Pushing the limits of frugal living in Tokyo.
Aug 5th, 2009 by Lee Shichi M.
You may have noticed that I added a new tab up top, “The List“. The List will be a growing list of things I want to see and experience in Japan when I return in 2010 for a year at Temple University Tokyo. I have money/student loans for my airfare, apartment, tuition, and food…but it gets tricky after that. I have to stretch a rather unimpressive amount of money over about twelve months, I’ll be impressed if I pull together 2,000. (I’m also doing a full summer semester). I also refuse to overly indebt myself in plastic. This quite a conundrum for someone as enamored with travel, good food and fashion as I am.
Ironic that I start thinking about this as Frugalista Japan prepares to host the the next Japan Blog Matsuri; Frugal Living in Japan. So as the blog community begins to compile their hints for living on a budget, I’ll be listening. I’ll have to figure out how to have the time of my life without rampant materialism!
Now, I probably only spent 400 dollars in my last month in Japan (Not counting VK shopping sprees). I found some great cheap restaurants with big portions in Yotsuya that I’ll definitely try to replicate (600 yen for a dinner with sides? Yay!) What’s working in my favor so far?
Well:
-Temple has discount programs for cell phones, and I think subway passes.
-I’m athletic, I’ll probably pick up a cheap bike.
-I’m perfectly fine eating cheap local food
-I don’t need anything more then a bed, desk, and internet in my apartment
-I’m perfectly happy spending a day photographing
-I’ll be able to attend concerts as press to continue providing blog content
So Bloggers, readers, what’s amazing and cheap in Japan?!
…I don’t think I could pull off a Nasubi…
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You’ll want to hit the Saturday morning Salvation Army thrift shop in Nakano-Fujimicho (and local Sunday flea markets everywhere) for all kinds of supercheap castoffs.
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Haha as I was reading this I found that apart from going to university I will be doing almost the same thing. In 2010 I’ll be going to stay for a year in Tokyo as a transfer student in Tokyo and quite like you will be pressed for money =.=; …
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