Okay. So yesterday was pay day in Tokyo. Strangely, people in Japan usually get paid once a month. Which means, people here really gotta manage their money well or else they'll be screwed for the month.

Through a casual conversation I found out that a few co-workers live dangerously from pay cheque to pay cheque.

One guy only had 1000 yen left (about $10) in his wallet and zero in his bank the day before pay day.

Scary. I don't think I could sleep. I guess security means a lot more to me than fun o entertainment.

Anyway, my mid-month update:

1. So far I am doing very well. I earned "Free Money" of $110 (see previous post if you are interested).

2. I've only managed to spend about $120 on groceries for two people for 15 days!

3. I did my finally calculations for December 2006, and I had about $400 USD in excess after I've already put away 40% of my monthly income!

I am in great shape this month, though, some expenses are about to come since I will be on a mini-vacation to southern Japan next week for 5 days.

Nevertheless, my rewards travel fund should suffice.

So I went to work yesterday when I really really didn't want to. I mean, I wasn't sick or anything, but I was having one of those days where you just don't feel like going to work.

I so wanted to call my boss and make up a lame excuse of coming down with a stomach virus or something. The last time I called in sick was in June, 2005.

Anyway, I didn't. I went to work on time, as usual, and I made about $110 yesterday.

I am happy. Since that feels like a bonus or free money to me. So yesterday after work, I bought my honey some treats (chocolate cakes), and Sashimi (raw fish) and we both had a feast.

I wanted to use more of my "free money" but we only ended up spending $15. Pretty good eh?

Yup, feels like extra cash to me!

Odd mentality!

So earlier this year I said I would donate some money every month to a charity organization for my cause.

Well, I did. I did my donation in a lump sum value too, rather than monthly payments.

I figured, might as well start now and get it over with. It wasn't a lot of money, just $50. But I hope that helps.

This year I donated to a centre for Battered Women, and domestic abuse.

Next year, I will donate my money to Gay & Lesbian Youth Support agencies.

The year after that, Heart and Stoke Fundation.

Wow...good to know that my charity plan is all done and taken care of. Yay!

Good to learn that I am also true to my own words!! hehehehe

I have been living on my own for almost 2 years now, and all I can say is that life is great!!

It is when I stop and really take a look at my life do I realize just how lucky I am - to learn the skills I have now and to continue to learn new skills everyday.

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My mother is a wonderful cook. When I was living with my mom, she would make these amazing Asian dishes!! Things like sweet & sour pork, sushi rolls, steamed buns easily surfaced from her kitchen.

I, on the other hand, was a terrible cook. Even, my younger brother was better than me.

I remember I used to wait around on Sunday mornings for my younger brother to get hungry so that he would jump into the kitchen first and make lunch for the two of us while mom was away.

I was never a picky eater so things worked out just fine. Except, every once in a while, my family members would call me 'LAZY' or 'SNEAKY' for always letting others do the work for me.

Well, that all changed when I moved out and started living on my own. Since then, I have managed to train myself to make all sorts of delicious things!!

The other day, I even baked and decorated my own cake. I never thought that was even possible. Haha.

The best part? Not only can/do I cook everyday, I actually enjoy cooking!! I enjoy shopping and finding good grocery deals too!!

I bring my own lunch box to work everyday, and I eat out about 3-4 times a month on average.

Whereas my co-workers would spend roughly $12-$20 a day in Tokyo on food, I would spend about $5. I eat healthier and better!

Tokyo is extremely expensive, so, I am doing really well in terms of being frugal and healthy at the same time.

Bottom line? I loveeeeee to cook and I never thought I would say that!! So cheers to a new me, and the ability for anyone else to change their habits for the better!!

If I can do it, so can you!

Okay, who in the right mind would try and stretch a pack of inexpensive, or should I say, dirt cheap Ramen?

Well, I would. For reasons that may or may not suprise some of you.

For starters, we all know that Ramen is bad for our health, and we should never ever eat Ramen if we could help it.

Sadly, that is like telling people to quit drinking, quit smoking, quit eating chocolate bars, and quit a shitload of other things that are unhealthy.

Sometimes when we are busy and hungry, we need that quick-fix dinner, something that can be prepared on the spot for less than 5mins.

Well, if this idea appeals to you, then here are my personal suggestions that can help bring out a better meal (at least better than instant Ramen alone).

Step 1 - Smash the pack of RAmen before you open it up. Yes, that is right, I said smash it!! Pound it, and hit it like you mean it!! Break the dried noodles into smaller bits and pieces.

Step 2 - Find rice or have a small pack of rice handy. Rice is easy to make and you can freeze and storge rice by wrapping rice in individual packages via Saran Wrap.


Step 3 - Open the Ramen pack and divide the package in half. Use half now and save the other half or later. It won't go bad as long as you store it in a plastic bag and in a dry place.

Step 4 - Cook as usual, and add in the rice to make a porridge like meal. Add in some veggies if you have some lying around.

Step 5 - Use HALF and only half of the soup base package. This will cut down on the amount of SALT and other crap you put into your body.

There you have it!!

Healthier, and just as delicious, if not better snack/quick meal.

The flavor should be just as strong if you have a porridge like paste instead of a watery meal. So the key is to add in less water.

I am no expert, but my common sense does tell me that this is better than the original alternative!

Enjoy!

I live in Tokyo. I have no idea how much property tax will be if I want to buy a home in US (California).

I know it is calculated based on the value of your home, but I need some ballpark estimates.

Is like it....$1000 USD a year? Is it as expensive as home insurance? Which can be between $900-$2000??

I have noooooo idea what so ever...

Okay, everyone. Please help if you have any experience or info about this situation.

I just got a call from my brother who is living in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He told me that the basement of our parent's house is flooded. He lives alone and now water is seeping through the concrete walls and into the basement.

Recently, Vancouver has been hit with heavy rain and snow, so that is probably the reason for the flood.

Now, my parents have no money for such an emergency repair and my brother just graduated from University. My mother lost her job about 3 months ago, and my father is unemployed.

They count as a low-income family. So my questions are:

1) Can we get financial assistance from the government? If so, does anyone know where and how I can apply for such programs?

2) Can our home insurance policy cover the repair cost? Can we make a claim? Has this been done before?

3) Other tips? Finances?

It will be expensive, I am sure of that. So what can we do? Any advice will help a long way since it is our first time in this situation!!!

Okay, so it is 2007 and I've been on this blog for almost 3 months. I've seem many people post under the $20 Challenge Category and I've read what Jeff said about the rules and what not.

But I am still confused as to how to use this category and what to put in it.

I guess it all depends on me. So I am going to make my $20 Challenge to saving money by using coupons and basically stretching my money in creative ways.

Just like the Fukubukuro (Lucky bag or Grab bag entry I've made yesterday), I guess I saved a lot of money. So, I am going to place that in there.

Also, at the end of every month, if I hit my budget of spending and saving goals, then I will add another $20 to the challenge.

If I completed 3 hours of exercise per week without using money by excercising at home with my dumbbells or go for a run outside, I will add another $20 dollars to my challenge box.

To summarize:

add $20 when
1) I use coupons or creative ways to stretch my money.
2) When I hit my budget goals at the end of each month.
3) When I exercise for more than 3 hours a week without incurring extra costs.

Wow...today was a ton of fun!

First of all, it is the 2nd day of the New Year here in Tokyo, and one of the most popular activities on this day is to shop till you drop.

In Japan, retail stores create what is known as a Lucky Bag (Fuku = lucky and bukuro = bag, paper bag, plastic bag, retail bag). The bag has a pre-marked selling price of 5000 yen ($50 USD), 10,000 yen ($100 USD), or as high as you can imagine.

Inside, there are usually many items valued at over 3-10 times the selling price. I will give you guys two examples of some of the bags I have gotten today.

The key here is the surprise, since buyers don't really know what is inside until they've made the purchase. It is kind of like gambling, except, you could at least minimize your risk by sticking to stores you know that have items that you want.

Anyway, on with my bags!!

Bag 1 - Mr. Donuts (1000 yen or $10 USD)

Yes, that is right. They sell lucky bags for donuts!!! I paid $10 and I got

-5x donuts (each priced between $1 to $1.35 normally)

-1x 2007 Calendar of Cute Donut Cartoon characters
-1x Mug
-1x 2007 Agenda with a pen
-1x small blanket for your legs
-1x small pouch/bag

-5x more donuts in coupon form so I can exchange them anytime within the next 3 months.



So I saved!! I normally buy donuts anyway so....I ended up getting more for the value.

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Bag #2 - Clothes (5,250 yen or $52.50 USD)

Here, I got

-1x Handbag
-2x Jean Skirts
-2x Coats (Brown and Black)
-2x Sweater Jackets (thin material for Spring)
-1x black sleeveless top

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Again, pretty good for the value if you ask me. My girl also bought a bag of clothes for about $70 USD for pieces of clothes including 2 jackets, 2 pants, a hand bag, a belt, and some tops with a scarf.

WE got home, tried them on, and decided to keep some clothes. The ones that didn't fit well, we separated them into two groups..

a) for my girlfriend's younger sister as gifts when we see her in 3 weeks.

b) for re-sell value as second-hand clothes at a second-hand shop down the street. We will go there on Friday and see if we can collect some cash back.

Overall, an awesome day.