Sometimes you just need a bit of a break
Well, I am back at home and enjoying gettting back into my regular routine.
It’s amazing how much difference a week or so off can make.
The trip was great, I had a really good time in Shikoku and will certainly be going back again. Shodoshima was a highlight, we stayed in this renovated akiya style besso development at the top of a cliff and I am tempted to try and buy it, that is how much I liked it 😉
While away I had a few talks with my wife, and now have a working plan for the next couple of years.
Because we came up with the plan together, I feel more at peace with it too. It is not something being imposed on me (that I resent) but rather something I believe in. Hopefully it will all go as we hope. I will keep you posted!
YouTube
Thank you for your support of the RetireJapan YouTube channel. Made a short video about not moving to Japan if you are unhappy.
Had originally planned to shoot and edit it properly, but didn’t have time so just shot it on the way to work and posted it more or less as is…
Why did you come to Japan? Were you originally planning to stay?
RetireJapan TV
We are going to do a low-key RetireJapan TV episode this evening. No guest, just Daniel and me. We’ll be hanging out and chatting from 20:00. Join us live to ask questions or comment, or catch the replay later on.
The RetireJapan Guide to NISA 2024 edition
Will be published on June 30th. If you have bought a previous version of the Guide, you will receive a complimentary copy of the new edition when it is released.
If you haven’t bought the Guide to NISA yet, and would like a copy, we are running a half price presale until it is published. If you buy the 2024 version you will also get free copies of new editions when they are released.
Please tell your friends and colleagues about this. The Guide will never be this cheap again.
The Forum
The Forum is doing well (35,505 posts so far). Excitingly, we now have over 2,000 registered members (2,191 currently). The forum rules are here. In essense, they are:
- Be nice
- Ask any question you like
- Only answer questions when you have relevant knowledge or experience
Here are the latest active threads:
This week’s books
I read The Three Alarms, by Eric Partaker. It’s quite a short read and not particularly groundbreaking, but I got some value for it. The author is Ali Abdaal’s business coach, which is where I got the recommendation from.
Still reading The Algebra of Wealth and The Invisibles. They are both good but more something to read a bit at a time rather than all at once.
This week’s gadget
Got a FANCY new kettle. One of the hotels we stayed at in Shikoku had one of these, and my wife was really impressed with it.
Really fast to boil, you can set the temperature and keep it warm, and the spout is super accurate. Recommend.
This week’s links
- I hope I go quickly, or at least before losing my faculties: My Death Odyssey
- Inspiring. If MMM can end up there, it’s no wonder I do too: The Ultimate Life Coach
- I’m not sure I needed this much perspective: How To Blow-Up Your Portfolio In Six Minutes
- Maybe: Investing £20k in the US now will lose you almost £8k, says fund manager
- Interesting but not for me: The Life Hedge
- This is so important, and why I do what I do: When Life Forces Your Hand
- Seeing what this looks like in Shikoku was kind of bracing: Japan’s fertility rate sank to record low in 2023: estimate
- Yikes: Kyoto is the worst run city in Japan
- In my experience lots of Japanese guys need to read this: Don’t Be “That Guy” at a Japanese Hot Spring or Public Bath
- Great: Happy fun Cold War 2 update
- Oooh, I want to try this: ‘Like drinking a music festival’: this is ultrasonic coffee – but does it taste any good?
- Inconclusive! My Search for the Original Mrs. Watanabe
- This seems healthy: Japan contends with the consequences of a sellers’ job market
- Not sure this will end well: FamilyMart Desperately Needs More Franchisees – No Experience Necessary
- Running a school has been very good to me and my wife: 52 reasons you should teach English for yourself in Japan
- This post from last year held up well: How Much Is Enough to Retire in Japan?
What do you think? Anything interesting in there?
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#5 – hmmmm……sounds like he might have a new paid offering coming 😉 But I’ve learned a lot from him.
Some of the comments after the article are interesting. One person recommends shorting (or have puts) in the company stock you work for so that if you get fired or the industry goes sideways, you’ve got a hedge. That I had never, ever considered this as part of diversification. And I don’t think I will, too counterintuitive and somewhat de-motivating.
Ha, ha, it is a bit depressing.
But not having too much of your net worth invested in your employer or industry probably makes sense.
Don’t be like my wife’s cousin who worked for JAL and put most of their money in JAL so when JAL went bankrupt they lost their job and most of their savings…
I know many people that did that, particularly at companies that allow stock purchase programs where you can buy company stock at a discount. Agree with you, too much net worth in a single source is too much risk for me personally. But the stock purchase programs can be useful. For example, buy the stock at a discount and sell immediately, take the earnings and put them elsewhere (just don’t forget the capital gains tax bill later).