/adv/ - Advice » Thread #16385043

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Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:02:40 No.16385043 View Reply Report Delete

>long-time friend wants to travel the world with me, he's really adamant about Japan first (as am I)
>we're both working, I've got $4500 saved up and save about $400/mo, though I need to get a new car soon
>he can get financial help from his rich family on top of his own savings, I'm on my own but it's plausible if I just save non-stop and possible bleed $500-$1000 from savings
>we only plan on going for 2-3 weeks depending on deals. I can speak decent Japanese and he's starting now
>I could also put this huge amount of money towards a house away from my abusive parents, or summer classes since no financial aid, or anything productive

I guess this is where the advice is needed. We're 21, and I have desperately wanted to travel for years now. I'd basically be saving nonstop until this trip, then we go, have a blast, and go back to mediocrity.

What's your opinion, is it worth to save a ton of money for a trip to another country? I personally believe it's worth it, but at the same time I have a nagging wanderlust and love learning about cultures. I'm also, simply put, having a YOLO mindset about this, but maybe I'm just being young.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:24:58 No.16385090 Report Delete

Quoted By:

Bump before bed

tl;dr a friend and I want to go to Japan, we can sort-of afford it but I could easily put this money towards schooling or anything else, is it worth it to go?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:28:32 No.16385096 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385112 >>16385128 >>16385149

>2-3 weeks
I lived in korea for 6 weeks. Granted, I got a hell of a deal on rent ($400/month per person), but it was overall very very cheap.
Asia is extremely cheap to live in after rent, for the cost of cooking my own meal (which we didn't do, that apartment was a shithole) I could just go out and eat somewhere instead, and eat WELL, for $4-6. Drinks, side dishes, main dish included.
Delivery cost nothing extra.
If I wanted to use a computer or internet I would just wander until I found free wifi or went to a PC Cafe for $1.50/hr

We were looking at going to japan this year but everybody was broke as shit. My time in korea cost me about $3k total, including airfare, and a LARGE amount of that was wasted in bars (if you aren't drinking domestic alcohol, expect $8/pint or $50/fifth)
$4500 is more than enough to fly round trip to japan and live there for well over a month. But the biggest cost is the flight by far, so take that into consideration. Depending on when you go and how far you book it you may get it for $700-800, but still.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:30:07 No.16385104 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385137 >>16385149

>>16385043

Ugh. I think traveling is a right of passage that should be done during 2 times ...when you are very young and when you are older.

However, you have brought up a good point. You do not have a rich family. In fact, you have a shitty one and you need to get the hell out of there ASAP.

I wouldn't waste your money on summer school unless you really feel graduating earlier is helpful.

2 weeks is not all that long to travel so far away. You are going to be jetlagged for a good 2 days of that trip or more, depending.

Anyway, I say you save this trip for your graduation when you will have even more $ saved (maybe for a house and for a trip?). You may get lucky and get some money as a graduation present from someone-you never know.

Oh and one more thing Japan is EXPENSIVE. Maybe go to another place cheaper?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:31:56 No.16385112 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385128 >>16385149

>>16385096
All this being said, I would absolutely, at the drop of a hat, go back and visit again. It was a total blast. Saving money is important but there's no point if you don't live life.
Saving $400/mo means in a year you'll have your savings back if you spent every penny. You should go for it.

Word to the wise, in japan buy a monthly train pass. Ends up being cheaper and you can travel across all of japan basically for free (I think they're about $200 for a month)
And especially ESPECIALLY try to cut dairy out of your diet as much as possible a month before the trip. Asia has no cheese or milk, except as treats or specialities. This is by far and away one of the biggest dietary changes for tourists, and if you don't prep your stomach will murder you for it.
I would also recommend heavy grain-based foods, breads and such in particular. Asian countries make very little use of grain/wheat-based food products, which again is something your gut is really used to. So cutting that ahead of time will save you a lot of angry poops.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:33:25 No.16385119 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385149

Don't do it man. I sort of did this, but it was spending 10k to live with a close friend i had made online for a few months. It's fleeting. It goes away. It isn't a good idea. Do it when you're older and have disposable money, not over things that will affect you for a very long time like having a car.

Tell him you're sorry, but you've decided its best if you do it after college. Ask if he'll do it as a graduation thing - he can speak Japanese perfectly by then and you will be better off.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:36:46 No.16385128 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>16385096
>>16385112
TL;DR figure out how much you are willing to spend absolutely, and how much you really need a "new" car, and what a "new" car constitutes.
$4500 would be ludicrously comfortable for 2-3 weeks. That's basically $3500 to spend in 3 weeks, which is fucking insane.

cut that budget in half, $1k for a round trip ticket, $2500 to live on. still pretty damn great. Leaves you with $1k savings, give it 2-3 months after that, you can buy a solid early-2000's car and be on your merry way.
OR you can weigh the cost of replacement vs repairs. i still drive a Mazda Protege 2000 because the cost of getting something newer, I can literally rebuild and replace anything in the car for cheaper.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:38:27 No.16385137 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385170

>>16385104
>Oh and one more thing Japan is EXPENSIVE.
Do you have personal experience with this? I do not, but I have a close friend who does. He says it was shockingly inexpensive there. He enjoyed it so much he decided to move there for a fresh start after spending a couple weeks couch surfing there when life took a shit on him.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:41:32 No.16385149 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385166

>>16385096
>>16385112
Thanks anon, I assume you're saying to go for it then. I have some connections for plane tickets so they honestly might be moderately cheap. I'd like to go a month but he wants to go for 2 weeks, who knows though. Thanks a ton for the advice though, I'll consider it all when we plan the trip/if we can do it

>>16385104
My family's shit, though it's been years of it and I'm practically desensitized to their nonsense. A large break from them would be great. I'm also a student who switched majors, I'm basically starting from scratch even at 21 (though pre-req's are mostly done). I'm in IT and soon-to-be certified so now that I'm thinking about it I'm not sure if summer school is as high of a priority as I'm thinking it is.

I'm sort of leaning towards "wait until graduation" but at the same time that's going to be a long-ass time for me (though he graduates next year)

>>16385119
I do have a car, though it's a piece of shit that likely won't make it through the winter. I feel I could spend maybe $400/mo on the car and save $400/mo while having comfortable spending money. I do agree with your Japanese point though, I'm not the best but with a dictionary I can work through most things (though that probably won't help me much on the streets in Japan)

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:46:03 No.16385166 Report Delete

Quoted By: >>16385188

>>16385149

In that case-(you restarting your major) maybe you should go. If you are in IT you should be able to have roomates and pay your student debt so you will be out of your family's house and still be able to have $.

So, I guess it's sianara to you. Have fun in Japan!

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:47:48 No.16385170 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>16385137
Shockingly inexpensive if you are eating processed noodles maybe.

Anyway, not sure if you couch surfing is as accessible as it would be in some other country. Japanese live in tiny quarters unless you have $.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 24 Oct 2015 02:58:41 No.16385188 Report Delete

Quoted By:

>>16385166
I should mention that I live with my parents, and commute to community college. My only expenses are food/gas/house supplies and school (due to a fluke, only this semester). I save the rest, usually. My student (and only) debts are, as of now, $9000, due to some dual-enrollment shenanigans and community college, should cap off at $12500 for my new Associates, not sure about Master's honestly.

I feel like I'm just rambling at this point due to sleepiness, thanks for all the input guys. I'm leaning towards it still, but I'm going to really research and finalize a price with him before we go. If it's sorta reasonable and life doesn't get in the way, might commit with it.

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