due to finish my contract at the end of the month. From April, I would not have a job and it would be hard if not impossible to […]
The Monday Read: the End of Summer?
Welcome to The Monday Read, RetireJapan’s weekly collection of content, musings, and links related to personal finance and life in Japan. My daughter said this last week. “I think summer is over.” Now, that might initially seem like something an insane person would say, given that we’ve had 30+ days all week, but I think […]
Life insurance to bridge expenses after death
What costs will your family incur when you pass away? Will they have access to short-term funds? A life insurance policy could be a good option to avoid extra heartache.
The Monday Read: Hobbling Around
Welcome to The Monday Read, RetireJapan’s weekly collection of content, musings, and links related to personal finance and life in Japan. Well, I am still lounging around at home being lazy this week, but due to go back to work tomorrow. The knee is surprisingly good -mostly pain-free unless I forget what positions are unsafe, […]
Japan Pension Update 2023
Back to the postcard Everyone paying into nenkin should receive an annual update, called nenkin teikibin (ねんきん定期便). This will either arrive by post, usually in the form of a postcard, or (if you have selected the option) will only be delivered via the nenkin website. Personally I opt to receive the postal version as I […]
The Monday Read: Hospital Again
Welcome to The Monday Read, RetireJapan’s weekly collection of content, musings, and links related to personal finance and life in Japan. I had an operation last Thursday, my second one in Japan. This time was much shorter (3 nights vs. 3.5 weeks in hospital), different hospital (medium sized clinic vs. large general hospital) and so […]
The Monday Read: Banshee and Focus
Welcome to The Monday Read, RetireJapan’s weekly collection of content, musings, and links related to personal finance and life in Japan. I’ve been binging Banshee, a TV show from 2013, this week. It’s a bit hit and miss, but I love the starting titles and theme tune. The titles change each time and foreshadow the […]
The loser mindset
The seductive qualities of helplessness Have you ever had someone ask you for advice about something, then immediately reject the advice you gave because it was impossible for them to do it? I call this the loser response. I’ve written about it before. It popped up again on Twitter recently. I get it. I even […]
The Monday Read: Heat degrades productivity
Welcome to The Monday Read, RetireJapan’s weekly collection of content, musings, and links related to personal finance and life in Japan. It’s not actually that hot in Sendai (comparatively), and the humidity has been a lot less oppressive than in recent memory, but it does drag on. The fact that it doesn’t get much cooler […]
Investing in Health: Home Gym
Making it easy to do the right thing (this is the latest in our ‘investing in health‘ series of blog posts) I’ve always struggled to maintain an exercise habit. Unlike saving or investing, it is not really possible to put it on autopilot. Over the years I have been a runner (was doing 30km practice […]