I must update that my life is going to change soon.
I'm excited about it but quite shocked and disturbed that my greedy little world is coming to an end. But what will I miss most and miss least?
Will I miss dating and romping around? Absolutely not, I hated dating. Girls are bitches and superficial and its a monkey-show trying to date in a town like this. What is a monkey show..? I dont know but girls want you to entertain them like a monkey which is what I mean. Rarely you meet a quality girl.. like my coworker Baka, but they are rare indeed.
Will I miss traveling to HKG and Macau and living that life? Yes yes.. but again it was emptiness at the end of the day. Empty abandon of gambing, smoking, drinking, etc.. it lacked meaning and substance and while I loved it, I did it quite a bit. I can move on.
Will I miss the personal freedom? Yes, that is what I fear. Especially because I have a draconian wife to be. How I deal with this truly define my existance. I must have clear strategy in mind so that I can have some balance in life.
Will I miss spending carelessly? Yes, but honestly I was wasting money on random crap so its good if we can focus. Question is if wife will focus !?
Will I miss coming home to silence? I'm not sure. At times I like to come home to nothing.. and other times I like coming home to my gf. I hope to enjoy coming home to baby/child.
Do I look forward to growing up? I guess I'm 36 its about time.
End of this chapter ??
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Apt found - money disappearing.
I finally found an apartment. Its amazing what living in tokyo will do to you. I went from living in a big 1000ft 1br w/ den in the snobtop SF heights to living in 700ft^2 which is considered big in tokyo where I am. I found a place which is about 1280ft^2 as my next destination, at quite a chunk of change but in theory its just a bit over my budget if I factor in typical % of gross for housing. My formula to justify is this:
progressive tax rate between 9mm-18mm yen is 33% fed, and 10% state. So you are looking at a whopping 43% tax rate in that 6-figure zone. At 18mm+ its 40% + 10% or 50% ! Highest in the world as you approach $200k. Anyways I pay rent pre-tax, so it occurs to me.. if rent comes off the top, then I'm saving rent*taxrate, or effectively paying rent * (1-rate). So rent a $4k place? I could imagine I'm paying $4k*.57 = $2280. Hmmm but in the end its still a ripoff!
But see the theory, more you spend on rent, the more you save!?
If I ever move back to the US I will get the big dream house... like our old friend Kawaker once had. But maybe I'd grow sick of it quickly like many do.
Anyways I had this interesting conversation w/ a fellow I work w/ who is 4 years older and 1 rank higher. We wuz talking about buying a house and it surprised me how he said even 10% down payment would be tough as well as monthly mortgage... Hmmm he outranks me I can't imagine he's making less, so is it just BS or what?
It could be BS becuase even my sister tells me she's net negative every month but its a joke because she's net negative after socking 40% of her money into investment/savings. duh....
I missed out on $50k of gains in the market due to inaction. Or you could say I prevented myself from losing $25k ? Hahaha
progressive tax rate between 9mm-18mm yen is 33% fed, and 10% state. So you are looking at a whopping 43% tax rate in that 6-figure zone. At 18mm+ its 40% + 10% or 50% ! Highest in the world as you approach $200k. Anyways I pay rent pre-tax, so it occurs to me.. if rent comes off the top, then I'm saving rent*taxrate, or effectively paying rent * (1-rate). So rent a $4k place? I could imagine I'm paying $4k*.57 = $2280. Hmmm but in the end its still a ripoff!
But see the theory, more you spend on rent, the more you save!?
If I ever move back to the US I will get the big dream house... like our old friend Kawaker once had. But maybe I'd grow sick of it quickly like many do.
Anyways I had this interesting conversation w/ a fellow I work w/ who is 4 years older and 1 rank higher. We wuz talking about buying a house and it surprised me how he said even 10% down payment would be tough as well as monthly mortgage... Hmmm he outranks me I can't imagine he's making less, so is it just BS or what?
It could be BS becuase even my sister tells me she's net negative every month but its a joke because she's net negative after socking 40% of her money into investment/savings. duh....
I missed out on $50k of gains in the market due to inaction. Or you could say I prevented myself from losing $25k ? Hahaha
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Budgets
I'm doing my budget now.
I will now begin the phase of life where I obsess over budgeting the minutia of my life. Quite sad really. But analysis of spending patterns is key.
I realize at this point in life I don't spend any money on stuff. M major monthly expenses:
- haircut $75 (listen this is tokyo...)
- lunch $15
- coffee break/breakfast daily $6
- transit to/from work (taxi + train) $20
- misc shopping, clothing, etc are amortized in some way but not typical spend.
So basically I spend $41 a day or avg to $1200 a month. Quite high compared to days of old but again this is the hell hole grind of Tokyo.
I don't know what my gf spends money on, I need to dig into her budget w/ some more scrutiny. Many of these girls are so irresponsible w/ money.... they don't know themselves.
I'm re-budgeting because I'm looking at renting a new apartment. Rents are down on the high end > $4k. Below $4k is down 10% at most because its still a feasible range for most. >$4k was only expat and those contracts are far and few between these days.
I will now begin the phase of life where I obsess over budgeting the minutia of my life. Quite sad really. But analysis of spending patterns is key.
I realize at this point in life I don't spend any money on stuff. M major monthly expenses:
- haircut $75 (listen this is tokyo...)
- lunch $15
- coffee break/breakfast daily $6
- transit to/from work (taxi + train) $20
- misc shopping, clothing, etc are amortized in some way but not typical spend.
So basically I spend $41 a day or avg to $1200 a month. Quite high compared to days of old but again this is the hell hole grind of Tokyo.
I don't know what my gf spends money on, I need to dig into her budget w/ some more scrutiny. Many of these girls are so irresponsible w/ money.... they don't know themselves.
I'm re-budgeting because I'm looking at renting a new apartment. Rents are down on the high end > $4k. Below $4k is down 10% at most because its still a feasible range for most. >$4k was only expat and those contracts are far and few between these days.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Marriage Hunter
My friend posted this article
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090712/lf_afp/lifestylejapansocietymarriagepopulation;_ylt=AtH0wGQUh2WcOpdwRIbnSSoDW7oF
About marriage hunting. Its true, Japan is a weird place. I find a few things of interest:
- Some people get married just to get married because its time or want a baby.
- Many people get married just to anyone who makes money (same anywhere maybe).
- There is a mad dash at 26-28 to hurry up, because after 30 you are old news.
- Most of the unmarried population of females is (to be brutally frank) unattractive. Any hot girl has many suitors. (Conversely populate of single men are not exactly rich).
These marriage parties or meeting parties (called kompa or gokon -- arranged by friends of friends usually in packs of 2-on-2 or 5-on-5) are prevalent in the society since aggressive western behavior of hunting for your mate at a local bar is not acceptable conduct. So outside work and school.. you have only one option but to go to meeting parties!
But same thing anywhere.. good stuff is in demand. Just as a hotshot good looking investment banker is in demand, so is any girl who has a nice body and face to match --they aren't going to marry anyone. I see it everyday at the local bar and the gokon events I've gone to... desperate females.. but all pretty unattractive. Occasionally a pretty gal comes by, but they have their standards set beyond the reach of mere mortals like us.
My gf once told me.. her guy friends would say, hey don't you have any friends you can intro me to? So she would bring a single friend who is pretty unattractive and they would say... "uh you don't have any friends more like.. like you??" -- and she basically concluded all her friends who are single at this age (30) are not too attractive. Such a superficial world we live in.
Its a sad game we all play in the big cities like this. I envy those who find true love.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090712/lf_afp/lifestylejapansocietymarriagepopulation;_ylt=AtH0wGQUh2WcOpdwRIbnSSoDW7oF
About marriage hunting. Its true, Japan is a weird place. I find a few things of interest:
- Some people get married just to get married because its time or want a baby.
- Many people get married just to anyone who makes money (same anywhere maybe).
- There is a mad dash at 26-28 to hurry up, because after 30 you are old news.
- Most of the unmarried population of females is (to be brutally frank) unattractive. Any hot girl has many suitors. (Conversely populate of single men are not exactly rich).
These marriage parties or meeting parties (called kompa or gokon -- arranged by friends of friends usually in packs of 2-on-2 or 5-on-5) are prevalent in the society since aggressive western behavior of hunting for your mate at a local bar is not acceptable conduct. So outside work and school.. you have only one option but to go to meeting parties!
But same thing anywhere.. good stuff is in demand. Just as a hotshot good looking investment banker is in demand, so is any girl who has a nice body and face to match --they aren't going to marry anyone. I see it everyday at the local bar and the gokon events I've gone to... desperate females.. but all pretty unattractive. Occasionally a pretty gal comes by, but they have their standards set beyond the reach of mere mortals like us.
My gf once told me.. her guy friends would say, hey don't you have any friends you can intro me to? So she would bring a single friend who is pretty unattractive and they would say... "uh you don't have any friends more like.. like you??" -- and she basically concluded all her friends who are single at this age (30) are not too attractive. Such a superficial world we live in.
Its a sad game we all play in the big cities like this. I envy those who find true love.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Money
I am obessive about money, but I think I am also just selfish about it.
Though I think I'm fairly responsible about it.. now that I am getting married, I have to support the family but in my case since I have a housewife I have to pay for her as well which is a different thing than I'm used to. No matter the case it is hard to imagine giving someone allowance.
But there are really 3 scenarios which all my married friends concur with on the right one. Take a guess.
1) Share the money, let wife have open access to accounts and be responsible.
2) Give wife allowance w/ enough to let her save some money for whatever she wants.
3) Give wife tight allowance and have her ask for big purchases.
For some reason its rare that (1) works or maybe my friends have irresponsible wives. but I think woman are just different.. they like to shop. Its a well known problem. They also don't realize the money tree doesn't grow on its own and has an end if you keep drawing from it.
Anyways my sister said you should spend 27.5% on housing at the most. Okay I spend 22.5% housing (Gross). But then she said save 30% gross, and I said hmmm that sounds high! I was looking at 30% net instead of gross.
Oh well all this thinking can create bad blood. Live free!!!
Unfortunately the "live free" idea fails in the face of marriage and kids. I need a new motto.
Though I think I'm fairly responsible about it.. now that I am getting married, I have to support the family but in my case since I have a housewife I have to pay for her as well which is a different thing than I'm used to. No matter the case it is hard to imagine giving someone allowance.
But there are really 3 scenarios which all my married friends concur with on the right one. Take a guess.
1) Share the money, let wife have open access to accounts and be responsible.
2) Give wife allowance w/ enough to let her save some money for whatever she wants.
3) Give wife tight allowance and have her ask for big purchases.
For some reason its rare that (1) works or maybe my friends have irresponsible wives. but I think woman are just different.. they like to shop. Its a well known problem. They also don't realize the money tree doesn't grow on its own and has an end if you keep drawing from it.
Anyways my sister said you should spend 27.5% on housing at the most. Okay I spend 22.5% housing (Gross). But then she said save 30% gross, and I said hmmm that sounds high! I was looking at 30% net instead of gross.
Oh well all this thinking can create bad blood. Live free!!!
Unfortunately the "live free" idea fails in the face of marriage and kids. I need a new motto.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
New Blog ?
I may start a new blog called... life with a Japanese Wife.
coming soon
Tales of what weird things they do.....
Today i mentioned the mean income in japan is ~43k $USD and she said omg are you crazy??? and i said uh.. yeah, you don't realize the typical person is poor in almost all countries. You are in the top 5% of living conditions in the nation, and top 2% worldwide. You gotta go visit africa sometime baby.
Anyways she heard some myth that 10% of the Japanese population makes more than $150k, and I said hmm I don't think so. metric I heard/read is that top 3 or 6% make > $75k. Couldn't find demographics.
She was shocked.
coming soon
Tales of what weird things they do.....
Today i mentioned the mean income in japan is ~43k $USD and she said omg are you crazy??? and i said uh.. yeah, you don't realize the typical person is poor in almost all countries. You are in the top 5% of living conditions in the nation, and top 2% worldwide. You gotta go visit africa sometime baby.
Anyways she heard some myth that 10% of the Japanese population makes more than $150k, and I said hmm I don't think so. metric I heard/read is that top 3 or 6% make > $75k. Couldn't find demographics.
She was shocked.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)