Salary

[jim]

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!

[AVN]

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!

[jim]

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.

[KIKKI.K]

Hi guys, I understand that in general the JET salary is more than enough to cover all your expenses, but I do have one thing I am concerned about, which is my student loans. I have to pay around $1200/month on my loans and while by my calculations I should be able to pay that just fine I'm still a little worried that I might have to live as a hermit because of it, especially if I get placed somewhere with high rent, etc.

I guess my main question is, are there any JETs in this sort of situation and are you surviving? lol I'm not too worried but I feel like when people talk about how much money they save on JET those ppl don't have these extra payments that I will...wondered if I could get some more perspectivve.

If you are placed somewhere with high rent, then yes, it might be a bit tough for the first 2-3 months before you get used to things, and get into a routine... eating out and drinking is generally cheaper in Japan than in your home country... You also might need to be a bit tougher on sticky to your budget, but it shouldn't be 'uncomfortable' per se...

Just try to make smart purchasing choices.... like maybe wait a little before refurnishing your apartment etc...

[cate]

Thanks for all your replies everyone. I know that ESID and I'll just have to be smart and work out a budget once I get there...I know I'll have enough money but I just really don't want to be like those people you mentioned who live in apartments with bare walls and just stay at home eating cup ramen all the time lol. At the same time, well I spent a semester in Kyoto two years ago and after three months of eating, drinking, travelling, and lots more drinking, I realized I had a month left in a foreign country and no money in my bank account. I don't plan on doing that again haha but I'd like to find a balance somewhere in between the two extremes, you know?

Anyway I'm pretty good at handling my money now but the student loan payments are a source of stress and I definitely don't want to be worrying about them too much while I'm on JET...guess I'll just have to work it out when I get there! (if I get there haha let's not jinx it yet)

[KIKKI.K]

one word, for all your decorating needs: Daiso^^
the 100yen shops are pretty good, and not everything is crap :p

also, wow, my bills are so expensive compared to some people here.... jealous... :p

[AVN]

one word, for all your decorating needs: Daiso^^
the 100yen shops are pretty good, and not everything is crap :p

also, wow, my bills are so expensive compared to some people here.... jealous... :p

How much are your bills?
My gas is 2000 in the summer and over 10 000 in the winter.
My water is between 3000 and 6000 for 2 months
My electricity averages out to 5500 over the year


Also I love how because Daiso has pretty consistent stock you can go into any ALT house in Japan and you're likely to find at least one dish you have in common.

I personally don't buy much in the way of decoration/accessories in Daiso I prefer Nittori and Homac but that might be partially because I don't like the quality of much of the Daiso stuff and I intend to stay in Japan post JET and I was in Japan pre-JET

[jim]

For most UK JETs at least, the salary they recieve on the programme will quite possibly be larger than any salary they will recieve after it. At current exchange rates it's almost equal to the top pay scale for secondary teachers. I've got a a marketing degree, which like all marketing degrees recieved after 2007 isn't worth the paper it's printed on, and I'd need well over a decade's experience in that field before I could come close to the JET money.

Don't worry about bare walls. You can buy a pretty large HD flatscreen TV without blinking.

[AVN]

For most UK JETs at least, the salary they recieve on the programme will quite possibly be larger than any salary they will recieve after it. At current exchange rates it's almost equal to the top pay scale for secondary teachers. I've got a a marketing degree, which like all marketing degrees recieved after 2007 isn't worth the paper it's printed on, and I'd need well over a decade's experience in that field before I could come close to the JET money.

Don't worry about bare walls. You can buy a pretty large HD flatscreen TV without blinking.

Unless you have debts... or need to save your money for something else...

[fiori]

For most UK JETs at least, the salary they recieve on the programme will quite possibly be larger than any salary they will recieve after it. At current exchange rates it's almost equal to the top pay scale for secondary teachers. I've got a a marketing degree, which like all marketing degrees recieved after 2007 isn't worth the paper it's printed on, and I'd need well over a decade's experience in that field before I could come close to the JET money.

Don't worry about bare walls. You can buy a pretty large HD flatscreen TV without blinking.

Unless you have debts... or need to save your money for something else...

Or if you have a girlfriend

[KIKKI.K]

one word, for all your decorating needs: Daiso^^
the 100yen shops are pretty good, and not everything is crap :p

also, wow, my bills are so expensive compared to some people here.... jealous... :p

How much are your bills?
My gas is 2000 in the summer and over 10 000 in the winter.
My water is between 3000 and 6000 for 2 months
My electricity averages out to 5500 over the year


Also I love how because Daiso has pretty consistent stock you can go into any ALT house in Japan and you're likely to find at least one dish you have in common.

I personally don't buy much in the way of decoration/accessories in Daiso I prefer Nittori and Homac but that might be partially because I don't like the quality of much of the Daiso stuff and I intend to stay in Japan post JET and I was in Japan pre-JET

my electricity is usually about 5000 in the summer (need the aircon on to sleep), about 3500 in spring and autumn, and bout 10,000 in winter... gas 10k in winter (no idea how!! it's not like i have long showers), about 5k otherwise, water 6500 every 2 months, phone about 8k, internet 5300, i also keep my landline for emergencies.... basically about 3man in the summer, 4 man in the winter....

Lol, i suggested Daiso coz it'll tide you over and a lot of the stuff is the same quality as you'd find elsewhere, just a fraction of the price... some things though... definitely don't do daiso.... :p

[Siyris]

For most UK JETs at least, the salary they recieve on the programme will quite possibly be larger than any salary they will recieve after it. At current exchange rates it's almost equal to the top pay scale for secondary teachers. I've got a a marketing degree, which like all marketing degrees recieved after 2007 isn't worth the paper it's printed on, and I'd need well over a decade's experience in that field before I could come close to the JET money.

Don't worry about bare walls. You can buy a pretty large HD flatscreen TV without blinking.

Unless you have debts... or need to save your money for something else...

Even if you have debts and are saving money, odds are you'll be able to find a decent sized flat screen for pretty cheap. I got my 32" one for just under 4man since it was last year's model.... TVs that were 26" were the same price. I had to wait about two months before I could afford it, but so long as you plan in advance, you can pretty much buy anything you need or want.


Best advice to anyone worried about money is planning it out. It sucks when you have to do it, but it sucks more if you have something you have been planning on doing for a while and only a day before it's supposed to happen you realize you can't afford it.

[stefaluff]

I have a random question not about salary, but what would be the best way to send home money in the US to pay off annoying things like a credit card and student loans? I've been reading the Surviving in Japan blog, but I don't know if it would be easier to start a Citigroup account and wire/transfer money, or to send home traveler's checks? Any current/former JETs have any advice on that situation? Thanks!

[OttawaPC]

I have a random question not about salary, but what would be the best way to send home money in the US to pay off annoying things like a credit card and student loans? I've been reading the Surviving in Japan blog, but I don't know if it would be easier to start a Citigroup account and wire/transfer money, or to send home traveler's checks? Any current/former JETs have any advice on that situation? Thanks!

The GIH has some information about this on page 145. I would recommend using an overseas remittance account such as Citibank and Lloyds. While I was in Japan I used Go Lloyds which was very easy to set up as they provided Japanese instructions to give to your bank and English ones for yourself.

[AVN]

I have a random question not about salary, but what would be the best way to send home money in the US to pay off annoying things like a credit card and student loans? I've been reading the Surviving in Japan blog, but I don't know if it would be easier to start a Citigroup account and wire/transfer money, or to send home traveler's checks? Any current/former JETs have any advice on that situation? Thanks!

The GIH has some information about this on page 145. I would recommend using an overseas remittance account such as Citibank and Lloyds. While I was in Japan I used Go Lloyds which was very easy to set up as they provided Japanese instructions to give to your bank and English ones for yourself.

I agree on the Go Lloyds I use it regularly and have never had a problem.