Post: #101

(03-09-2014 07:24 AM)Que enspastic Wrote:  ^ I used to live in Melbourne within 1km of CBD. Went out 2-3 times per week.

Rent $530 p/m.
Expenditure $150-200 p/w
Total incl bills : less than $1500 p/m

How the hell did you rent for that cheap close to the centre? Where was this exactly? I know people paying more than that for one bedroom's in the suburbs, and not nice ones either.

Post: #102

Carlton, 5 bedroom share. Before that paid $780 for 3 bedroom share Nth Melbourne.

Post: #103

(03-09-2014 11:56 AM)Que enspastic Wrote:  Carlton, 5 bedroom share. Before that paid $780 for 3 bedroom share Nth Melbourne.

Places that large so close to the city are pretty rare. You got really lucky. Doing what you did in Carlton is not possible for most guys.

Post: #104

(03-03-2014 06:10 PM)kerouac Wrote:  

(03-01-2014 03:20 AM)Fortitudinal Wrote:  Im living in Kyoto, Japan.

Expenses:

$400 rent (electricity included) reasonably near subway station downtown. Tiny 3.5m x 4.5m appartment though.
$50 water
$40 transport (I bike everywhere)
$500 food (Cook home a lot, and I eat a lot )
$200 booze (been cutting back a lot, really ads up!)
$200 misc (haircuts, toiletries, etc)
$200 eating out (variety is good)

$1600 aprox a month will get you by OK.

Eating and drinking out will get you higher numbers of course.

For a better lifestyle Id say go with $3,000. Socializing has been seriously lacking lately for me.

However Im here for the long run, so trying hard to economize.

I loved Kyoto. In my experience, the girls there looked a lot better there than the ones I ran across in Tokyo and Osaka. I like the city better than those other too as well. I'm surprised you can get by for under $2k though. Are you fairly close to that river, market, and the nightlife?

I would love to spend a few months there some day.

Yeah, the girls are a little more dolled up than in Osaka, and relatively friendly. Tokyo is a different beast though.
Agree on the sentiment, Kyoto is way more livable though its hot as all fuck in summer (think 36C plus 80% humidity) and pretty cold in winter (hovers around 5C, damp). So there are some drawbacks. At least I dont have to deal with the eternal Canadian winter fuck that shit.

Im getting by, not exactly baller lifestyle. Cook at home a lot, rarely drink. really helps save.

Im not close to Pontocho (the area you are thinking about), but I have a bike and can get there in 20-30 mins by bike ride, and Kyoto is pretty flat. So no issue.

Drop me a line if you come by, Im a good tour guide if you are into food and wine.

Post: #105

Good sheet Fortitudinal! Are you teaching English there? How is the visa situ for Canadians outside of the teaching visa? Is it easy to get say a cultural or student visa? How about biz visa? I know we Canucks can stay there for up to 90 days upon landing, can that be extended by doing a quick and short visa run to China/Korea and back within 2-5 days?

Post: #106

(03-10-2014 02:05 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Good sheet Fortitudinal! Are you teaching English there? How is the visa situ for Canadians outside of the teaching visa? Is it easy to get say a cultural or student visa? How about biz visa? I know we Canucks can stay there for up to 90 days upon landing, can that be extended by doing a quick and short visa run to China/Korea and back within 2-5 days?

Im trying to do the biz visa, but its a tough one. Wouldnt recommend that way unless you have lots of experience and at least $100K to drop. Also you'll need to hire at least 2 Japanese and have a physical office (which is retarded difficult for a gaijin). Plus a bunch of cultural xenophobic BS, the country is not quite ready for entrepreneurs like they fancy themselves to be. Outside of Tokyo is hard to find people comfortable with speaking English, so YMMV.

May be easier to get a student visa and go from there or a cultural visa.
ESL jobs are surprisingly hard to find if you dont have a Western sounding last name. So fuck them if they wont hire me.

You can stay 90 days, and renew as needed with short trips. Last one I went to Singapore, but it doesnt look good for immigration when you have 5 stamps of reentry to Japan, or so I've been told.

Post: #107

Just to add to the above, if you are under 30 and from Canada, Britain, Australia, NZ, France or Germany then you can get a Working Holiday Visa in Japan. Lasts for a year or more and you aren't compelled to do any particular activity while you are there. This is the best and cheapest option if you are eligible.

Post: #108

I live in Miami

Yearly salary is $160,000

Rent $1300/month All Bills Paid including Internet & Cable
Cars paid off
$600/Month on Groceries
$30/Month LA Fitness Membership
$50/Month Car Insurance

Alot of money leftover for travel play and savings.

Remember my car purchases are always used older but nice looking reliable cars for under $5K that i just only cover with liability.