Interest on splitting a payment for Rakuten CC

[KCLenny]

It’s being installed tomorrow, and I bought it second hand so all in was only 50,000.

I hope you have a decent guarantee on that. Secondhand electricals can turn out to be duds as you don't know what you are buying particularly if you are a foreigner with limited Japanese ability. For future reference, if they won't give you a five-year guarantee walk away.

I knew of a foreign guy who used to offload all kinds of crap he got from the garbage stations to fresh off the boat arrivals.

Thanks for the concern. Fortunately I’ve had a Japanese friend helping me both order it and deal with the construction company since the issues. My current AC was also second hand and my friend helped with that too. Different company though. But yeah, my friend also mentioned about the guarantees. Had it for a year so far and been great.

[TokyoBoglehead]

However, I personally take exception to an AC being qualified as luxury though.

And for some people the latest iPhone is a necessity and not a 'luxury'. These things are relative. The OP doesn't have any spare cash. If he had a sudden family emergency and needed to go back to the UK with his wife, he would need to shell out 600,000 yen plus just for flight tickets. He needs to be financially prepared for those kinds of eventualities.

An aircon is a 'luxury' in the sense an electric fan would serve as a much cheaper and adequate alternative to an aircon. There is no way that I would pay 100,000 yen plus for an aircon if I didn't have the money to pay for it. It seems likely by the time the Op's aircon is installed; it will be noticeably cooler, and he won't even use the thing.

For families, especially those with younger children it is mandatory. For those with medical conditions it is essential. I think you are picking a strange hill to die on here. Returning to your home country last minute? I would argue that is a luxury.

[Roger Van Zant]

The other month I took out 120,000 yen in cash from an ATM using my credit card to cover an emergency, so called キャッシング.
I paid it back in full when my next bill came and the interest was around 3500 yen.
Very useful to have a credit card which allows cash withdrawals; has saved my bacon on a number of occasions!

[CarlB]

Returning to your home country last minute? I would argue that is a luxury.

Strange that you prioritize electrical machines over dealing with family emergencies in your home country. But some people are like that I guess.

[goran]

The other month I took out 120,000 yen in cash from an ATM using my credit card to cover an emergency, so called キャッシング.
I paid it back in full when my next bill came and the interest was around 3500 yen.
Very useful to have a credit card which allows cash withdrawals; has saved my bacon on a number of occasions!

How much will the interest rate for this kind of deal be？Just curious.
If the bill came the following month, then around 2.92% per month?
Or may be it works some other way.

[RetireJapan]

Strange that you prioritize electrical machines over dealing with family emergencies in your home country. But some people are like that I guess.

This is not really the tone we want to see here on the forum. Please reread this: viewtopic.php?t=1175

[TokyoBoglehead]

Strange that you prioritize electrical machines over dealing with family emergencies in your home country. But some people are like that I guess.

It is an order of priorities. Dealing with the real and immediate before the hypothetical.

Keeping a large emergency fund just in case for last minute tickets home is a luxury that many cannot afford. Choosing not to return home for a funeral/bereavement is absolutely a real and devastating choice people make every single day.

I have students simulate household budgeting on low/minimum wages in japan, and plan accordingly including savings. It is very very difficult especially when you are supporting another family member. It is a great exercise to teach many important skills, not least of which, empathy.

[CarlB]

It is an order of priorities. Dealing with the real and immediate before the hypothetical.

Keeping a large emergency fund just in case for last minute tickets home is a luxury that many cannot afford. Choosing not to return home for a funeral/bereavement is absolutely a real and devastating choice people make every single day.

I have students simulate household budgeting on low/minimum wages in japan, and plan accordingly including savings. It is very very difficult especially when you are supporting another family member. It is a great exercise to teach many important skills, not least of which, empathy.

If you have aging parents, it is more than 'hypothetical' that they will face health issues in the in the not-too-distant future. As a case in point, two colleagues have returned to their home countries to visit parents who had serious medical issues in recent months.

I'm sure most people would try to make sure they are prepared as they can be for such eventualities even if it means making sacrifices by not having other things. I would argue that the main point of having an 'emergency fund' is to make sure you are covered for family emergencies.

[KCLenny]

Travelling on a plane is a luxury. If one of my family member passes away, would good would spending hundreds or thousands of pounds to go back to the uk do? That’s the luxury. It’s not actually necessary. Needing an aircon to make sure I don’t die from heatstroke kind of is a necessity.

Either way, this isn’t the topic of the post. I just wanted to know the interest situation of splitting payments. That’s all. I don’t need advice on why I should be saving money for a hypothetical situation to see my hypothetical family in my home country.

Thanks for all who helped me with my original question.

[beanhead]

Strange that you prioritize electrical machines over dealing with family emergencies in your home country. But some people are like that I guess.

This is not really the tone we want to see here on the forum. Please reread this: viewtopic.php?t=1175

Looks like your gentle warning did not work.