Bullets 'n' Babes

No, I’m not a stock broker, but a R2J addict. And generally in love with Japan.

They always say that Japan is so expensive, and I say it’s bullshit. You get a good meal and accommodation for cheaper in Tokyo than in Helsinki (well, Helsinki isn’t a cheap city, that’s true). But now, if you get your paycheck in euro Japan really is expensive as hell.

August 2008: 1 euro = 169 yen
November 2008: 1 euro = 125 yen
(a week ago 1 euro was 115 yen)

What that means is that everything in Japan is now 35% more expensive to euro people than 3 months ago. 35%!!!! Fuck!!!!

As for dvd shopping now I have to go back to yesasia because they have fixed dollar prices, and are slow at reacting to changes in currency values. Same in english: While for example Toei dvds cost 4500 yen in Japan, they always cost a certain same amount of dollars at yesasia. The dollar prices are set, and only rarely updated. Cdjapan used to be cheaper than yesasia (especially with frequent shopper points and affliate commission) but now yesasia has better prices because while yen went up to heaven, they still have the same old dollar prices for the japanese items. However, it must be noted that dollar never encountered the same kind of drop compared to yen than euro did.

Yesasia will probably update (higher) their prices at some point, but they are slow. Last winter it was a similar situation; dollar was very weak, and suddenly they had the cheapest R2Js on the net (assuming that you get your money in some other currency than dollar). It took them several months before they rised the prices.

Right now it’s the same situation: their product prices are the same as cdjapan’s, but they offer free shipping (they pay for the shipping), and are located in HK (they most likely pay more to get the stock than cdjapan does). Their winning margin must be rather low.

Notice that this is all from euro point of view. Maybe someone can shed light on how it’s gone with the other currencies.

Japan was already getting more and more expensive for the rest of the world anyway. When I was in Hong Kong we originally planned to do a little sub-vacation to Japan, but compred to not so long ago, the prices had just soared through the roof, and everyone in HK was advising us against it, cause Japan is now just wayyy too expensive (HK dollar was also low, so for Euro people like myself HK was very 'cheap' this summer (1 euro was 13 HK dollar or something, as opposed to 9 HK dollar 3 years ago)

Basically, the crisis isnt affecting me much. however, a few months ago the euro-dollar was very favourable for us euro-people, so I'd buy a lot of books at amazon.com. With the current slip of the euro and the ressurrection of the dollar, it's not that interesting anymore, so I hold back on buying books now.

Ah well, what can we do about it!? It's messy times now. Very unpredictable, although I wouldnt be surprised if the dollar goes up when Obama wins, and goes down when McCain wins, the day after the election.

Japan is very expensive but then so are most economic/industrialised countries.

As to the financial crisis, except for Petrol prices (which have come down but are still so expensive) I've barely noticed it. I don't go out a lot/barely drink, I don't smoke, I have watch Free to Air TV. I don't buy a lot of food, by most single person rates. It's really not affected me.

All this talk of food prices going up. I've not noticed it.

Got back from 16 days in Spain last week,was told due to the £-euro exchange rates everything would be more expensive, i didn't notice it at all and came back with money left over.but utilities like gas/electric have gone up significantly in the last year imo.

bradavon wrote:Japan is very expensive

Depends on what you're buying... when I spent three weeks in Japan I paid 3 to 6 euro per meal (and those were good meals). That's hardly expensive. But then again, it depends on what what currency area you come from. Perhaps euro was very strong against yen at that time.

I was in Japan in august. I ended up going out every night, but spending less than in europe going out once a week. Of course, prices are different today, but hey... 8)

I spent £40 on a night out last night, and I'm not happy about it!

HungFist wrote:Depends on what you're buying... when I spent three weeks in Japan I paid 3 to 6 euro per meal (and those were good meals). That's hardly expensive.

It's not but I meant compared to less industrial countries (such as Thailand) it's expensive. It's no more or less expensive than say The UK or America though.

saltysam wrote:but utilities like gas/electric have gone up significantly in the last year imo.

Thankfully I've not noticed this either. My water and electrical bills haven't changed all year. I think it's because I use so little of them I am always in credit. That said my electrical prices may now go up I'm soon to finish my "fixed rates" deal.

I will now it's winter though .

gasteropod wrote:I spent £40 on a night out last night, and I'm not happy about it!

Ask her for a refund then.

Well I think its killing me! I've applied for between 20 and 30 jobs in the last fortnight and so far had replies from 2, both saying "no thanks".

So I feel like the financial crisis is hindering me from getting a job!

20 and 30? When you hit 70 is when it really starts to smart!

70?! Ouch!

I hope I get a job before I get that far. If I managed to apply for 70 jobs without getting one I think I'd be slipping back into depression...

Shingster is right 20-30 isn't that uncommon, it's unusual to find work 2-3 weeks after leaving your last job. I think 4-6 weeks is more like average. It took me far longer and much, much more than 30 applications.

It is all a numbers game though. The more you apply for the better.

Shingster wrote:20 and 30? When you hit 70 is when it really starts to smart!

I didn't know you were that old?