Finance

Finance

The Honest Guide to ALT Side Hustles: How to Make Extra Money Without Losing Your Visa (Or Your Job)

Yes, you can make extra money in Japan. But the way you do it matters more than how much you make.The ALT salary is low....
Finance

Japan Pension Refund: How Foreign Teachers Can Claim Back Their Money Before They Leave

Every month, a chunk of your payslip quietly disappears into a column called 厚生年金 (kōsei nenkin). You didn't sign up for...
Finance

How to Read Your Japanese Payslip: A Guide for Foreign English Teachers

Your first Japanese payslip will probably arrive as a folded piece of paper, printed in Japanese, with a column of numbe...
Finance

How to Save Money as an English Teacher in Japan (The Honest Version)

Every recruiter will tell you that teaching English in Japan is a great way to "experience Japanese culture while saving...
Finance

Japan Bank vs Wise: Save ¥5,000 & Skip the SIM Card Nightmare

If you are a newly arrived English instructor in Japan, you are about to face two of the biggest headaches ever: sending...
Finance

Shakai Hoken & Inhabitant Tax: Why Your Take-Home Pay Drops in Year 2 (And How to Prepare)

A lot of foreign instructors hit their second year in Japan and notice their paycheck is smaller than it was twelve mont...
Finance

How to Save ¥300,000 on Health Insurance in Your First Year in Japan

Most foreign English instructors in Japan get put on Shakai Hoken — their company's social insurance — from day one. It ...