Moving to Tokyo soon, what are some of the best ways to save money?

15 comments

1. – if you are single, supermarket usually have many bentos, meats, vegetables, etc in discounts at night (>8pm). If not, it’s better to cook.
   – check second hand store when you want to fill your house/apt. You can get many good furnitures in a good price.

2. – drink at home

   – live in a sharehouse

   – eat cheap food

   – don’t go to girly bar in Roppongi or Kabukicho

   – don’t ever move apartment

   – don’t be an English teacher

3. Eat all your meals out of 7-11

4. Tutor English on side for cash
   Do proxy shipping to overseas buyers (yahoo auctions, fashion etc)
   Learn about points systems – rakuten etc
   Dollar stores
   Investigate manga kissa with nicer sleeping/shower arrangements if you need accommodations while traveling etc

5. Lived there for a year but my useless advice is the same anywhere, master the art of the spruced up ramen bowl lol – instant ramen with eggs, green onions, etc., I got so good at it that I genuinely liked it. Was paying off student debt at the time. Good luck friend!

6. 業務スーパー

7. buy a rice cooker

8. Not moving to Tokyo!

9. Taking the burger company and making it entirely vegy

10. 2 words “don quijote”

11. cook barley and potatoes into your rice

    #oldschool

12. Stay single, don’t have kids, don’t eat out as much…

13. Move to Sendai

14. * Find the best priced supermarkets. Don’t simply walk into random supermarkets and assume those are just the default prices because they simply aren’t.
    * Drug stores are often cheaper than convenience stores which includes snacks, drinks, etc.
    * Avoid expensive bars in Roppongi, Ginza, etc.
    * Avoid tourist traps if you can.
    * Use points systems as much as you can.
    * Don’t get into the habit of buying 500/600+ yen bento boxes twice a day. Cook your own food and only buy them if you’re too tired/hungry.
    * Check for prices at Amazon and compare them with the shops if you need to.
    * Buy furniture and related goods at shops like Nitori and clothing at UNIQLO.
    * When riding the train always make sure you’re not taking the more expensive path using an app.
    * Check Yahoo! Auctions. You can find really useful things on there for very low prices.
    * Be careful when you do taxes and make sure that you’re getting everything back. Compare your tax return to your coworkers if you can.
    * Avoid any obvious “YAKINIKU ENGLISH MENU HERE PREMIUM MEAT” type places in Shinjuku, Shibuya, etc. if you can. There’s a chance you can finder cheaper places (especially chains).

15. Doing a bunch of extra work to save a few hundred yen here and there sounds like more effort than it’s worth.

    Spending a lot of money is good for the economy. Also buy some real estate.