Posts

Category Oct-19 Comments Rent $3,998.29 Apartment move-in payments in Japan are expensive! Internet $0.00 Nothing this month Cell Phone $25.27 Extra data SIM card until my home internet gets set up Natural Gas $0.00 Nothing this month Electricity $0.00 Nothing this month Water $3.17 Initial water payment Groceries $211.81 Not too terrible, but I’ll reserve final judgement until I get a feel for baseline grocery expenses. Transport $271.33 Paid for a 6 month commuter pass for work....

Category Sep-19 Comments Rent $0.00 Nothing this month Internet $0.00 Nothing this month Cell Phone $50.16 Registration fee for Japan phone plan Natural Gas $0.00 Nothing this month Electricity $0.00 Nothing this month Water $0.00 Nothing this month Groceries $20.74 Below average this month Car Insurance $0.00 Sold my car, so no more insurance. Transport $25.53 Below average this month Car Expenses $0.00 Sold my car, so no more car expenses....

Category Aug-19 Comments Rent $0.00 Nothing this month Internet $0.00 Nothing this month Cell Phone $0.00 Nothing this month Natural Gas $0.00 Nothing this month Electricity $0.00 Nothing this month Water $0.00 Nothing this month Groceries $196.57 About average Car Insurance -$36.68 Small refund of previous coverage Transport $74.36 Slightly below average Car Expenses $8.00 Washed car Health $0.00 Nothing this month Other $33.99 Mail forwarding Necessary $276.24 Below average this month Restaurants $70....

Category Jul-19 Comments Rent $0.00 Nothing this month Internet $0.00 Nothing this month Cell Phone $0.00 Nothing this month Natural Gas $0.00 Nothing this month Electricity $0.00 Nothing this month Water $0.00 Nothing this month Groceries $149.20 About average, due to return to US. Car Insurance $0.00 Nothing this month Transport $242.93 Higher than average, due to travel / tourism Car Expenses $0.00 Nothing this month Health $0.00 Nothing this month Other $33....

Category Jun-19 Comments Rent $0.00 Nothing this month Internet $0.00 Nothing this month Cell Phone $0.00 Nothing this month Natural Gas $0.00 Nothing this month Electricity $0.00 Nothing this month Water $0.00 Nothing this month Groceries $120.98 Fairly low, but mostly due to higher restaurant expenses Car Insurance $0.00 Nothing this month Transport $256.26 Higher than average, due to travel / tourism Car Expenses $0.00 Nothing this month Health $12....

Category May-19 Comments Rent $2,234.78 Rent for short-term apartment for June and July Internet $0.00 Nada Cell Phone $27.61 Next 30 days of cell phone in Japan Natural Gas $33.37 Last payments for my old apartment Electricity $28.92 Last payments for my old apartment Water $33.11 Last payments for my old apartment Groceries $165.56 My non-restaurant food spending in Japan. Kind of high, but will go down now that I have a fridge and longer-term lodging....

Category Apr-19 Comments Rent $0.00 No more rent! Internet $56.92 Last internet payment Cell Phone $31.11 3 weeks of cell phone while I’m in Japan Natural Gas $49.54 Second-to-last nat gas payment. Not sure why it spiked so high. Electricity $23.93 Second-to-last electricity payment Water $34.18 Second-to-last water payment Groceries $118.47 Lower than average. Spent my final weeks using up leftover food. Car Insurance $120.89 Car is in storage for the indefinite future, so half-price insurance!...

Category Mar-19 Comments Rent $768.75 $750 for rent, paid via Plastiq Internet $56.92 Internet is kind of expensive. Cell Phone $0.00 Nothing this month. Natural Gas $29.35 Above average Electricity $25.05 Slightly below average Water $37.39 Slightly above average Groceries $161.42 Slightly above average Car Insurance $0.00 I pay every 6 months in April and October. Gasoline $83.68 Above average, due to travel Car Expenses $0.00 Nothing this month. Health $42....

Category Feb-19 Comments Rent $768.75 $750 for rent, paid via Plastiq Internet $55.92 Internet is kind of expensive. Cell Phone $0.00 Nothing this month. Natural Gas $27.82 Slightly above average Electricity $24.97 Slightly below average Water $35.25 Slightly above average Groceries $162.41 Slightly above average Car Insurance $0.00 I pay every 6 months in April and October. Gasoline $63.07 Slightly below average Car Expenses $0.00 Nothing this month. Health $42....

In the Financial Independence community, there’s a lot of talk about one’s savings rate (SR). People argue about how to calculate it, how to compare it, and the best ways to improve it. But, I don’t think there’s enough attention given to one of the best consequences of having a high SR: market independence. In other words, a high savings rate reduces market risk. I’ll say that again: as your savings rate goes up, your ability to reach your financial goals in your desired timeframe depends less and less on the market’s performance....