* * * * * * * * F R U G A L W A T C H * * * * * * * *<br>Last weekly roundup of how to be frugal in the world's most<br>expensive country to live (unless you read this!), written<br>and compiled by Wendy J. Imura.<br><br>
March 25 2008 Issue No. 107<br>+++ INDEX<br><br><br>Dear Frugalites,<br><br>The Frugal Finale!<br><br>As you have read from the good folks at Japan Inc., the Frugal <br>Watch newsletter will be retiring as of this issue. In fact, I <br>
should have written this farewell letter several weeks ago. <br><br>However, it has been very difficult, mentally, to say goodbye <br>to Frugal Watch. Writing it has always been a very personal <br>enterprise, and re-reading the newsletter archive was like <br>
stepping back in time for me in some ways. During the course of <br>the four-or-so years I wrote FW, I have moved three times, <br>opened (and closed) a small business, and –most importantly—<br>had our son. The birth of a child, it seems, always involves <br>
a rearrangement of priorities, and unfortunately I never had as <br>much time as I wanted to devote to FW afterwards. <br><br>The reason for the end of FW is also personal: as of three weeks<br>ago, my husband, son, and I have moved to New York. I recently <br>
started a position as an in-house translator at a brokerage firm<br>on Wall Street. While the decision to leave Japan was not taken <br>lightly, in the end it was a good one. I am sure, with our <br>family ties (and an aging father in law) that I will live in <br>
Japan again in the future. But for now, it seemed best to <br>discontinue the newsletter.<br><br>I learned a lot over my last three months in Japan, and fully <br>intended on making a very in-depth Frugal Watch report on how <br>
to dispose of one's items and move frugally. Unfortunately, my <br>move ended up being not very frugal, despite my best efforts. <br>I did find out two very important things, however. One is very <br>specific: used air conditioner/heaters (aircon) are essentially <br>
worthless! You cannot sell them, you cannot give them away <br>without causing the recipient great cost and trouble, and even <br>recycling them is expensive (Y50,000 for me to uninstall and <br>recycle three used air conditioners). Your best bet: leave them <br>
with the apartment, if the landlord will let you! OR take them <br>with you to your new home. <br><br>The second thing is much more general, and rather clichéd:'You <br>can't take it with you.' Your stuff, I mean. Really. Not <br>
anywhere. With rising gas and commodity prices, shipping goods <br>is more expensive than ever. For most things, buying it in your <br>home destination would be cheaper. Unless it is of sentimental <br>value, I suggest finding a good home for it. We brutally weeded <br>
out our possessions for three months and were still shocked at <br>how much stuff was left in the end. Do yourself a favor: don't <br>collect the stuff to begin with. Buy sparingly and smart, and <br>routinely inventory your possessions. If you haven't used it in <br>
18 months, chances are you probably won't again. The night <br>before we left Japan, I sat surrounded by five suitcases <br>holding (literally) all my worldly possessions not in a small <br>container crossing the ocean. And you know, it was very freeing.<br>
Watching the American economy slide into a recession and the <br>inevitable layoffs beginning (I have great timing when I move!),<br>I am struck by the fact the we really never do know *what* will <br>happen to us in the future. Instead of surrounding yourself with<br>
stuff, collect experiences, friends, and love—it much more portable!<br><br>So, here it ends. Frugal Watch has been a fun ride! My fondest <br>thanks and appreciation go to Terrie Lloyd, for his strong <br>support of FW even when I never published, and all the editors <br>
who have helped it continue along. Most of all, I wanted to <br>thank the readers who were so kind to keep reading throughout <br>the years. In addition to the archive on the Japan Inc website, <br>you can also view Frugal Watch back issues at the Frugal Japan <br>
website (<a href="http://www.frugaljapan.com/" target="_blank">www.frugaljapan.com</a>), which I will maintain as a <br>resource for some time, to be sure.<br><br>Thank you, and keep being Frugal!<br><br>Wendy J. Imura<br>
<br>***Those using this newsletter for investment purposes<br>
do so at their own risk***<br>END<br>+++ ABOUT US<br><br>STAFF<br>Written by: Wendy J. Imura (<a href="mailto:frugalwatch@japaninc.com" target="_blank">frugalwatch@japaninc.com</a>)<br>Edited by: JI<br><br>Copyright 2007 Japan Inc. Communication<br>
<br>SIGN UP FOR FREE!:<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a><br><br>READ J@PAN INC (SEPT/OCT) FREE ONLINE<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_sep-oct_2007_issue" target="_blank">www.japaninc.com/mgz_sep-oct_2007_issue</a>