The cost of being: A New Zealander teaching English in Japan

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a New Zealander living and teaching in Japan describes her financial situation.

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Gender: Woman.

Age: 29.

Ethnicity: Māori.

Role: English teacher.

Salary/income/assets: $3441 a month; $2956 after taxes, health insurance, and pension payments.

My living location is: Urban.

Rent/mortgage per week: I live in the second-biggest city in Japan and my rent is $909 split between me and my partner, so about $400 each month.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: I used to pay $350 a month to keep up with the biannual assessments for non-residents, but I started to pay the minimum $80 a month with an instalment arrangement as I intend to come back to New Zealand soon.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: About $150 a week for two people. We cook for all meals except on weekends.

Eating out: About $60 at most and only on the weekends. Japanese food is quite cheap, but we like to eat out at non-Japanese restaurants to satisfy certain cravings, which can be quite costly.

Takeaways: We don’t get takeaways that often.

Workday lunches: None.

Cafe coffees/snacks: About $10 a week spent on random convenience store trips throughout the week.

Other food costs: My partner and I have a cat who has allergies and requires special food, so that would cost us about $40 a month.

Savings: I have a small emergency fund, but I usually just spend what I get. I want to experience life in a foreign country to its fullest, so I just spend it on travel and whatnot.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Lucky, comfortable, anxious.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Pies. There’s only one place that sells authentic pies like we have in New Zealand and it takes a long time to get there and they’re quite expensive.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Maybe $2. I don’t drink that often due to medication I take, but sometimes I have a just a can or two.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: About $30 for work. I take a bus and train to and from, but in Japan almost 99% of the time employers will reimburse transport fees. For personal use, maybe $10.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $400.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: A pair of pants for $50. I’m quite big (compared to Asian sizes), so I have to pay a bit more for fitting pants and tailoring.

My last pair of shoes cost: $100 for a new replacement pair of New Balance 550s.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Maybe $400. Half would be on skincare. I have terrible skin, so I need a lot. Other spending is on perfumes and the odd hair appointment. I mostly cut my hair at home.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: $0. I get enough exercise living in the city and on my commute.

My last Friday night cost: $20 on dinner and about $80 on random second hand computer parts for a personal home project.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Sambas for about $80. I like them, but they’re so uncomfortable compared to my other shoes. I have to wear insoles with them.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: An $80 travel bag bought second hand. Retail cost is $200, so I was really lucky with the find.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Banking? There are a lot of fees when it comes to banking in Japan. For example, bank transfers between accounts that are in different networks, holiday fees, and also transferring money to New Zealand. I make sure to check all my options so I am not spending extra on unnecessary fees.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Do I really need this? (I spend too much on random stuff.)

I grew up in a house where money was: Non-existent. I grew up in state housing with a single mother on the benefit and three other siblings. We had nothing, and that really makes me appreciate my situation now.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: In high school around 2012 at the dairy with my mate lol. I remember my mum had used it and forgot I needed the money for buying snacks.

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Probably in the same situation. Ideally, with more savings.

Describe your financial low: During Covid my dad passed away and I couldn’t go to his funeral because I didn’t have the money or time to do so. It would have cost me my job and although the situation was out of my control, I wish I had planned my money better so that I had money to go back. That’s why now I make sure I always have enough to buy a plane ticket home.

I would love to have more money for: Travel.

I give money away to: Variety Kids and KidsCan. Having been in that situation and actually receiving support from them when I was younger, I know how hard it is, and I want to do what I can to give back to young kiwi kids in need.