RetireJapan

Came across this video and wondered what people think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXotw182SWs

Think Ben should be encouraging Japanese to visit his site, too. I'm not particularly frugal but I thought there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary outgoings. Interesting how she said if her husband doesn't sell handsets he has to buy them! Thats seems outrageous.

There are lots of sites like RetireJapan for Japanese speakers. Some more technical, some more general. Ben often references some of those he follows closely in his blog.

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Her math does not seem to add up, does it?

Sales can be brutal in Japan. Postmen are required to buy X amount of New Year`s cards and have to eat the costs if they cannot sell them.

goodandbadjapan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:36 pm Came across this video and wondered what people think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXotw182SWs

Think Ben should be encouraging Japanese to visit his site, too. I'm not particularly frugal but I thought there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary outgoings. Interesting how she said if her husband doesn't sell handsets he has to buy them! Thats seems outrageous.

Actually in real life I have a few Japanese clients! You'd think they'd have better options, eh?

goodandbadjapan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:36 pm Came across this video and wondered what people think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXotw182SWs

Oh my god, 67,000 yen a month for two car loans...

And 95,000 yen a month on insurance???

Uncle Roger sad now.

RetireJapan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:12 am

goodandbadjapan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:36 pm Came across this video and wondered what people think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXotw182SWs

Oh my god, 67,000 yen a month for two car loans...

I've never had a car loan in my life - I just buy cheapish and pay cash, but so many folk I know have two big cars and I'm now wondering if they have loans that aren't far off being a mortgage!

Watched only half of it, but most expenses sounded normal, and for those which were not (like insurance, mobile) she provided an explanation why they are so high (obviously, it is a stupid behavior on their side, but at least she realizes that). Also they have savings insurance so that counts as savings as well. Two car loans - since they live in Saitama, that might be a necessity.
The food is on a more expensive side, but if that includes lunches and eating out, and they buy quality or organic food, than fine as well.
Her cosmetics and hair salon spendings are also on more expensive side, but not too extravagant.
What sounded stupid besides their insurance and phone buying behaviors, it was desire to move to apartment in Tokyo and use trains instead of cars. They should have thought about that before buying a new house and two cars in Saitama (she said they have 33 years left, what means they took the loan only two years ago).

Thanks for sharing this. I'm curious/fascinated about normal Japanese families' expenses.

10% of my take home pay for allowance was surprising. If her husband is paying for clothes, lunch and the like with that money, maybe it makes sense.

10 man for insurance though -- wow. The penalties for breaking contracts on Japanese insurance (tsumitate at least) can be vicious.