10 Ways To Save Cash While Living In Okinawa

There are few people lucky enough that they do not have to concern themselves with money. However, for the rest of us be it because we fell on hard times or because we have financial goals for the future tips and tricks for saving a little bit of cash is always welcome advice.

In this blog post we will focus on 10 simple things that you can do to save yourself some money during your time here in Okinawa.

1. Only turn on the hot water when you need it. 

If you’re living in Japan you have probably noticed that hot water does not flow through your pipes unless you prompt it but turning on your hot water heater. This can usually be done from a panel somewhere in your home which allows you to adjust the water temperature and turn on the heating element. 

Because this tankless hot water heater does not store hot water in a tank and heats water relatively quickly there is no reason to leave it on continuously. Turning on and off the hot water heater when needed not only saves fuel (for those who are trying to live a more eco friendly lifestyle) but it also saves you a LOT of money.

2. Collect water rather than let it run down the drain.

Have you ever wondered how many liters of water you’re letting run down the drain each day while waiting for the shower to get to the right temperature? In my house it’s about 8 liters. That’s 4 of those big PET bottles that you can buy at a convenience store. . . . . down the drain. . . . . . . and you just paid for it! Then consider all the other ways you use water throughout the day. Maybe you have a garden that you water, pets that need to have their water bowl filled, or even dishes to soak. All of these things can be done with the water that would have otherwise been sent down the drain.

Saving this water and reusing it isn’t that difficult or costly either. In my house we simply save some old PET bottles and full them up each day while preparing to take a shower. Then whenever I need some water for whatever purpose I can grab a bottle and use it as required.

3. Ditch the American appliances.

Everyone is familiar with the appliances from their home country and for some of us with the opportunity (like moving over here with the US military for example) we want to stick with the brands we know. Unfortunately for Americans who have grown attached to American appliances (washers, dryers, microwaves, coffee makers) this can sometimes mean dishing out extra cash.

The reason for this is not because of the purchase cost of these appliances while overseas but rather the cost to run the appliances themselves. American appliances draw more power (because there is more power available in the US) than Japanese appliances. More power means more money and that can simply be avoided by replacing some of your American products with Japanese alternatives.

4. Dry clothes on the clothes line.

One of the many things that is desirable about Okinawa is the beautiful weather and warm (although some would call it scorching) sun. This makes it the perfect place to dry clothes on the line rather than utilizing a dryer. The best part about drying clothes on a clothes line rather than using an electric dryer is that it’s absolutely no cost to you! With a deal like that how could you pass it up?

5. Utilize surge protectors with on/off switches.

One of the many great ways to save money is to not only turn off appliances when they are not in use but also to unplug them and prevent them from drawing something referred to as vampire power. This is when appliances such the life. . . . I mean power. . . . even when they are not in use. This is one of the main reasons that people have the nightmarish stories of the ¥60,000 electric bill. Although this is hugely beneficial to your wallet it can sometimes be a nuisance. That is why I started  using power strips with individual on/off switches. These easy to find and very affordable power strips/surge protectors allow you to control which socket is receiving power with the quick flip of a switch!

6. Take it easy on the AC.

The summers in Okinawa can be brutal and for many the solution is to crank up the AC and pump in as much cool air as possible. However this can sometimes cause electric bills to skyrocket. Although I think that it is unreasonable to suggest, especially for newcomers, a 100% cutback on AC usage there are still things that you can do in order to bring the costs down to a manageable level. For example, rather than keeping all of the AC units in the house on at once limit usage just to the room you and your familiar are utilizing. Also try utilizing the dehumidifier function on your AC unit rather than the AC itself. The main source of discomfort in Okinawa’s summer months is actually not the heat but the humidity. In many cases running the dehumidifying function (available on most Japanese air conditioning units) will make the room feel much cooler and use less power than the AC on it’s own.

7.  Take advantage of natural light.

Turn off the lights! Mother nature provides hours of natural light every day at absolutely no cost to you. Pull back the curtains and enjoy!

8. Walk.

One of the great things about Okinawa is that almost every neighborhood is within walking distance of anything you could need on an average day. This is great for people who don’t have a car to get around but it’s also great for those who are wanting to save a little bit of cash and stay fit in the process. Rather than taking the car to get a few thing from the grocery store or that dozen eggs that you forgot why not walk? It’s a great way to get a little exercise, save some money on gas and best of all do a little exploring on the way. You’ll never know what you can find in your neighborhood until you take the time to check it out on foot!

 

9. Forget about the guide book!

Believe it or not most of the fun stuff to do and see here on Okinawa is actual free and open to the public. Hundreds of parks, historic sites, museums and much much more are just out there waiting for visitors to walk through the front door. In fact, there are so many things to see and do on Okinawa that even after my almost 10 years on this island I have barely even scratched the surface! (NOTE: Most of the sites that I feature in my videos or blog posts are actually free and open to the public. There are few which have a small admission fee of only a few hundred yen but for the most part it’s a penny pincher’s paradise here in Okinawa!)

10. When in Rome. . . . . . . eat like the locals eat.

Everyone needs food to survive but that doesn’t mean that we need to sacrifice huge chunks of our paycheck at the grocery store each week. In fact you and your family can reduce the cost of groceries you purchase each week by simply eating local. Rather than focusing only on meals that you would find yourself eating in the US try some dishes out that the people of Okinawa enjoy.

Eating what the locals people eat is not only a great way to save money on groceries but it’s also a way to immerse yourself into the culture, learn some new cooking techniques and eat healthier meals (as Okinawa is known for having a tremendously healthy diet).

Have a money saving tip that you think would be beneficial to others? Put it in the comments below!

Groceries – Finding Reasonable Prices Out In Town

One of the questions that I am often asked by those who are here in Okinawa is “Where can I find reasonably priced groceries in Okinawa”. This question usually comes from military members who are familiar with shopping at the base commissaries but have not had the chance to venture out to the grocery stores just outside the gates. Most are looking for reasonably priced food because the commissary prices are unreasonably high on some items. Others are looking for food which has not been shipped in from the US resulting in produce which is fresher, longer. Luckily Okinawa has a number of places where shoppers can get reasonably priced and fresh groceries.

If fresh produce is what you’re interested in then you may want to check out a local Farmer’s Market. These markets are located all over the island and feature various products from Okinawa’s main island as well as the small island’s just off the coast. Unlike farmer’s markets in the US the markets here in Okinawa are structured almost like a grocery store with shelves and food packaged with price tags on the packages for easy sale.

The variety of foods and prices that you find at the farmer’s markets here in Okinawa vary by season and location so be aware that you may have to adjust what you intend to eat based on what is available and in season if you so choose to shop at the farmer’s market. It’s also important to understand that the selection your farmer’s market has available changes not only from day to day but also hour to hour. For the most selection it’s best to visit the farmer’s market early in the day.

Another option for getting reasonably priced food is to visit a local grocery store. Most of the grocery stores here in Okinawa feature some of the same goods that you might find in farmer’s markets as well as goods from other parts of Japan and neighboring countries. The selection also includes fresh foods as well as packaged foods like pasta, canned goods and cookies.

Although some of the deals you can find at grocery stores don’t beat the prices you can find at farmer’s markets on week days there are ways to get better deals on the weekend. The best time to go grocery shopping here in Okinawa in on a Sunday morning (usually at 9AM when the store opens). This is a big shopping day here in Okinawa and there are special sales on everything especially produce, meat and fish. You can save quite a bit of money shopping on Sunday morning as many items are marked down to 99 yen for what is called “Pay Day Sale”. 

So where should you go if you’re new to the island and want to dabble in the art of shopping at a Japanese grocery store? I recommend heading to AEON in Mihama. I realize that this may be far for some of you based on your location but it’s a great place to visit at least once so that you can get your feet wet. Aeon has a large selection of decently priced groceries and the best part is that the store over the years has done it’s best to accommodate to those who cannot read Japanese. English labels are throughout the store helping you find your way around and try out some items that you may not have found otherwise. Once you get the hang of shopping here you can figure out how to get what you need at other grocery stores throughout the island.

That’s my advise on finding reasonably priced (and fresh) produce while here in Okinawa. It’s really not too hard to do if you take the time and put in the effort to actually get out and see what the stores have to offer. The only thing to keep in mind is that although a person, even who eats American cuisine, can get everything they need off base there are a few things that you might not be able to find because the brands are not available here OR because the items are not produced in Japan. It takes a bit of adjustment but you can get it squared away in no time.

Happy shopping!

Okinawa’s Rainy Season: April Showers Bring May. . . . Goya!

If I were to guess I would say the the second least enjoyable season here in Okinawa among Americans (summer coming in at the first) would have to be the rainy season. Usually starting around the April time frame rainy season is Mother Nature’s way of saying that summer is on it’s way.

What Is Rainy Season: 

As I mentioned above rainy season usually kicks off in April and continues into June. During this time of the year it’s common to experience rain (go figure) and a lot of overcast days. According to some travel websites that I scanned in the interest of “science” before beginning this post we can expect rain about 40% of the time during rainy season. Now, I’m not saying that I’m an authority or anything but I will say that it feels like more of 70% of the time. That’s just me though.

These aren’t your average “drip drip drop little April showers” either. When Mother Nature makes it rain during rainy season she’s not kidding around. It’s not uncommon for rainy days to include non-stop hours of rain which sometimes last for two or even three days at a time. Most times this can lead to incredibly inconvenient puddles waiting to make your new shoes all soggy or even flooding in some areas.

Why Rainy Season Is A Nuisance: 

I don’t know about you but I hate being wet and soggy. More than that I hate showing up to work after 30 minutes of getting ready to find myself looking like I put my clothes on before I stepped into the shower. Then man oh man there is nothing like stepping into an ankle deep puddle on your way into the first stop on your list of places to go for the day.  Sound like rainy season is a nuisance? Well yes it can be. (More about how you can fight back later.) 

One of the other reasons that rainy season can be tough for some, especially those new to the island, is because this is the season when the humidity starts setting in. You’ve probably heard that Okinawa is hot during the summer months which is fair enough to say but it’s the humidity which is the real killer. As the rainy season presses on and the temperatures start to change the humidity starts to increase. This usually means that you start to feel sticky and grimy. This can add to the all around nasty of rainy season.

Fighting Back Against Precipitation:

Rainy season doesn’t have to be a drag. In fact there are a few things you can do which will make rainy season much more of a pleasant or at very least a less soggy experience. The first thing you can do is get yourself a pair of rain boots and/or rain shoes. Not only are they are great way to prevent you from recreating the ice capades at the grocery store or on your way back down the hill after taking your dogs outside but they are also a great way to preserve shoes from becoming waterlogged. You can also get them for a great price out in town too! I paid about ¥2000 for mine two years ago and it’s worth every penny.

Another very worth while purchase is a good rain coat. No I’m not talking about a wind breaker which is “water resistant”. I mean a good ole’ “I’m plastic I laugh at the sight of rain” rain coat. I spent a lot of time trying to find what I was looking for without any success until one day I was killing time at my local Makeman (a DIY and garden center) and found the rain suit section (insert heavenly chorus here). Now I know what you’re thinking. . . “why do I need an entire rain suit”? Chances are you don’t unless you’re like us and spend time outdoors a lot and/or ride motorcycles BUT even if you never use the pants ¥3000 is a great price for a rain coat! These are good raincoats too! I know because I have had mine put to the test:

Last but not least is the umbrella. In my honest opinion the umbrella is the “oh sh*t it’s raining and I am completely unprepared” option. Although it doesn’t offer near the same amount of protection as a rain coat and will do absolutely nothing to protect those shoes of yours it will at least ensure that your head and potentially parts of  your torso are covered. (And ladies let’s be honest. . . everything else will dry but if your hair gets wet. . . it’s game over.) 

Umbrellas are incredibly inexpensive also. Even at their most expensive you might only find yourself paying something like ¥300 for a standard umbrella. If you’ve got a keep eye you might even be so lucky as to pay closer to ¥100 or even less. With a price like that I usually have one in the house and one in the car at all times so no matter where I go, or if it stats raining once I leave the house. . . I’m good.

Turn That Frown Upside Down: 

When all is said and done rainy season isn’t much to be gloomy about if you’ve taken the time to prepare yourself. As you can see above just a little bit of effort can make things a lot more bearable during this transitional season. So turn that frown upside down, pull on those rain boots and go splash around in the puddles!