Salary

[Siyris]

Concerning drinking nights... there are two types...

there are the types where you actually pay for the drinks you order, and there are nomihoudai. At the first, it's pretty straight forward... at the second, everyone pays the exact same fee... it's not so much about what the bill totals to... it's how it's calculated -- the place charges everyone in your group X amount of yen and everyone in the group can drink as much (or as little) as they want for Y number of hours (typically 2 or 3). If you drink only tea, you still pay the same price as the guy who drank 4 gallons of beer. You're paying for the time, not for what you actually consume.

[Jax]

Darn...I'm one of those super red-faced Asians even when I only drink half a shot. I normally get one or two cocktails or cups of wine at dinners but anymore than that and I get very physically uncomfortable (burning red face, painful heart beat, itchy skin, etc.). Does that = no social life in Japan? :'( I wouldn't mind spending a few extra bucks once in a while but the prospect of paying $50 for a small drink every time isn't too appealing to be honest. For a person my size, I do eat a TON though and I love izayaka food!

To be honest, I really wish some people would stop emphasising drinking. I think it unnecessarily worries and pressures people. While it is an important part of the culture, it is also perfectly ok to choose not to drink and not drinking doesn't mean you won't have a social life. Plenty of JETs get by just fine and you can too.

I'm a 4th year and get out plenty with other ALT friends and Japanese friends, usually without any alcohol involved. So the cost of drinking has never been a concern for me. I can understand that for some it's a big expense, but that doesn't mean it'll be a problem for someone else. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Teari]

I actually like spending weekends in the british pub we have down here, and I have to input that you do drop a pretty penny on a fun night out even here in the US ^^ At least that's one thing that will feel like home hahaha

[AVN]

Darn...I'm one of those super red-faced Asians even when I only drink half a shot. I normally get one or two cocktails or cups of wine at dinners but anymore than that and I get very physically uncomfortable (burning red face, painful heart beat, itchy skin, etc.). Does that = no social life in Japan? :'( I wouldn't mind spending a few extra bucks once in a while but the prospect of paying $50 for a small drink every time isn't too appealing to be honest. For a person my size, I do eat a TON though and I love izayaka food!

To be honest, I really wish some people would stop emphasising drinking. I think it unnecessarily worries and pressures people. While it is an important part of the culture, it is also perfectly ok to choose not to drink and not drinking doesn't mean you won't have a social life. Plenty of JETs get by just fine and you can too.

I'm a 4th year and get out plenty with other ALT friends and Japanese friends, usually without any alcohol involved. So the cost of drinking has never been a concern for me. I can understand that for some it's a big expense, but that doesn't mean it'll be a problem for someone else. I wouldn't worry about it.

I agree with this. I drink but it is hardly a big expense. In fact where I live many of us have to drive so we rarely drink together. Those that do drink don't hold it against me if I don't. For enkai we make arrangements but to me it's more of a once in awhile expense hardly a chunk of my pay.

[AVN]

Me ranting about Tohoku

You ranting about Hokkaido.

Not putting the buses down at all, I have a friend who uses them quite frequently. I'm not that keen on them being a big guy is all.

But ya, we're pretty much in the same boat. 3 hours to either Niigata, Akita or Yamagata airports. 5 hours to Tokyo (even by shin, from Niigata or shinjo (yam line)). I know people who are MUCH further off the track in Tohoku than I am, so I understand where you're coming from even if I don't suffer it myself. What I was getting at before is for Tohoku people to get anywhere they HAVE to go through Tokyo first, whereas you have other options. (Ie, it's cheaper for you based on the math you gave me to get to kyoto than me, and it's FAR faster. We're about the same price to Tokyo itself). It's also cheaper to travel with those budget air lines at the drop of a hat, and purchasing say 2 days in advance you get much steeper discounts with the budget lines than you do with ana for instance.

Either way, we're pretty equally hosed on transit, you just have more options on your route, and we have buses.

Sticking with my prior statement. Depending on placement better or the same in my eyes.

[HerrKaiser]

Anyone know what the expectation should be for Canadian JETs?

Take off another 7000 - 8000 yen a month for taxes approximately (I pay 7900 but then it's given back to me but it won't be for you).
That's my best guess off the top of my head so more like:

200 000 - 240 000 a month, maybe more depending on the season and your bills.
The 200 000 is for higher rent, the 240 000 and up would be for subsidized/free rent.

Sorry, really quickly wanted clarification on this (I know this was from the beginning of the thread). The "7000-8000" is that ON TOP of the 20 000 or whatever was taken off for he US JETs? As in a total of 27 000 - 28 000. Or is it only 7000 - 8000 taken off.
Also, what has changed which makes it so we are no longer given it back? (You said its given back to you but not to us).

:/ sorry to ask so many questions, but my interview is tomorrow and I am finding the forums absolutely too entertaining, distracting and reassuring.

[AVN]

Anyone know what the expectation should be for Canadian JETs?

Take off another 7000 - 8000 yen a month for taxes approximately (I pay 7900 but then it's given back to me but it won't be for you).
That's my best guess off the top of my head so more like:

200 000 - 240 000 a month, maybe more depending on the season and your bills.
The 200 000 is for higher rent, the 240 000 and up would be for subsidized/free rent.

Sorry, really quickly wanted clarification on this (I know this was from the beginning of the thread). The "7000-8000" is that ON TOP of the 20 000 or whatever was taken off for he US JETs? As in a total of 27 000 - 28 000. Or is it only 7000 - 8000 taken off.
Also, what has changed which makes it so we are no longer given it back? (You said its given back to you but not to us).

:/ sorry to ask so many questions, but my interview is tomorrow and I am finding the forums absolutely too entertaining, distracting and reassuring.

The 7000 - 8000 is how much you will pay in taxes every month (I believe Americans are exempt from this for 2 years though).

The 200 000 - 240 000 is what you will likely take home after major expenses each month.

[jim]

Some JETS take home 240,000 a month after bills / tax / housing?!!!

I don't get anywhere close to that, and I'm in a prefecture that most Japanese people haven't heard of. Good old ESID.

[AVN]

Some JETS take home 240,000 a month after bills / tax / housing?!!!

I don't get anywhere close to that, and I'm in a prefecture that most Japanese people haven't heard of. Good old ESID.

Well I'm talking about those coming next year and I don't see why not.
I also said as low as 200 000 (maybe lower in extremes)
Depending on rent. For example in my placement my housing is free and my bills (only the major three, water, gas, and electricity) usually come to under 20 000.

Now if you take into account health and pension around it will drop again but it should still be close to 200 000

240 000 is kind of a best case scenario

[jim]

I think next year the takehome pay will be down to about 230,000 a month before bills.

Bear in mind free rent is not all that common, most JETs have smartphones that cost the best part of a man a month, and many have to buy / rent cars etc. I'd say that 200,000 per month after all outgoings is higher end of the scale. If you're in a big city you could be closer to 150,000 or less.

[AVN]

I think next year the takehome pay will be down to about 230,000 a month before bills.

Bear in mind free rent is not all that common, most JETs have smartphones that cost the best part of a man a month, and many have to buy / rent cars etc. I'd say that 200,000 per month after all outgoings is higher end of the scale. If you're in a big city you could be closer to 150,000 or less.

Well I didn't include the small bills like phone, car, insurance etc because everyone will have different wants and needs. I know some people who pay 2000 a month for their phone and others 20 000...
I said I didn't include pension and health that's another 3ish man out of their pay.
I actually know a lot of people with free/subsidized rent but maybe that's because I'm in Hokkaido.

I remember though that even when I worked at an eikaiwa and got paid less than the new JETs will make I took home more than 150 000 a month.
I also paid 50 000 a month in rent another 1-2 man in bills and health insurance (not national so little bit cheaper but not much) and I had to pay taxes as well.

[Musashi]

In short, you'll likely have plenty money to do everything you want. Don't get too hung up on cash and go down the route of the penny-pinching student / backpacker lifestyle that many JETs do.

Many of these people spend their whole contract eating cup ramen and refusing to leave their apartments. Don't go down that route!

I know many JETs, both past and present, who lived on JET as though they were camping in their house. There was little to no personal touches. They didn't buy any new furniture or creature comforts at all. They tried to use as little heat as possible constantly freezing pipes and complaining about the cold. They rarely traveled and when they did they camped, some because they liked camping and that's cool, but some did it to save money.

So just remind yourself don't go crazy spending but don't penny pinch to the point of being unhappy and not making the most of your time in Japan!

I've seen someone refuse to buy a donut as it would "break" one of the many 1000 yen notes in their wallet. Utterly baffling.

People like that are huge question marks.

I went on a road trip with a few friends, and this one alt I just met and who came wanted to spend a 4 week road trip only spending 20.000¥ or something ridiculous like that.

She basically stole from us by not chipping in for food and gas (everyone was supposed to pay in, but she didn't and said she did..) and buying herself food and booze with our potted money.

Anyhow, I've definitely met quite a few money grubbers on JET.. It's best not go travel or eat out with those types lest you don't mind footing their bill.

[Namisuke]

Even though I could save money here, I keep spending it on trips and outings. If your goal for coming to Japan is to travel around, expect to have less in your savings account. Learn all you can about how to save here and there and where the best deals are if this is also your plan. This is ESPECIALLY true if you are planning to come with someone who you will need to support and then enjoy Japan at the same time. That is another reason why I couldn't save money so much last year (that and having to move and pay key money again, arg!).

[Gizmotech]

Okay, I'm gonna continue talking about drinking for a second, and I agree with Nicklar that this could be its own thread.

Japan has a social drinking culture. If you get involved with Japanese people, making Japanese friends, and going to Japanese events, you will likely be drinking. It's the same kind of mentality as visiting an old buddy was 30 years ago in the states. You show up, they offer you a beer, you drink. Within the ALT communities, if you happen to have one nearby, you might find people who are not part of the Japanese social structure who are okay with non-drinking events. Also among younger Japanese you will find many non-drinkers as well, but after a certain point this becomes much harder. Being the non-drinker at an event that isn't ALT run can be amazingly stressful from my own experience, and the only reason I wasn't drinking is I had had a bit too much the night before.

However, all of that is related to Japanese people and Japanese drinking culture. ALT drinking culture can be highly varied from non-drinkers, to nightly drinkers, to full blown alcoholics. A lot of ALTs in their first year tend to go a little overboard at the beginning as well, which is understandable given it's a new experience, a stressful experience, and for many it's the first time they've been this much on their own before in their lives. Finally, there is the problem that in many cases it's a very different type of alcohol to consume and some ALTs have to find their limits again... Me and Japanese beer do not get along... it goes down too easy (mainly because its tasteless... like coors light) and before you know it you're three sheets to the wind with the worst preservative headache you've ever had coming the next day

All this means is you could spend a lot of money, being outside the group really can suck, and drinking culture is very different in Japan.

[KIKKI.K]

The reason why it's a big thing in Japan for japanese people, is that they use it as an excuse to let their guard down and be themselves, after having to hold their tongue all day at work etc....

I know plenty of ALTs who either don't drink, or are not big drinkers... I'm not a big drinker myself... It doesn't mean you have to feel like you're outside of the group, or not welcome.