Since I posted my November update only a couple of weeks ago, I feel like I don’t have much news to write about. I have the entire week off as a company holiday, so I’m using this time to relax and recharge. I did a better job this month at cutting down on food spending by routinely preparing work lunch for myself at home. Compared to last month, my combined restaurant and grocery spending is about 33% lower, saving me about $200....

Category November 2019 Comments Rent $915.96 Normal monthly rent Internet $0.00 Nothing this month Cell Phone $19.81 Normal monthly payment Natural Gas $14.98 First payment Electricity $5.33 First payment Water $0.00 Nothing this month. Water is billed every 2 months here. Groceries $236.06 About in line with my old grocery budget Transport $120.18 Airport trips responsible for most of this Health $153.48 First month health insurance Other $17.59 Mail forwarding Necessary $1,483....

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....