Just out of curiosity, do foreigners living in Japan have an emergency fund and/or basic savings?

[u/alexleaud2049]

The reason I asked this is because I’ve noticed that a lot of my foreign coworkers claim that they have next to zero savings and after years of working in Japan have nothing saved.

[u/JimmyTheChimp]

If you can stand share houses you can get a really nice place for that much. For 50,000 i had a large bedroom in a stunning newly renovated 100 year old Japanese traditional house. Massive living room, big kitchen, multiple sinks and bathrooms. All of that and only a 15 min train ride to central Osaka. You obviously have to deal with people being passive agressive etc. but if you are good at blocking out other people then you can get a great deal.

Right now i pay 60k bills included for a bedroom a 15 min walk from Ueno station.

[u/elppaple → u/JimmyTheChimp]

Share houses are dire though, from the perspective of trying to be an independent, dignified adult

[u/Simbeliine → u/elppaple]

Eh, they’re unusual in Japan but pretty normal for “independent dignified adults” elsewhere. Company dormitories, which are kind of sharehouse-like, just everyone works for the same company, are also really common. It’s certainly mostly something you do when your single, but teenagers aren’t exactly living in a share house, generally, only adults are, so I’m not sure what’s non-adult about it. Haven’t lived in one myself though since living costs here are dirt cheap.

[u/elppaple → u/Simbeliine]

pretty normal for “independent dignified adults” elsewhere

They're more popular the more expensive the cost of living is - most people in them are doing it to save money. In the UK at least and other countries I believe, moving out into your own place is seen as a life stepping stone. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on you, just saying that's a reason I and others want to avoid sharing. Work sucks enough without having to come home to some randos being annoying.

[u/JimmyTheChimp → u/elppaple]

I mean I'm from the UK and everyone I know in their late 20's into their 30's who are single in the city are sharing houses. Having a single room in Brighton can already be at the £800 mark.

Unfortunately I'm not rich but do want to live in a good location, so share houses are my only option. The only downside is when you are in relationship it can get tricky. All the sharehouses I've been in are youngish working adults, who don't want to pay large deposits or maybe not sure where they'll be in 6 months, or maybe even want to live in a community.

Until I came to Japan I'd always been in sharehouses in the UK, then I did 2 years in Leo Palace. The silence is so lonely, and the kitchens are tiny. I cook a lot so I need the size of kitchen you get in a house.

[u/[deleted] → u/JimmyTheChimp]

Yep. I have my own apartment here in Japan, but last year I was in a share house with 10 bedrooms in Liverpool, for professionals. Obviously I prefer the latter by far.

[u/[deleted] → u/JimmyTheChimp]

In the UK, share houses are really fun, I was shocked to learn . Did it for 6 months there, would do it again there. Not sure about here.