EEducation in Japan

Tips on how to save money in Japan

  • September 30, 2024

Here are some money saving tips whilst living in Japan.

  1. Use the time limit savings option in banks like SMBC or MUFG bank.
    Don't use Yucho (Japan Post), because the shortest time limit savings you can do is 3 months.

When you earn your salary, you can use your app to transfer some of your money into a time limit savings account for 1 month, which has a 0.125% interest.
If you deposit them in a maturity account, then you will get compound interest. This is the smartest way to regularly save money.
I recommend a 1 month time limit saving option, as you can use it in case of emergency much more easily.

  1. Use apps like moomoo to invest in NISA. Japanese government allows all foreigners and Japanese to invest in ETFs like S&P 500, NASDAQ and Nikkei 225 in Nisa accounts, WITHOUT TAX.
    Sure if you reach a certain ridiculous amount, then you are taxed, but most people never reach such amounts.

  2. Learn to cook. Don't eat out or deliver food often. I personally deleted Uber Eats app from my phone, to rid of temptation. I now can cook all 3 meals at home, and this saves a lot of money on a monthly basis.
    Also buy all your snacks, drinks, desserts, treats from the supermarket, not the convenience stores. Supermarkets are much cheaper.

  3. Buy your favorite sauces or food from Rakuten online or Amazon in bulks and accumulate Rakuten or Amazon points

  4. Switch to cheap mobile service providers like Rakuten Mobile.
    Here is the link.
    They have unlimited data and it will only cost you 3300 yen max per month.
    Here is the referal link so you can get free points when signing up.

今なら、下のURLからの初めてのご契約で、他社から電話番号そのまま乗り換えなら13,000ポイント、それ以外のお申し込みでも6,000ポイントがもらえます！ ※2
https://r10.to/hkBOzb?openExternalBrowser=1

  1. If you can't cook to save your life, then eat frozen ready made foods like NOSH or Mitsuboshi farm. If you have a big fridge, you can buy them in bulks.

  2. Utilize Mericari (2nd hand online shop) or 2nd street for clothes and other stuff.
    OFF HOUSE is another 2nd hand thrift store that can save you heaps of money.
    There are also Facebook groups that give out free furniture from time to time (when foreigners leave Japan).

  3. Use point cards, shop applications, coupons. Matsumoto Kiyoshi always have 15% off coupons in their apps. I always use it to buy laundry detergents or shampoo.

  4. Don't buy new books! Get a kindle and read electronically or borrow books from your local library. It can be a great hobby

  5. Utilize going to public places like parks and libraries to save electricity, especially in summer

  6. Get a bike and use it more often to go places.

  7. Connect your train card to JRE point. And save these points each time you ride the train

  8. It's worth signing up on regular places you go to. Whether it's memberships or coupons.

  9. Most medicines you can get off the counter. Just research online about the right medications for your symptoms. You don't need to go to a doctor if you find the right ones.

  10. Rather than shopping for new furniture and appliances, always consider second hand ones first. A lot of them are in good condition.

Hope these tips help. They really helped me.

by butterlettuceham

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